I am an avid great lakes shipwreck diver and have recently moved to the PNW for a few years. As far as a dry suit is concerned, what type of material is going to be able to take on the wear and tear of beach entry diving with them dang barnacles, while being able to stand up to the abuse of penetration diving with the zebra mussels back in the great lakes? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated, my wetsuit is getting way to many holes...
dry suit - zebra mussels vs barnacles
- Thread starter scubajerr
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scubajerr:
We try not to crawl around on the barnacles very much, not sure what you do in the Great Lakes. Rock boots are something you'll want to consider, but any type of drysuit is fine with correct diving technique.
MD
While we all try to avoid contacting the wrecks directly, it is sometimes not possible to avoid accidental contact, and zebra mussels are razor sharp and are every where.
I wear a viking dry suit that has double thickness rubber bonded over the entire knees, shin, and shoulders down to the elbows.
As for gloves the kevlar faced palms and finger tips last about 5 x longer than standard neoprene. Bare suits offers these.
Abyss Drysuits offers kevlar on their suits and even has a full kevlar verson in their commercial line.
Mike D
I wear a viking dry suit that has double thickness rubber bonded over the entire knees, shin, and shoulders down to the elbows.
As for gloves the kevlar faced palms and finger tips last about 5 x longer than standard neoprene. Bare suits offers these.
Abyss Drysuits offers kevlar on their suits and even has a full kevlar verson in their commercial line.
Mike D
scubajerr:
mddolson:
My new suit is Kevlar, but I'm trying to avoid testing it's ability
I used the comparison of the two strictly for worse case scenarios, brushing up onto either is not very wise. The holes on my westuit are from age (seams falling apart, etc) not from running into things, hence I need a new suit.I have been told a lot of different suggestions when it comes to durability (except kevlar which makes the most sense) of dry suits. There appears to be followers of heavy duty tri-laminate and crushed neoprene, both claiming good durability. I am just curious as to how much "abuse" these can take.
What is the ballpark price of a Viking? And do you know if you can get them custom?
What is the ballpark price of a Viking? And do you know if you can get them custom?
My costs are a little out because of exchange (I'm in Canada)
The Pro1000 is their med wt suit 1000 gms/sq meter
I think they are about $1000 US
Their heavy commercial suit is the HD, material is 50% thicker at 1500gr/sq meter. I think they are around $1300 US.
Viking made it's name and reputation of being a tough suit by supplying North Sea oil well divers with drysuits.
I wore the Pro1000 and got 800 dives out of it
I am now wearing an HD, with about 300 dives, it still like new,
They make a sport extreme, Bilaminate suit, I cannot comment on these, I have no experience with them
Custom ? I don't think so, but they have a wide range of sizes.
They come in 4 basic sizes, 1.2. 3. and 4 They also come in tall or wide As an example I'm 250 lb and 6 ft tall, 48" chest, 40" waist. I wear a 3 Wide. It is the same width as a 4, but only for 6 ft where a four is for 6 ft 6 in tall
Here's the link to their web page and size chart :
http://www.dyk-brand.se/sidor/viking2.htm
good luck
Mike
The Pro1000 is their med wt suit 1000 gms/sq meter
I think they are about $1000 US
Their heavy commercial suit is the HD, material is 50% thicker at 1500gr/sq meter. I think they are around $1300 US.
Viking made it's name and reputation of being a tough suit by supplying North Sea oil well divers with drysuits.
I wore the Pro1000 and got 800 dives out of it
I am now wearing an HD, with about 300 dives, it still like new,
They make a sport extreme, Bilaminate suit, I cannot comment on these, I have no experience with them
Custom ? I don't think so, but they have a wide range of sizes.
They come in 4 basic sizes, 1.2. 3. and 4 They also come in tall or wide As an example I'm 250 lb and 6 ft tall, 48" chest, 40" waist. I wear a 3 Wide. It is the same width as a 4, but only for 6 ft where a four is for 6 ft 6 in tall
Here's the link to their web page and size chart :
http://www.dyk-brand.se/sidor/viking2.htm
good luck
Mike
scubajerr:
Hey Jerr, both neoprene and shell (bi/tri-lam) work around these parts. I concur about the Rock boots and Kevlar gloves, Whites makes both, mine have 200+ dives on them and still look pretty good. I have a Whites Aqua Pro Drysuit with 200+ dives on it as well and it's held up well to many barnacle bites. They do custom suits as well and the prices are very competitive. Good luck!
I dive in the PNW year round and the biggest problem I have is Oyster shells. I've seen people get cuts in light weight Bi/Tri lam suits but I have a heavy duty bi lam suit made by USIA and I've never had a problem. I dive a site that has thousands of Oysters and other sharp critters and I've never put a hole in my suit. I did get a small slice in a boot once but not in the suit itself.
Scott
Scott
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