Drysuit ankleseal?

[fisherdvm]

Have anyone dove with ankleseal? I know it will just be another wet spot. But it seems like, in warmer climate, it will allow you to use just your own boots and fins. Any plusses with it or is it just minuses.

 

[Humble older aquaman]

Kayaking, wading, and some limited diving. OK, obviously not all ankle seals equal. Bottle style, with more surface area to contact skin better. Look at achilles area/hollow to see if good contact happening. Latex boot with 3mm wetsuit boot on top less likely to leak, give overall comprimise of seal and good foot protection.

Hoa!

 

[String]

Isn't that just going to lead to cold feet ?

If its cold enough to need a drysuit why get wet extremities.

 

[SparticleBrane]

Most drysuits with ankle seals are "tropical drysuits", so I'd seriously wonder about someone if they got cold feet in the tropics.

 

[rcontrera]

When I first started working for OS Systems (back then called Off Shore Diving Equipment), we had a drysuit that came standard with ankle seals. A review in SkinDiver magazine said that the suit was wonderful but the test diver's feet got cold so even though we were rated as Best buy, we only got four out of five stars because of that one thing. That led us to shift over to a latex sock foot.

We still have ankle seals on our tropical suit and the water sports suits. But, if you think about it, having a tight seal around the ankle will restrict blood flow somewhat and that alone will make the feet a little colder. Now, hang them out in a wet boot and that makes a case for cold, numb feet in the really cold waters.

Just my $.02

 

[TeddyDiver]

Have anyone dove with ankleseal? I know it will just be another wet spot. But it seems like, in warmer climate, it will allow you to use just your own boots and fins. Any plusses with it or is it just minuses.

The only occasion I could imagine myself using one is surfing (if I know how) while standing on my hands (if I know how).
Next you are going to ask about diving dry with wet hands

 

[fisherdvm]

No, next question I was going to ask, is how to dive dry with wet pants!

 

[RonFrank]

If it's YOUR drysuit, then you are using YOUR boots and fins even if they are different from the fins you use when diving wet!

I've never seen a drysuit with ankle seals that was not a tropical drysuit. I've only seen a couple of those in the flesh.

If you are diving in cold water, like anything sub 70's, IMO you won't want to wear tropical booties even with a drysuit. My drysuit has neo socks, so it's very similar to diving with just booties IF I don't add rubber sole boots, which I do. Where you add footsize is generally by wearing socks if diving neo sock drysuits. If you drysuit has boots attached, then they generally require a larger fin pocket vs. topical boots.

Ankle seals IMO are just another point of failure, and I can not think of ANY advantage unless you are truely diving tropical. However getting wet is fun if the water is warm, so I'm not sure why anyone would dive dry in warm water. Drysuits are more of a pain to doff and don.

IMO half of diving dry is staying dry once back on deck/shore. If you have cold wet feet, and it's cold outside, you will be.... cold.

 

[in_cavediver]

Ankle seals IMO are just another point of failure, and I can not think of ANY advantage unless you are truely diving tropical. However getting wet is fun if the water is warm, so I'm not sure why anyone would dive dry in warm water. Drysuits are more of a pain to doff and don.

My wife will give one reason for the 'Tropical' Dry suit - she is allergic to neoprene glues. She avoids as much as possible neoprene when diving.

Her choice - lycra skin or drysuit.

That said - she has a whites nexus and a DUI TLS 350 to choose from. No tropical suits....