Hoods & Semi-Dry

[mwilding]

I am thinking about getting a semi-dry wetsuit and have 4 hood options.

1. get a hood with a bib
2. get a hooded vest to wear UNDER the semi-dry
3. get a hooded vest to wear OVER the semi-dry
4. get a dry suit hood

The problem I see is that tucking in a bib or wearing a hooded vest under the 1 piece might ruin the neck seal making it a regular wet suit.

That leaves options 3 & 4.

Any thoughts and/or ACTUAL experience in this regard?

 

[mwilding]

Also, is getting on a hooded vest a pain in the ass?

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

The bib won't hurt the neck seal too bad, I never saw a semi-dry with a useful neck seal though so the bib only helps. I have a hooded vest that I have used 0 (zero) times, it was too big a PITA for me. Have a dive buddy that swears by his over the wetsuit. What size are you, if M-L I got one going cheap.

A drysuit hood won't cover enough of your neck probably leading to more water exchange in the suit than you'll be comfortable with.

Chris

 

[Boogie711]

I dive a Mares Isotherm Semi-dry (or at least I did until I got my new drysuit!)

Anyway, I found that a drysuit hood was my best option. I never did try a hooded vest over the suit, but I suppose that would work. I found a bibbed hood screwed up the neckseal way too much, and would cause water to come in. The drysuit hood, on the other hand, fit just neatly over the neck seal. I never had a problem with water transfer or exposed skin, and I was diving at times in water under 40 degrees.

 

[FengShui]

mwilding once bubbled...
I am thinking about getting a semi-dry wetsuit and have 4 hood options.

1. get a hood with a bib
2. get a hooded vest to wear UNDER the semi-dry
3. get a hooded vest to wear OVER the semi-dry
4. get a dry suit hood

The problem I see is that tucking in a bib or wearing a hooded vest under the 1 piece might ruin the neck seal making it a regular wet suit.

That leaves options 3 & 4.

Any thoughts and/or ACTUAL experience in this regard?

I don't know where you're planning on getting your suit, but the Mares Isotherm Millenium that I just got from LP came with the matching hood. I haven't had a chance to dive it yet, but it fits quite tightly and is supposed to mate well with the neck seal. I'm planning on diving it this weekend, so I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[asemili]

Yes, some hoods are a real pain to get on and off. Regular neoprene hoods aren't that difficult, but when you get into semi-dry vest hoods, they are SUPER hard. You'll pull your face off with the thing.

I've got a semi-dry hooded vest and love it! Except for taking it off (which I cut my hair to help with), it's great. I wear an Action Plus Farmer John/2 peice wetsuit and when I need the hood I just put the vest on over my farmer john, then put the top piece on over that. It works great. No water seeps in through the neck seal, and what little might gets absorbed in the vest quickly. Vest types are best for absorbing that water that would otherwise run down your back. Bibbed hoods do a decent job of preventing that too.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I use an Akona vest/hood. It is not a bother to get off if you pull it up on your torso a bit before trying to pull it over your head.

It does not ruin the seal on the semi-dry and there are some models around with an exposed neoprene surface to mathc the neoprene seal on the suit.

I have experimentied with it both inside and outside the suit and inside is definitely warmer with less water flow.

 

[diverlady]

I used to have a semi-dry 2 piece which I used a bibbed hood with. The farmer john had the neck seal (zipped across the chest) so the hood was tucked under the jacket part. It worked fine and for me kept my hair out of the way of my first stage.

I now have a 1 piece jumpsuit and use a sleeveless hooded shorty(not a vest) with it which zips across the chest. It's nice and snug. It actually fits me better than my bibbed hood which I thought fit me pretty well. It is a bit of a pain to get off so I usually enlist the help of my buddy if possible. I can get out of it myself if I have to but that's what my buddy is for.
You can get a hooded sleeveless shorty that zips up the front so it would be like taking off a jacket and not difficult at all.
Here's one:

shorty

Personally I wouldn't use my dry hood if I had the option of tucking in a hood. I have long hair and I prefer it contained within my suit and away from my first stage.

Diverlady

 

[divinglife]

Both Mares and Cressi semi-dry suits (which I would recommend HIGHLY) come with their own hoods. Both are dry suit style hoods with the rubber seals to grip to the rubber seals on the suit. Henderson semi-drys have a built-in hood which makes them quite nice. The Henderson semis also zip across the front which eliminates the buddy-needed factor. Yes, using wetsuit hoods would mess up the seal as the suit has the rubber edge and would be up against neoprene. Best way is to check what materials will be up against each other at the seals.
And don't be fooled... you DO get wet in a semi.... it just takes longer.

 

[MgicTwnger]

I use a Bare 7mm semi-dry with an attached hood. Works great!