Dry Suits for Dummies

[tbone1004]

Portland. Different sections of the south coast

thanks, cousin is going to uni in Portsmouth so had it on my mind. Definitely a different section of the coast, need to go a bit farther west, well about as far west as you can go to get to O3

 

[buddhasummer]

@buddhasummer is a savant, Listen to the man/woman.

Not sure that it's entirely accurate, but a welcome compliment just the same. Compliments are far and few between. Thank you.

 

[Neilwood]

I would second the opinions on O-three.

I bought mine and love it. The ability to get it custom fitted (as opposed to a MTM) is a boon IMHO. I bought mine at a dive show they were at with them assessing any adjustments required and then two weeks later it appeared on my door step.

The customer service is second to none IMHO.

 

[Clayton122]

Why oh why are drysuits so damn expensive?

 

[tbone1004]

@Clayton122 the parts and labor that go into them is quite large, but they're also niche with small volume. That said, they really are that much nicer than diving wet, especially if you are doing cold water diving all the time

 

[Clayton122]

Sadly there is nothing BUT cold water diving where I live.

I have been using a 7mm semi dry, and it "gets me by" but after 2 dives im usually pretty miserable. Been looking at dry suits but I just cant seem to afford one at the prices I see them. I have been hoping to find one used for a good deal, but so far none of them I can find would fit me ( im super tall, almost 6'5" ) so finding scuba gear that fits me at all is an issue. let alone used gear.

 

[tbone1004]

Sadly there is nothing BUT cold water diving where I live.

I have been using a 7mm semi dry, and it "gets me by" but after 2 dives im usually pretty miserable. Been looking at dry suits but I just cant seem to afford one at the prices I see them. I have been hoping to find one used for a good deal, but so far none of them I can find would fit me ( im super tall, almost 6'5" ) so finding scuba gear that fits me at all is an issue. let alone used gear.

I hear you. Deep Sea Supply long backplates are going to be your friend for bcd's if you don't have one already. At that height, it makes all the difference in the world *I'm 6'4" and it literally changed my ability to dive backmount*

For that and the drysuit, you have thankfully come here where you can be properly educated about what you're investing in instead of being talked into a DUI or Santi and shelling out $3k+ for something that isn't any better than something like an O'Three for $1500

 

[Clayton122]

My current setup is is

7mm Pinncale semi dry.
Under that I have a 3/5mm hooded vest,
under/over that I have a layer of Sharkskin.
And I have 5mm semi dry gloves and boots, and sharkskin socks.


It works okay, but I feel like the stay puff marshmallow man.

 

[lexvil]

Diving Membrane Drysuits. Seaskin Nova. - Seaskin Custom Diving Suits,

Fully custom made, I'm 6'5" 250lb, I had mine made with si-tec quick change silicone seals, pocket, zipper cover, warm neck cover, si-tek valves spare seals etc. and it was just about $1100, this was when the exchange rate was a lot higher than it is today. I recently priced out a neoprene suit and it would run less than $700 delivered.

The DSS back plate made bp/w divine work for me too although the plate and hardware are all I use from the complete set I bought.

 

[buddhasummer]

Why oh why are drysuits so damn expensive?

Because it involves the word "diving".