Dry Suits- requesting everybody's 2 cents

[ericfine50]

Don,

I have a CF 200 becuase I do all my diving off the NY/NJ coast. They are great if you going to be going into shipwrecks. If you are looking for somethinkg a little less on the heavy side, check out the TLS-350 and Andy's Drysuits @ http://www.andysdrysuits.com has some great tri lam suits at some great prices. A buddy of mine has one and it is a really nice suit, two pockets, slim boots (no clown feet).

For zippers - go with self donning, you will love it very quickly.

Extras - Get two pockets. They are great and you can remove the pocket off your waist strap, they are great for holding everything. Go with a velcro Bellows.

Eric

 

[Aegir]

Hi Don

I use a tri laminate membrane suit, a SeacSub model to be exact. I usually dive in around 1-2 degrees (celsius) water here in England in winter/spring so i need a warm setup. My undersuit of choice is a Northern Diver SPX 200gram thinsulate ( http://www.ndiver.com ). I aslo have a tricore undersuit from http://www.c-bear.com
my ND undersuit is tog 2.5 and my tricore is around 3.6 from what i can remember. I use weezle long socks to keep my footsies warm http://www.weezle.demon.co.uk . I tried hypercrushed neoprene (4.5mm) suits etc but i found them too buoyant. Of course neoprene dry suits are much warmer than membrane suits on there own. For gloves i just use plain 5mm titanium oceanics. I payed around 600 pounds for my seacsub dry suit and its served me v well so far. I have also borrowed a DUI suit worth around 1400 pounds for a day and found it no better than my own suit. I refuse point blank to pay out for a DUI suit, i find the prices are rediculous when there are just as good a quality suit from many other manufacturers. But hey , if you have the money

 

[Black Halo]

Anyone know anything about White's Drysuits?

 

[DevilTron]

Well I've been diving in freezing water (1 or 2 Celsius) in BARE 7mm neoprene drysuits and find them very good. The quality/price ratio is excellent too.

Oceaner makes some good drysuits too, but a little more expensive.

Go check BARE website:
http://www.bare-wetsuits.com

and Oceaner one:

http://www.oceaner.com

I just bought mine at BARE. It's a 7mm neoprene called "Supra Dry". Very good quality/price ratio. Very comfortable too. Go see the description at:

http://www.bare-wetsuits.com/bareshop/diveproduct.asp?dept_id=21010&pf_id=61304

 

[SubMariner]

These Canadian suits have an excellent reputation. Other good Canuck makes are Brooks and Abyss.

I haven't heard any disparaging remarks about any of these makes. And with the difference in US & Cdn currencies, Amercians can get some good deals!

~SubMariner~

 

[Okiecaver]

Hi Don,
I have both a Poseidon Unisuit and a Polar Bear trilam. Both are quality suits. I use the Poseidon for cave diving, since the streamlining is a big plus and the added bouyancy is not a big issue most of the time.

For open water I use the Polar Bear. I can layer more thermals on underneath if needed.

I'd say look for Fit and Quality. If you can , go custom. Diver s supply, Aquala, Andy's, and several others all have a custom service for little or no extra charge.

Also, look overseas. The UK has some great Suitmakers. O'Three, Otter and Polar bear are top notch.

Dive safe
Brock

 

[Aegir]

Don i strongly reccomend that you contact O'three dry suits in England. They are supposedly the best suits available, even better than DUI apparently. I e-mailed them asking for additional info and they sent me suit samples and a video. As if that wasnt enough they sent it next day delivery which must have cost them over 5 pounds stirling.

http://www.othree.co.uk

 

[ericfine50]

Aegir,

What makes the O 3s so good?

Eric

 

[Aegir]

I dont know the full story becuase i have never tried them. However 99% of the techies i know use o'three and 03 sponser many of the british marine expeditions. They make there suits by hand and you are allowed to watch them make your suit if you like. They actually care alot about the consumer apparently, and the after sales service is supposed to be second to none. They only make neoprene suits from what i can see. To be honest i would probably buy an 03 suit if i could afford it. I prefer membrane suits but looking at the care and attention they put in to making there suits i would definately go 03 over ANY other make including DUI. Why dont you e-mail them and ask for an info pack Don, they may send you a video if you ask them I never asked for a video and they sent one anyway. 03 are one of those companies that dont advertise for the mainstream market, a little like mercedes and porche.