Has anyone seen these "drysuits" on ebay??

[Wrangler]

Yes ... Gortex like materials have been used in diving suits with a limited amount of success. However, the Gortex brand itself is not of the correct design to work while totally immersed.

The "other" breathable fabrics on the market use differing thicknesses of PTFE as well as different micro "holes" to allow air/moisture to pass through.

We, OS Systems, tested a fully breathable diving suit in the Galapagos a couple of years back and, while it had some construction problems, the material functioned perfectly underwater. The tester was comfortable on the surface since the suit allowed perspiration to vent off and kept dry underwater. Had we used Gortex, the test diver would have been soaked.

After continuing testing, though, we discovered that the material only kept the diver dry for about 150 dives before the PTFE began to break down from wear. I will only guess that is why the "other guys" only use a breathable material on the top.

While it may be great for marketing something "differerent", it still isn't the best material for diving. We do make a full line of paddle sports gear out of it though!

Just my $.02

Ray Contreras
========================
http://www.ossystems.com

You tell em Ray next you will be sayin you had a dive store in Port Orchard with your wife
LMAO
Keep smiling Ray its only Tuesday

 

[Scottri]

Waterproof and waterproof under pressure are very different. I wouldn't use a surface dry suit for diving even if I could put valves in them. They are made for different applicatons.


Scott

 

[rcontrera]

You tell em Ray next you will be sayin you had a dive store in Port Orchard with your wife
LMAO
Keep smiling Ray its only Tuesday

MAN ... THAT was a long time ago!

But you are right. And Scott is right too! Surface suits can work, but are cut differently, made with different material and may not hold up as long as a suit specifically made for diving.

Just my $.02


Ray Contreras
========================
http://www.ossystems.com

 

[ChrisA]

I was just curious...as I was browsing around on ebay today, they had a bunch of these "military immersion drysuits" for pretty cheap. Apparently, they aren't scuba drysuits in the usual sense since they don't appear to have any way to pressurize them. What I was wondering is, has anybody ever used these or seen them used?? How do they fare as a form of exposure protection for divers? Like as a substitute for a 7mm wetsuit? Here's the link to the sale...http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=36071&item=2239722616&rd=1

Thanks!
Ben

This is a great deal for a kayaker who paddles in cold water. A gortex
drysuit is top of the line for that application

The suit is not intended for someone to intententionaly swimm in but to protect a person who falls into cold water, like a pilot who bails out or a kayaker who tips over and can't roll up.

The purpose of Gortex is to allow water to get out of the suit into
the air. Gortex would e pointless under water but the perfect matrial for a suit that is mostly worn in air.