Drysuit choice...

[CompuDude]

I see tech divers from all agencies (including GUE) wearing drysuits made by many, many different manufacturers. DUI does not have anything approaching a monopoly on drysuits for tech diving... unless, perhaps, you are part of the WKPP. But I can't really speak to that.

There are reasons why GUE has a preference for the cave cut DUI suits, but I'm not aware of any hard and fast rules that say you MUST dive that. In fact, I know a few pretty serious GUE DIR divers who wear non DUI suits, so I'm pretty sure you're free to get what works best for you... AND your team.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

The best trilam suit I ever owned was made by Diamond. It had heavier fabric and better seams than a TLS-350, had the heaviest duty dry suit zipper I have ever seen, had excellent seals, superb si-tech valves and a self entry cut that acheived a good compromise between ease of donning and streamlining.

 

[The_DivePirate]

I've heard great things about the diving concept suits as well.

I had a BARE XCD2 Tech drysuit (crushed neoprene). It's a very good quality suit, but I hated the built in boots and honestly the suit was a little baggy for my personal taste. I would definitely own another one in a heart beat, but I would get one that was better fitting and I would get it with a rock boot type system instead of the built in boots.

I currently own a Mobbys Armor shell (older model before they were bought out and quality suffered) It's a nice quality trilaminate suit and is much more flexible in the water than my Bare suit. I've had DUI turbo soles put on the suit, which is very nice compared to the boots that they had on it. It's a great suit.

My next suit will most likely be a DUI or Diving Concept suit, but at that same time I won't turn down consideration from other vendors as well. There will be features that I look for such as self donning, the boot system, fit, flexibility, ease of traveling with, etc. So to answer your question, DUI isn't the only solution. Figure out what you want in a suit and seek out vendor who make suits with the features that you want and go from there.

I owned a DC for my first suit and the only thing I have too say is "POS" That would be peice of, well you get the idea. The LDS where I live really pushes them and everyone that I know that has them ranging from the Neo Z to the custom cut trilam, self don or rear entry, LEAK!! The slippers they call boots may be fine for sandy beach entries or boat diving, but here in the PNW we have rocky shores and sharp edges on the boulders of our jetty's for access. I wore a hole the heel of my boots after only 100-150 dives, and the flaps for the bellows pockets that I paid extra for, well let's just say a little seam glue didn't fix where they went a little deep with the corner tack stitches. Oh yeah, after the first 3 dives where the person putting on the neck seal gouged a HUGE chunk out of it, gave way!! Did I say, POS? Step up and buy a DUI haven't had a lick of trouble. Easy access to the valves, excellent warranty, and hell, they look SEXY. 2500 is nothing my custom cut 50/50 450clx signature with zips and relief valve and all the whistles, with the liteloft extreme under garment, lists for around $4000.00. When I get out and I'm dry as a bone, I'm happy I spent every penny, especially after long deco stop in 36-38* water. Spend the money, you won't be sorry!!