dive skin under drysuit?

[mbranson]

I've been thinking of trying a dive skin of some sort underneath my neoprene drysuit in order to make it easier to get on and off. There are many different kinds; 5 and 10 oz. nylon/lycra, nylon/spandex, polypropolene, nylon/lycra fleece and maybe others. Has anyone tried any of these as an undergarment ? I would assume that the nylon/lycra fleece would be the warmest, which might be nice unless it makes it too warm. I've seen prices anywhere between $30 and $150 depending on the skin. Any info on durability, ease of donning drysuit, added warmth, moisture wicking or personal experience would be greatly appreciated.

Matt

 

[Ladydiver]

Hi Matt,

I have both a nylon/lycra and a nylon/fleece (Polartec) dive skin. I wear the fleece when I want a little added warmth. I guess it adds the equivalent of a couple of mils of neoprene. I don't dive a drysuit, but I swear by my dive skins. They make getting in and out of a wetsuit so much easier. Especially if the suit is wet. They also make great, light weight sun protection for surface intervals.

I would definitely recommend getting a skin.

Cheers,

 

[SubMariner]

You have my piqued my interest... what problems are you having getting your drysuit off that you feel would be helped by using a diveskin underneath?

Personally, I can't see any benefit to using a dive skin. IMHO it really won't add wampth and certainly won't wick any moisture away from your skin; if anything, it will do the opposite.

BTW, my first drysuit was a 1/4" neoprene Wardell, and I now use a DUI trilam.

~SubMariner~

 

[Rick Murchison]

An interesting question, because it makes me suspect your drysuit is too small for you. Even a neoprene drysuit (like mine and yours) should be sized to allow for wearing a full suit of thermal undergarments, which makes it easy to get in and out of when you're not wearing them...
I do use a polartec "skin" sometimes, and I always wear wool socks with my drysuit - but if it's "marginal" drysuit water temp and I'm wearing only a bathing suit (and wool socks - a real fashion statement) I find it easy to get into the suit. Never used a lycra skin under a drysuit, but I suppose you could if you wanted to. Most of my drysuit diving is in the north FL springs and caves, and usually I wear a sweatshirt and blue jeans (and wool socks) inside the drysuit.
Rick

 

[mbranson]

OK, here's what's happening. I dive in the Pacific NW. I have a Posiedon Unisuit :viking:; not one of those old oddly colored funny looking things, but a newer black Posiedon Unisuit Exclusive. It fits great, the only place that you could say that it is tight is in the arms, I work construction and sort of have Popeye arms. The thing about this suit is that it is WARM. In the winter I wear thick socks, thin long johns and don't have any problem donning or doffing the suit. In the summer, when I wear just shorts and a t-shirt, it's a different story. I put the suit on in the sun, put on all the rest of my gear, walk down to the beach, and sweat like mad until I get into the water. It's like being in my own black boiling bag. When I get out, it's hard to get it off because it is stuck to my skin. That's why I was thinking that a lycra suit might help with the moisture problem and make it easier to get off.

Thanks for the input,
Matt

 

[Rick Murchison]

Well, now... you do need something between your skin and the suit. But lycra's properties don't make it the best choice. If you can get your hands on a Navy "Flight Deck Jersey" that would be the best - or a long sleeve cotton "T" shirt. Cotton is cooler, wicks better & will still keep you from sticking.
You might also consider sending your suit to Poseidon, along with your measurements, for modification. Drysuit companies will usually do these at a reasonable rate.
Rick

 

[SubMariner]

Like Rick said, cotton is great for wicking away moisture.

Both Pearce & I have trilam suits. In the warmer weather we wear:

Pearce:
- cotton T shirt. Long or short sleeved, depending on water temp.
- leggings. Biking or running leggings will do nicely and they come in a variety of materials. Usually Pearce uses whatever he has handy for mtn biking.
- thick cotton socks. (Still need to fill up those booties! )

Me:
- long sleeved cotton T-shirt (I tend to get a bit of suit pinch in the crook of my elbows, so the longer sleeves help prevent this.) Or a sweat shirt if the water is cooler.
- leggings. I have cotton and lycra leggings that I also use for mtn biking.
-thick cotton socks.

Does this help at all?

~SubMariner~

 

[mbranson]

You guys are great. It sounds like I need to wear pretty much the same thing in the winter and in the summer. Hmmm, or maybe I could have a heat pump installed, it would cool down AND dehumidify the inside of my suit. Sometimes I feel like a backyard spaceman.... hey! I think I've thought of a new motto!

Matt
-just another low budget astronaut-

 

[julie35]

We are going on our very first dive in two weeks! Our instructor said to bring Lycra suits for under our wet suits because they are so hard to get into. I was reading this site though and noticed quite a few recommendations to just wear t-shirts etc. Can anyone tell me what we should take with us just to make the process of getting the suit on? We are not supposed to need and added warmth so that is not a factor.

 

[samsp]

You guys are great. It sounds like I need to wear pretty much the same thing in the winter and in the summer. Hmmm, or maybe I could have a heat pump installed, it would cool down AND dehumidify the inside of my suit. Sometimes I feel like a backyard spaceman.... hey! I think I've thought of a new motto!

Matt
-just another low budget astronaut-

I have found that when shore diving, if you go for a quick dip in the water after donning the suit, it has the combined effect of helping to vent excess air and cooling the suit down. You can then return to waiting for buddies to finish gearing up / talking.

With the hot weather we've been having recently, my black trilam makes me think that were now the ones for boil in the bag as opposed to the fish.

Sam