Dry suit styles

[DrSteve]

Hi Guys,

I had this conversation with my wife and we couldn't work out the reason. In the US, it seems that 90% of dry suit divers use a shell suit. In the UK I've seen mostly neoprene and a smaller proportion of crushed neoprene. In all the pictures I see form my old BSAC branch, everyone who is diving dry has a neoprene suit. I'm just curious if shell suits are available in the UK and if so, why they aren't as popular.

Thanks!

 

[chrisch]

Crushed neo and membrane suits are widely available and much in use in the UK (and all EU). They are way better than standard neoprene. As to the example, I believe some BSAC divers still use horseshoe collars - this is not representative of the UK as a whole, just the fossils...(or maybe they are very old photos and no-one has updated the website since 1963?)

Chris

 

[DrSteve]

Crushed neo and membrane suits are widely available and much in use in the UK (and all EU). They are way better than standard neoprene. As to the example, I believe some BSAC divers still use horseshoe collars - this is not representative of the UK as a whole, just the fossils...(or maybe they are very old photos and no-one has updated the website since 1963?)

Chris

I resemble that horse shoe collar, same for the single 2nd stage, the 12 inch knife and black mask! Well I did once. The pictures are certainley recent and I know that 10 years ago these people didn't dive dry. Just wondered why they would go for that style. Maybe it's a cost thing. I always thought the crushed neoprene seemed preferable to reduce the nip you can get with the shell/membrane suit.

 

[chrisch]

The main advantage of crushed neo/membrane is bouyancy. They don't cost much more and are very popular in the UK. Ordinary neoprene is somewhat unusual.

Chris

 

[String]

I see roughly an even split of membrane and neoprene dry suits.

Having owned 2 membranes i can safely say my next suit is going to be a neoprene suit with latex seals though. I definately prefer neoprene (compressed or crushed anyway) to the shell style for various reasons.