Drysuit Advice

[Stratk]

Ok.... I'm looking to purchase my first drysuit; I just don't stay warm in a wetsuit despite diving in 75F+ temps.

One question I have that I didn't see answered already is do scuba drysuits have buttflaps? I have to go to the bathroom between dives but I don't want to get in and out of the drysuit and stretch the neck and wrists out. I have a pair of hiking rainpants with a buttflap and think it'd be incredibly handy to have the same in a drysuit. Any of you know of a drysuit with this feature?

 

[Patoux01]

Eh, I'd say the best bet is gonna be a she-p there. Sorry 'bout that. There are some drysuits with a front-zip for guys, but I guess it'd become too awkward to: zip up, unzip, sit down without breaking it, etc etc if it's done for a girl. Some might have done it though.


OTOH, if it's just about "stretch the neck and wrists out", there's no worry to have about that imo.

 

[undrwater]

Out of curiosity, what kinds of wetsuits have you already tried?

How many dives do you do when you go out?

 

[Reku]

As long as you take the suit on and off with care the seals will last quite awhile - it's when you are rushing and a tiny tear appears that you run into splitting seals during dives or on land.

 

[PfcAJ]

Ok.... I'm looking to purchase my first drysuit; I just don't stay warm in a wetsuit despite diving in 75F+ temps.

One question I have that I didn't see answered already is do scuba drysuits have buttflaps? I have to go to the bathroom between dives but I don't want to get in and out of the drysuit and stretch the neck and wrists out. I have a pair of hiking rainpants with a buttflap and think it'd be incredibly handy to have the same in a drysuit. Any of you know of a drysuit with this feature?

Are you using a hood with your wetsuit? Hoods make a huge impact.

But no, no butt flaps. She-pee and a p valve is the way to go for number 1. Number 2 is another story.

 

[TheHuth]

I'd be curious what you're using for a wetsuit. I'm a total cold wuss. I cant stand anything cold. I also have a very low body fat which means I get cold in even a slight breeze.

That said, I'm perfectly warm in my wetsuit configuration. My dive last weekend was 59 degrees, and I've been in the low 50's before. I'm wearing a 5 mil hooded vest, 7 mil wetsuit, 3 mil gloves, and 7 mil boots. With all of that on, I dont even feel the cold when I hop in the water.

 

[Stratk]

I'd be curious what you're using for a wetsuit. I'm a total cold wuss. I cant stand anything cold. I also have a very low body fat which means I get cold in even a slight breeze.

That said, I'm perfectly warm in my wetsuit configuration. My dive last weekend was 59 degrees, and I've been in the low 50's before. I'm wearing a 5 mil hooded vest, 7 mil wetsuit, 3 mil gloves, and 7 mil boots. With all of that on, I dont even feel the cold when I hop in the water.

My standard diving rig for 75F - 88F (at depth) is the following: 7mm full length wetsuit, 3mm gloves and 3mm boots.
This past weekend, 75F at depth, I was in a 7mm full length with lavacore shorts & shirt underneath, 3mm boots & gloves. I didn't go hypothermic, but I was shivering 30 minutes into the second dive and I couldn't do the third dive from being too cold.

Yes, I dried off between dives.. I dried off, put on two fleece jackets... I just don't warm up between dives.

I've dove before in 65F (Catalina Island) and I used a 7mm full length with a 5mm shortie over the top, 5mm hood and 3mm boots and I was comfortable.

Usually the first dive I'm fine but I'll do three dives in a day and 20-40 minutes into the second dive, I'm shivering. The third dive I just bank on dealing with the cold from the start...

 

[TheHuth]

Obviously if you want to get a drysuit, you would solve your problem without question. But if you're trying to keep the expenses down, I would recommend trying a hooded vest. They make a pretty big difference compared to the wetsuit alone.

 

[Stratk]

thanks for the replies and please keep them coming...

One thing I've picked up thus far is a hood makes a huge difference. Seems so obvious and yet, I had completely forgotten about them.

Also picking up there aren't drysuits with bathroom buttflaps... bummer. I saw a kayaking suit with one and was hopeful scuba would have picked up on this nice feature.

...maybe try a 5mm hooded vest w/ the 7mm suit before investing in a drysuit?

 

[TheHuth]

See if you can rent one from your LDS first. I bought my hooded vest off craigs list for $20. It was brand new, unused. The person bought the wrong size and for whatever reason couldnt return it. It still had the tags attached. But I think they run between $100 and $200 new. So I would rent one for $5 at the LDS first and see if it resolves your issue. At that point you'll have pretty well exhausted your wetsuit options.