dry suit selection

[Ray]

Hi all, I just found this forum, and thanks for all the informative posts - I will soon get my first dry suit and am trying to make a smart choice. Usually I'll have the problem of a hot day but cold water, but have pretty much decided to go with a neoprene with latex seals, front entry. I can probably handle the price if I can find one, but am having trouble finding a neoprene with front entry. I suppose the crushed type is preferable for durability, but how much does that cost you in terms of heat retention?
I'd greatly appreciate help on where to find such a suit, and any counsel you have to offer on it - brand names, accessories, built-ins to select when ordering, etc. Thanks

 

[Aegir]

Hi Ray welcome to the diving forums, i hope you find all the info you are looking for

Im from Blackpool in England. And you? let me guess California? : /

You should consider o'Three suits who make neoprene only dry suits here in England. http://www.othree.co.uk Apparently they are the best suits you can buy along with DUI. You may also learn something if you read Dons thread on dry suits also: http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?threadid=240

 

[mbranson]

Ray,
You might want to check out the drysuit review in Rodale's Scuba Diving Feb. 01 edition. It compares many different suits and talks about the three basic styles (neoprene, compressed or closed cell neoprene and shell). I've been checking out drysuits for the last 6 months and was thinking about the Apollo Microcell, but ended up buying a Poseidon Unisuit Exclusive. It is standard neoprene, front zip, has a built in hood and could probably take a direct mortar hit. This thing is thick, though and warm (I dive in the Pacific NW and warm is important). The zipper is unique, it starts at the top of your right leg, goes up around your neck and ends up in the middle of your left chest. The seals are neoprene (not latex) and don't leak at all. It would be nice if the boots were hardsole (mine are latex coated neoprene). Hmmmm...... maybe they can be changed out someday. Ever notice that this sport takes on a life of it's own?

good luck,
Matt

 

[haggis]

good luck with whatever you choose, but make sure it fits properly. My personal preference is a membrane drysuit, but the good point about compressed neoprene is that as it is already compressed then as you go deeper it isn't squashed as much as non-compressed neoprene therefore you don't lose as much of the insulating properties.

 

[Ray]

Thanks for the helpful replies everyone,

Haggis: the membrane suit - is this the same as a fabric suit - 'trilaminate' and such? Is the compressed neoprene as warm as regular neoprene?

mbranson: is Rodale's Scuba Diving a scuba mag? It sounds familiar. Is it accessible on the web? I saw a review of 20 different dry suits found on the web, but did not see among them a neoprene with front entry. I will try to find info on the Poseidon Unisuit Exclusive - sounds like what I'm after - how do you like using it - ease of enty, etc. - where can I learn more about them? Did the Apollo Microcell have the same features? Why did you prefer the Poseidon over it?
You're right that the sport has a life of its own - not that I believe in evolution (don't get me started!). But in the last several days I've seen a ton of variations of suits. I don't understand why there aren't more front entry types.

Aegir - I imagine the water is chilly around England - but at least you have lot of ocean to choose from, and close at hand. I live in Arkansas, and a trip to the ocean is a rare treat. Thanks for the two urls - I had already read the thread - I like the o'Three but wonder about ordering it all the way from England - no one in the states carries them? I guess I'd have to contact them to get a price.

 

[haggis]

yup Ray, membrane = trilam. As for neoprene, conventional stuff is probably warmer while on the surface or at shallow depths, but I do know that compressed neoprene loses less of its insulating ability at depth that the ordinary stuff, kind of a case of what you see is what you get. Did I expain that at all, or am I just getting tied up in knots here? Maybe someone with a neoprene suit will be able to explain better...

 

[Aegir]

http://www.scubadiving.com/
http://www.divernet.co.uk/
http://www.skin-diver.com/
http://www.sportdiver.com/
http://www.asiandiver.com/
http://www.deeperblue.net/
http://www.simplyscuba.co.uk/ (shopping)

Hope these help a little. O3 have contracts abroad but im not sure if they supply anyone in the US. I understand your reservations, if i ordered something from the US i would be a little apprehensive myself. But if you get your measurements correct before ordering the suit then there arnt going to be any problems. If you dont mind the postage/packing then it shouldnt be a problem. I would imagine that they would even pay for the postage and packing if your suit didnt fit first time. Ill leave it at that only you can decide Ray


About front entry suits..most people shun them because the zip makes your torso rigid.

 

[Ray]

Hiya,

Aegir - Thanks for all the urls - I learned a lot from them, and finally found a U.S. distributer for the Poseidon Unisuit Exclusive, which is looking like what I'm after. I'd really like to hear from mbranson though, to see if you can really put it on by yourself.

haggis - mbranson's post said that the Unisuit is standard neoprene, so if I get it I'll just have to live with the compression problem. Do you prefer neoprene or latex seals?

 

[haggis]

I have the best of both worlds! I have neoprene wrist seals and a latex neck seal, which is just the way I prefer it. I used to have latex wrist seals but they get quite a lot of abuse and I think neoprene lasts longer (of course you can get heavy duty latex seals but some people find them more restricting (especially around the neck which isn't a good thing).

Enjoy not being wet with your drysuit and make sure you learn how to "drive" it before you do anything too adventurous. A few of my friends have had great fun with uncontrolled feet first ascents (thankfully from shallow depths) when first using a drysuit. Oh and also condider that you'll probably need a lot more lead than you're used to...just don't strain your back lifting it all!

 

[mbranson]

Ray,
Scuba Diving mag is on the web - it's at http://www.scubadiving.com/ As near as I can tell, pretty much everything in the magazine is on their website. Actually they did a review of the Poseidon Unisuit a couple of years ago. To be honest with you, I got the Unisuit because I got a hell of a deal on it. It just happened to be pretty much exactly what I was looking for. I did just hear that there is some flap between the U.S. distributors and Poseidon (they are made in Sweden) so availability might be limited. As far as using it, it's a lot like putting on a wet suit with a mondo zipper (yes, I don't need any help to put it on); but with more room, as most neoprene drysuits are. Aegir is right, a front zipper does stiffen up the torso, but I only notice it when I'm out of the water. It has hurkier seals at the wrists and neck (boy do they have them at the neck). Some people don't like the built in hood; not enough movement they say, but I love it. The wrists have double seals so you can use either wet or dry suit gloves. A lot of people prefer a shell type suit because they can throw it on over their street clothes. Again, the compressed and standard neoprene drysuits are like wetsuits. You get to strip down to put them on. I wear essentialy long johns under mine. Some people wear a lycra suit under theirs to make it easier to get on and off. I would check out different manufacturer's websites, most are happy to send literature and catalogues on their gear.

Good luck,
Matt