OP
scubaligament
Registered
Matt, I've been diving my Viking Pro for about 6 years, just replaced the latex hood/neck and wrist seals. The only problem I've run into is wear and tear on the shoulder/back zipper. I typically use a Draeger Dolphin rebreather when I dive, which has a round, second stage device (attached to the counterlung) that puts a lot of pressure and wear on the zipper. This pressure, combined with the extra weight packets (I usually need 25 lbs) needed for diving dry, conspire to wear out the zipper faster than using conventional scuba rigs.
Otherwise, Viking dry suits are pretty bombproof. The attached latex hood is great if you want to dive totally dry, which means using a full-face mask, like the KM 48 Supermask. DUI makes great suits as well, but they tell me that they cannot attach a latex hood to the suit, even with the new zip-seal system, which is kind of a bummer. I haven't had good luck using a full-face mask with attached neoprene hood--unlike a latex hood, neoprene is thick and does not seal well when the mask is worn over the hood. Getting kind of technical here, if you need further info please inquire.
Understand that you will need training in the proper use of your dry suit before diving in it. Dry suit classes cover things like proper weighting, inflation/venting, and emergency procedures, which you will likely have to deal with sooner rather than later.
Once you get dialed in dry suit diving procedures, you will love it, it's so much more comfortable. I've even used my dry suit in Hawaii when night diving, with water temps in the low 70s. If you are doing a more passive activity like most underwater photography, you'll be able to concentrate on the tasks at hand when diving dry, not shivering from lost body heat.
Hope this helps, dive on, "scubaligament"
Otherwise, Viking dry suits are pretty bombproof. The attached latex hood is great if you want to dive totally dry, which means using a full-face mask, like the KM 48 Supermask. DUI makes great suits as well, but they tell me that they cannot attach a latex hood to the suit, even with the new zip-seal system, which is kind of a bummer. I haven't had good luck using a full-face mask with attached neoprene hood--unlike a latex hood, neoprene is thick and does not seal well when the mask is worn over the hood. Getting kind of technical here, if you need further info please inquire.
Understand that you will need training in the proper use of your dry suit before diving in it. Dry suit classes cover things like proper weighting, inflation/venting, and emergency procedures, which you will likely have to deal with sooner rather than later.
Once you get dialed in dry suit diving procedures, you will love it, it's so much more comfortable. I've even used my dry suit in Hawaii when night diving, with water temps in the low 70s. If you are doing a more passive activity like most underwater photography, you'll be able to concentrate on the tasks at hand when diving dry, not shivering from lost body heat.
Hope this helps, dive on, "scubaligament"
