drysuits

[Warren_L]

It isn't so much the amount of air you breathe, but rather the negative relative buoyancy you experience with a steel tank vs. an aluminum tank that allows you to reduce the amount of lead you wear as chances are, you will need more lead in your drysuit (assuming you have a 7mm neoprene drysuit) than your wetsuit.

 

[smrtblnddiver]

Another thing about neoprene (and the part I hated) they take forever to dry.

I know people who have the Apollo and some hate it and some love it. I would suggest checking out other brands (which will most likely mean going to a different shop) before you settle on one.

My ex-bf got talked into getting one (over something more expensive) and regretted it from day one.

I dive a tri-laminate and used to have a neoprene and am SO much happier now. I had to get mine custom made however, they are not made with women's bodies in mind.

Pm me if you'd like information about other shops in the area to check out other brands.

 

[2Dive4fun]

Christine,

I have a new 6.5mm dry suit that was for my daughter. She is your size. The good news is I live in the Seattle area and you can try it on and dive it befor you buy. I will sell it for $300.

XS hard boots
Si-Tech swivel valves.
Rear Entry sholder zipper.
Neoprene seals.
Knee Pads.

Womens size 7 or 9
I also have a size 5 with only 6 dives for $250

I will sell it without valves for $175

PM me if you would like to see it. I went a little crazy and purchased too much gear for my daughter and youngest son. Now I just want to clear out some room in my garage. The kids hold out for warm water dive trips. We are off to Florida next week for some dive fun.

Scott

 

[2Dive4fun]

Sorry about the last picture. The BMW is not for sale.

I will try to attach the right picture.

 

[2Dive4fun]

I hope it works this time.

 

[NJDiveGirl]

diverlady once bubbled...
I have a 4mil compressed neoprene drysuit and it keeps me dry. Mine is a custom Abyss suit.

What I did find was I needed the latex seals. I originally had the neoprene ones as I thought they would be warmer but with my skinny wrists, the neoprene just could not conform properly so I got wet (tendons on inside of wrist protrude a lot). Same with the neck seal. I switched to the latex seals and now I'm dry.

While the neoprene will provide a bit of insulation for you, it's mainly your undies that will keep you warm.

Diverlady

Hey Diverlady,

youre not the first person to recommend the latex seals - I've been leaking a bit at the wrists - Ithink its time to make the change!

 

[diverlady]

NJDiveGirl once bubbled...


Hey Diverlady,

youre not the first person to recommend the latex seals - I've been leaking a bit at the wrists - Ithink its time to make the change!

As long as your leaks aren't from accidentally burping out air, make the change. You'll be drier for it!!

Diverlady

 

[ScubaJewel]

I have owned or dove just about every type of drysuit available and I have to vote for Neoprene. It hugs the curves and limits drag underwater, they stretch and are for my money far more comfortable. Yes they do take longer to dry off but it the difference between several hours or an hour depending.

The suit I would recommend would be a suit made by a small boutique company called High Tide. they are made in Washington state and have a much deserved reputation for being the best neoprene drysuit on the market. You can buy one at Scuba Set in federal way. Starfish Enterprise in Seattle, or Bubbles Below in Woodinville.

My husband Kevin dove one last Feb and March in the Arctic Ocean (under ice diving) in 26 degree water and he reported that he was never cold.

Best of luck with whatever you choose.

Julie Parkhurst

 

[SubMariner]

My first drysuit was a 1/4" (5mm) Wardell. Since I got a deal on it (someone had put a deposit on the suit then left it) they were willing to do some alterations, since the person who was buying was obviously taller than 5'4" me. At $600 Cdn it was a great buy.

However, as has already been discussed, there are pros & cons to full neoprene suits:

Pro
- inexpensive.
- easy to repair
- good cold water insulation, so less undergarments required.

Con
- decreased mobility than other materials.
- require the most weight to become neutral.
- MAY take longer to dry (depending on the neoprene).
- may be too much insulation if the water temps are in the upper drysuit range.

You may want to take a look at ALL the drysuit material options before you decide to go with full neoprene. There are pros & cons to all of them. If you do your homework, you can find one that fits both your needs AND your budget.

BTW, there are some great Cdn companies you may want to check out like Whites, Abyss, and Brooks. Afterall, who knows cold water diving better than Canucks, eh?!

 

[diveski01]

5'2" / 110 lbs but not text-book women's measurements (small hips, wide shoulders)

I started out in a stock 7mm Harvey's Deluxe AquaCapsule. HATED IT! The neoprene neck seal was always gagging me yet leaked like a garden hose full on at the slightest turn of the head. BRRRR! It was too much neoprene for anything above 40F and forget horizontal trim.

I now have a "custom" DUI TLS350 and am MUCH happier in it. Have had some issues with it being a little too big in some areas and a little too snug in others, even with a "custom" build. They match the closest patterns, not a completely custom cut. None of the fit issues are significant. You can get a "cave cut" that is more snug all around, but can put extra stress on the seams.

I like being able to vary the undergarments to match the dive conditions. If it's 40F in a PNW drift dive then I use my 400G Thinsulate. If it's 60F with exertion then I can wear lighter undergarments to be comfortable. Can't do that very well with a neoprene suit. Also, neoprene compresses at depth so your weighting is variable from top to bottom.

DUI material is very flexible and dries quickly and their workmanship is excellent - but they are a bit more expensive than some other suits.

DC has nice materials, excellent workmanship and lower cost relative to DUI. DC suits tend to be a bit baggier. You may look into the FifthDimension version of the DC suit, it's a more trim cut.

Anyway you go I'd vote for latex seals!