Diving dry with a neoprene suit in warm water?

[Divingaddict]

First off, my apologies if this question is covered in another thread. I have been looking for awhile and haven't found the answer to my question.
I am a newbie for sure, but I'm definitely hooked! I want to start making the purchases on my equipment list, but don't want to end up buying stuff that is going to get sold in two years or so due to experience. I definitely want to dive dry, and I want to buy a suit that is usable in my local cold water spots ( California coastline ), but I also want to be able to use my suit on warm water vacations. Due to personal research and SB posts, I am looking at either the Scubapro Everdry 4 ( neoprene ) or the Whites Fusion. Can you still dive a neoprene suit in warm water? Have any of you done so?

 

[fisheater]

Wouldn't be a good idea for two reasons.

One, a neoprene suit's inherent insulation would be too much in the water and, assuming warm weather to go with the warm water, way too much while out of the water.

Also, the weight, bulk and long dry times would make travel a big hassle.

I dive a compressed neoprene drysuit here in California, but I dive with a thin wetsuit when on tropical/subtropical trips.

Why is it you want to dive dry there?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Divingaddict]

Two reasons:
1. The biggest reason is personal preference. Dry is dry! The option to exit the dry suit and head to lunch, bypassing the shower line and drying off is very nice.
2. I would like to get away with only one exposure suit rather than two. I will definitely be diving dry here in Monterey and really don't want to have to buy another suit for vacations.

 

[ajduplessis]

Drysuit IMO for warm water vacation diving is not a good idea (very hot), unless live aboard where cold showers are available. Its a real PITA to get dressed in the heat.

 

[krawlings]

If you are set on diving dry even in warm water I would go with a Tri-lam or Bi-lam suite. That way you can layer to the temp . of water you will be diving in. like every one has stated above even in a tri-lam , bi-lam you will get real hot on the surface while donning you gear . An if you get real warm while in the water with a wet suit you can open the neck and flush water in the suit to cool down a little . The dry suit you would not want to (Your diving dry). go with a 3mm wet suite for warm water or a skin good luck hope we have helped you

 

[RJP]

Drysuit IMO for warm water vacation diving is not a good idea (very hot), unless live aboard where cold showers are available. Its a real PITA to get dressed in the heat.

Ever done it? I'm guessing not.

I dive dry everywhere. Florida, Hawaii, Cayman Islands, Bonaire, Curacao, Turks & Caicos, Truk Lagoon, Red Sea, etc. Pretty much anywhere the water is not body temperature.

<img src="http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/RJP.jpg" />


And with the right suit (eg, not a neoprene suit) you can be as comfortable (or more so) on the surface. Here I am asleep at the Hilma Hooker site in Bonaire at around 1pm in my DUI 30/30 tropical dry suit. Try that in a wetsuit of any thickness and you'd melt...

<img src="http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/500/medium/WarmDry.jpg" />

OP - you'll not be able to make use of a neoprene suit the way you hope. Not personally familiar with the Fusion, but that's likely a much better choice as the suit provides no thermal protection, so varying the undergarments should allow you to dive it in different environments. The nice thing about the DUI 30/30 is it is a gore Tex-like fabric that doesn't make you feel like you are wearing a trash bag.

 

[mathauck0814]

Your ask is a common one, "I want to buy something now that I won't have to replace later". This is possible, but you need to come to two likely realizations.

1) You'll eventually end up replacing everything you buy (hopefully because of use and not because you bought the wrong thing).
2) If you enjoy a varied set of diving conditions, you will need to have kit that is specific to each of them - there is no "one size fits all"

My wife has looked at the DUI tropical drysuits a couple of times, but she's quite petite and gets very cold, very quickly. In her case, she would then have two drysuits.

Buy the drysuit that you want to have to dive in California AND buy the wetsuit that you want to have to dive on vacation. Don't skimp. Your enjoyment will be much enhanced by having good quality, well fitting equipment that is situation appropriate.

Happy diving.

 

[ajtoady]

Did a dry dive on Sunday. Air temp 75* F and the water temp a balmy 36-38* F . Needless to say I was roasting in my Neo drysuit with my thermals until water entry. When I did get in the water I stood with the suit fully deflated to cool down. I love the wet suit diving in the summer. That said I do like to dive all year round so the drysuit is a plus. If after the dive I want a beer I just put on a hat. Note though, this is fresh water, so no shower is needed.

 

[ddmattos]

I dive dry always as well. If it requires any type of wetsuit, I put on the Santi E-lite (trilam). I have yet to find something this suit can't do with the right undergarments (in my temp range 85F-40F). I bring my Santi E-lite and the rest of my gear minus the tanks everywhere. Most fits into my carryon (drysuit, reels, sta, regs, lights, strobe, lifeline, computers). The backplate, wing, 80lb lift bag, 6ft SMB, small knife, and eezycut goes into the checked baggage. The same gear I dive with off the New Jersey coast. Sounds like a lot but everything packs nicely and carries nicely in the water. I love my setup! (Thanks to the advice of Wayne Fisch @ The Scuba Connection )

My base layer is the fourth element drybase. The drybase not only wicks moisture away, it keeps the moisture away from your skin. Under armor does not do this as well since on the surface the wicked moisture evaporates into the air which doesn't happen in a drysuit.
I also use the zerotherm and arctic. Expensive, but after two years of use, they still look new. Always wash using gentle cycle with liitle detergent. Read the care directions. This system of undergarments need little air to work. As for for total negative weight, about 6-8 lbs in the tropics, up to 18lbs in the low40F range with layered undergarments. So you don't need a ton of weight while diving dry. Your mileage may vary.

OP, I was in the same boat as you a couple of years ago and tried the fusion path. I dove the fusion Bullet in Aruba and the skin was too hot in the water, not to mention on the surface. You will need one of the lighter skins, but even unzipped doesn't help since the outer skin restricts air circulation. It wants to stick to you as soon as your start sweating. The skin wants to fall when taking the top off during surface intervals (especially with anything of weight in the thigh pockets) and takes a long time to dry. I suggest going with a trilam suite with big thigh pockets. As for bubble management, use your BCD for buoyancy and just keep enough air in your suit to relieve squeeze and/or chill.

Sorry I wrote so much but my first instructor set me up all wrong and was lucky to find awesome instruction and guidance from Wayne Fisch and Sean Martini .

 

[Divingaddict]

I had not considered the Santi, thanks for the recommendation! I am sure that in the future I will have multiple suits, kits, etc., but in my starting stages, the more versatile my equipment, the better. Now my research will shift towards the " which brand is better " area ( which will never have a solid answer ).

RJP those photos are awesome! I can imagine the looks on other divers' faces. Classic.