Dry suit sizing question

[ccie8305]

Hello all,

I just certified a couple of weeks ago as an open water diver and I had an opportunity to buy out another person's set of diving gear at a good price. I picked up the stuff and in looking at the dry suit it is probably a little bigger than I would like. It is a Gates Pro-Am 1050. The size is Large. In looking at the sizing chart on

http://www.hunter-diving.com/divingsuit_rubsizechart.html

it looks like I probably would be a Large/Slim if I were to order one new. I put it on and it feels okay. Are there any safety issues of which I should be aware or concerned about diving with this suit?

Thanks,

Bryan

 

[Genesis]

Here's what I'd do...

Put on the thickest underwear you will dive in, then the suit.

You should be able to:

1. Touch your toes, without the suit pulling across your back.
2. Reach back to your neckbone at your shoulder joint, without the arms hiking up.
3. Do a squat without the suit "locking up" and preventing you from doing so.

If there is little extra material when you do this, in the heaviest underwear you intend to use, it fits ok. If it binds, its too small. If there is significant extra material, its too big.

If its too big, you can send it to Superior Drysuit or a similar place and most of the time they can "fix it" for a reasonably-inexpensive amount of money. Just make sure you tell them what has to come out of where - its easy to make something smaller, but tough to make it bigger!

 

[ccie8305]

Thanks for the info. I'll give it a try when I get home. Is there anything unsafe about diving in a suit that is a little larger? In this case I am 6'0" and 170 lbs. The suit according to Gates is for someone 6'0" to 6'2", but they must be heavier because the waist is for someone up to a 42-44" waist and I am a 32" waist.

Bryan

 

[mempilot]

Thanks for the info. I'll give it a try when I get home. Is there anything unsafe about diving in a suit that is a little larger? In this case I am 6'0" and 170 lbs. The suit according to Gates is for someone 6'0" to 6'2", but they must be heavier because the waist is for someone up to a 42-44" waist and I am a 32" waist.

Bryan

The waist sizing will run a little bit big in most dry suits due to undergarmet clearence. My Zeagle Expedition GS is a size Med (I'm 5'8", 165, 34" waist) but it has a waist size several inches bigger than my normal clothes so that it will accomodate some fleece. With just some skivies on, it feels too big. With some fleece, just right. I can dive it warm or cold and not worry about sizing problems. Body hoop, the distance from the base of the neck down through the crotch and up to just below the adam's apple is an important measurement. This gives you the flex that was mentioned earlier when you are squatting. Make sure that measurement gives you plenty of clearence. The neck and wrist seals don't need to be binding tight. Have your LDS help you trim the seals if your not comfortable cutting them. Trim a little at a time until they fit comfortably. Use talc on them(latex) to help dry lubricate while sizing/trimming.

Oh ya, that GH suit has some nice stretch too.... but sounds like you won't need that with the slightly larger size.

 

[Green_Manelishi]

Thanks for the info. I'll give it a try when I get home. Is there anything unsafe about diving in a suit that is a little larger? In this case I am 6'0" and 170 lbs. The suit according to Gates is for someone 6'0" to 6'2", but they must be heavier because the waist is for someone up to a 42-44" waist and I am a 32" waist.

Bryan

"generally speaking", if suit does not fit *perfectly* you'll be better off
in a suit that is a bit large rather than a bit small. small = too tight.

 

[Bob3]

... Are there any safety issues of which I should be aware or concerned about diving with this suit?

Nope, having extra room in the chest/waist area is just fine, the extra will be managed by your harness. If the legs were a LOT longer they may be irritating, just a few inches is OK.

Reminds me of a couple interesting stories of guys wearing suits that were a foot or more too tall...