Cold Water Suit Options?

[broncobowsher]

By the time you get a high end enough wetsuit that you might be safe for a short dive, it will cost as much as a basic drysuit.

Just because you were comfortable in a 3mm in cold water doesn't eman you were safe. I can be comfortable in -10F in a cotton T-shirt for a bit. But give it a little more time and the comfortable will turn into unsafe.

 

[MAKO Spearguns]

This might be entertaining and relevant..

 

[Bierstadt]

This might be entertaining and relevant..

I think this convinces me I need a drysuit. I want to have fun like that guy, but without the almost killing myself bit.

 

[MAKO Spearguns]

No question that the proper dry suit is warmer than a wetsuit, but you may be spending 4 or 8 times as much as a MAKO 7 mm suit.

 

[Bierstadt]

No question that the proper dry suit is warmer than a wetsuit, but you may be spending 4 or 8 times as much as a MAKO 7 mm suit.

I do like Mako wetsuits, but unfortunately you don't carry any sized for 53" chest polar bears.

 

[rhwestfall]

Been there, done that, and in my foolish youth dove Lake Erie below the thermocline and dealt with 38 degree water (suit was a 1/4" plush lined farmer john with a long sleeve shorty over it custom fit - $600 in early 90's). One (short) dive? Okay.... Second dive, or not a nice and warm day topside? Yikes! Sometimes, used Thermos bottles of warm water to heat things up pre-dive. No more!!!!! Under 55 degrees, it is dry......

I dive a custom made 7mm 1 piece from 70 - 55 if it is a NDL or really warm surface and air situation (but begrudgingly)....

YMMV

 

[MAKO Spearguns]

I do like Mako wetsuits, but unfortunately you don't carry any sized for 53" chest polar bears.

XXX goes to about 250 lbs or a little more,. You may need a custom suit.

 

[TrimixToo]

Think about going to the Toms River NJ flea market in a few months with an experience dry suit diver. You will probably be able to pick up a decent suit with a good zipper and an undergarment for rather less than the cost of a new 7mm wet suit. I passed on one for my sister because I couldn't reach her--for $200, with a good zipper and good seals. I routinely see really good used suits (DUIs, Santis, etc.) with lots of life left in them for $300-$500. What's available there is sometimes spotty, and I know it's a long drive from Erie to take a chance...but it has a reasonable probability of being worth it.

 

[BrianF]

I dive a 7mm suit with a 3 mill hooded vest. I wear goretex socks under my wet suit boots and I wear pretty thick gloves. I average about 45 min dives in about 38 to 42F water pretty regularly. Usually two tank charters on the Great Lakes. I wouldn’t say I am comfortable by he end of the dives but it isn’t too bad. I had a 7mm Farmer John before that felt much colder, but may have been due to poor fit.

That being said I am saving for a drysuit. However I see a lot of other divers on the Great Lakes diving wet on every charter I go on.

 

[boulderjohn]

Just in case you missed this post:

I'd really say look for a decent shape used drysuit. Or even an "entry" level new one. There are deals out there, keep an eye out for demo or closeout models. I frequently dive in water temps in the 30's F, a drysuit is a must for most people as it's just too cold for most in a wetsuit.

Call Mike or Chris at Dive Right in Scuba and see if they can find something that'll work for you. They're straight shooters and carry and are familiar with a lot of brands.

Used suits can be just fine. I just sold my oldest one, my first dry suit, to a student for $600. Buying it brand new, with all the added bells and whistles it had, would have cost about $2,500. It works fine--my student used it for 3-4 dive trips before buying to be sure. I think $600 is about all I could have gotten for the suit, so you can save a lot.

Yes, Dive Right in Scuba sells a lot of different dry suit models at a wide variety of prices, and they will give you good advice.

When planning a dry suit purchase, don't forget to include the cost of the undergarments. They can be a lot more than you would expect.