Someone mentioned overheating in a neoprene drysuit earlier in this thread I think. You guys find that's the case diving around here in the summer? Or is it just from taking too long to get suited up before getting in the water.
It can be a "real" problem in the summer late July/August however I don't find it specific to drysuits since it can also be a problem with 7mm or farmer john wetsuits. I see it often on the boat when people get ready too early or are waiting for a dive buddy that is taking ages to gear up.
It can easily be avoided though, make sure your gear / kit is completely setup and sorted before you put your drysuit on. It's typically the last thing I do. I'll wear it partially unless it's raining or cold.
On the boat often times I'll have people just jump in the water to cool down while standing on the ladder once we're anchored. This will cool you down really quickly. Close zipper, stand on dive ladder or if you're shore diving go wade in waist deep water and dunk yourself to cool down. Easy enough.
---------- Post added February 17th, 2015 at 03:23 PM ----------
Any recommendations/thoughts would be appreciated.
Definitely talk to the DUI booth if you're planning to head to Sea Rovers in Boston, March 7-8th. You'll be able to ask many questions and even get properly fitted.
My advice would also be to check out one of the DUI Demo Days.
DUI Event Calendar - DUI Online - drysuits The event is 15 bucks and they'll let you test dive as many DUI drysuits as you want with an instructor. You do not need to be drysuit certified or any drysuit experience to attend this event. The Massachusetts event is usually at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. It looks like it's October 3-4 this year so unfortunately a bit later in the season.
I suffered 8 years using a wetsuit in New England (ok..maybe suffered in not the right word but looking back it certainly felt that way!). I used to dive wet from late April to November; It wasn't so much the water that hurt me but the surface temperatures and wind.
A drysuit will basically allow you to dive year round with the rights undergarments. The key is layering. I tend to dive my drysuit year around; I honestly just prefer it over wetsuit diving up here unless I'm diving shallow and lobstering or shore diving in late July/August/September. I don't exactly have a specific threshold but for dives deeper than 60ft where they'll be good thermocline or I'm planning on doing a longer deeper dive with a 70 minute+ runtime, I'll almost always be in a drysuit.
I've owned 3 drysuits, a USIA Techiflex, DUI TLS350 and my current suit that I primarily use now is a DUI FLX Extreme. I've been happy with all of them. Fit is the key. I do prefer a shell suit over a neoprene suit because it allows you to layer undergarments and better tailor depending on the water temperatures I will be diving in. From what I see, most people in New England use shell drysuits as opposed to neoprene. I don't actually know too many people that dive neoprene drysuits around here with the exception of the DUI CF200 which is kind of a mix of both (crushed neoprene).
My advice for whatever brand drysuit you buy is to get one that has user replaceable seal system or ring system. Wrist and neck seals come in latex and silicone. Each have their own benefits however eventually you be be on a dive where one of your seals inevitably rips or tears while suiting up. It is great to be able to swap these out yourself in a few minutes. A lot of divers carry an extra set of seals in their save a dive kit. If your seals are glued in then you're out of luck and the suit will need to be set back to factory or authorized dive shop for repairs.
DUI, Santi, Bare, Whites all make good quality suits and can have removable seals added depending on the model suit.
EDIT: I also wanted to add that many local dive shops will let you take a drysuit class using their rental suits if you wanted to get certified and try a drysuit before you commit to buying one. A lot of shops will also include a free drysuit course if you buy a new drysuit from them. I know we both at Boston Scuba. Drysuit certification course includes drysuit rental fees and dive charter fees since we do the certification dives off our charter boat. We also offer the drysuit class for free if you purchase a brand new drysuit from us.
