How do you like this setup? (Single Tank-Warm water)

[SirBubbleHead]

I dive a drysuit all the time, and its miserable in the summer (duration of dives leaves me without a choice). If you're just going to go suit-less in the summer, then go for it. I think youll end up with a wetsuit eventually.

Well let me ask it this way then........


If you needed 1 suit for diving 60'++ in all weather in S. FL, assuming your diving 15+ dives a week....
what would you own. My thinking is the Dry Suit would be best. Everyone i have spoke too when i lived in FL agrees, if you dive alot, you need more protection then normal. Add too that, i'm 185 lbs 6'4 (thin), so in water i run a bit colder anyhow.......This all added up to 1 dry suit, with the ability to change the base layers for warmer or cooler.......Top side in summer in a 5mm is not comfortable i know. Last wetsuit i had in Fl was a 5mm gold core. Loved it BTW, just heard so many good things about dry suit diving, thought i would giver' a chance. I must be missing something, all the reviews i have read about the 30-30 in warm weather have been positive.

 

[PfcAJ]

Well, I worked at a place where we had dive masters doing 2 dives per day 6 days a week in south Florida over the summer. The lot of them wore no exposure suit at all, and one or two wore a 3mm shorty. 6 days a week for months on end.

You've got to understand that "Florida" is highly variable. Are you talking south florida? Gulf? Pensacola? Springs? I doubt you'll find a "one size fits all" anything, just like you're finding out in regards to wings. Ymmv...

 

[syntaxerrorsix]

I get the feeling that once you start actually doing these 15 dives per week you will be in a better position to asses your needs.

 

[halocline]

i'm 185 lbs 6'4 (thin),

You're probably going to hate the HP80, aka 'bowling ball with valve'. Try a LP85...

 

[mdax]

I'd go with purchasing two wet suits instead of the dry suit, one at 5mm for warm/shallow diving and a 7mm for deeper/winter diving. Course I'd have halcyon explorer pockets glued on both!
Don't buy a tank, rent some until you have a better idea of what you'll need and save the money for an x1 or predator computer if you're going the computer route. If you have to purchase a tank I'd rather go with something like an lp 85 or 95.
A 5' hose is fine for open water imo.
I went with a halcyon bp/w, got both the alum and steel for different configurations and I couldn't be happier with them.

 

[SirBubbleHead]

I'd go with purchasing two wet suits instead of the dry suit, one at 5mm for warm/shallow diving and a 7mm for deeper/winter diving. Course I'd have halcyon explorer pockets glued on both!
Don't buy a tank, rent some until you have a better idea of what you'll need and save the money for an x1 or predator computer if you're going the computer route. If you have to purchase a tank I'd rather go with something like an lp 85 or 95.
A 5' hose is fine for open water imo.
I went with a halcyon bp/w, got both the alum and steel for different configurations and I couldn't be happier with them.

Thxs, i will research the LP tanks in the 85-100 size soon enough.

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I get the feeling that once you start actually doing these 15 dives per week you will be in a better position to asses your needs.

That why i research now, i need start gear, and i dont want to buy the BASE items wrong and have too pay extra later on......

My last (and 1st) outfit, when i was collecting trop's off Jupiter was a Zeagle ranger mk20 and a g500 hp 80 tanks

I have not been diving in yrs, so after doing research on what i like now, on the market new, i posted here to get others thoughts. IMHO.... go buy this, and buy that, then dive it, once you figure out that your first purchase was wrong, buy more stuff......is for suckers.....<not a sucker.....


Still not getting any real suggestions about why a tropic dry suit in S. fl is a bad option......There is sooo much varied diving too do in S. FL why have 2-3 wetsuit's when you can have one drysuit? Plus, you are nice and dry top sides after dive, if you want to dive doubles, you get the benefit of extra buoyancy, Every DM that has dove Dry seems to prefer that when they get too use it? So with the DUI 30, that has a breathable fabric, and the ability to use different layers underneath, it seems like it offers some huge +++++'s too me? Whats the down side? Too hot top side?

 

[rongoodman]

I have a 30/30 and I like it, but there's not room for much more than a single layer of fleece unless you order it oversize. I'd go with a standard BP too, and a rubber 7' hose if you haven't already bought the Miflex. I'm a big fan of HOG regulators these days too, much less expensive than Scubapro.

 

[SirBubbleHead]

I have a 30/30 and I like it, but there's not room for much more than a single layer of fleece unless you order it oversize. I'd go with a standard BP too, and a rubber 7' hose if you haven't already bought the Miflex. I'm a big fan of HOG regulators these days too, much less expensive than Scubapro.

Thxs, i just got done reading yet another review on the 30-30 DUI, and the guy was diving it in 100+f top side temps Arab area.....
and saying it was more comfortable top side then in a wetsuit...i know, reviews sell products, but im sure with the right under garment, it will work very well for differnt dive styles.

As for the lack of room for layers, i'm not concerned too be honest.

Example: For ultra hot days and shallow water dives, i would use just a ultra thin silk under the drysuit......
If i'm going deeper but the water is still not that cold, i would use a
ultra thin smart wool
If i hit even deeper, and need more warmth, i will use a polyprop' thin layer with a little thicker smart wool.

I have many times, took a nap in a 4+' snow drift's in a polyprop' base layer, with a smart wool long john, with gore tex pants. I really find it hard to believe, that combo with a dry suit wont keep me warm in 55+ water. I also find it a stretch too think these two very thin layers wont fit together inside a dry suit.

If people are thinking about polartech, thinsulate, ect ect....there are better materials on the market, that are thinner. IMHO nothing beats a pure smart wool base layer.....and you can get it in different thicknesses.

Add a silk layer under Smart Wool to whisk sweat up to the smart wool layer, and with the 30-30, it breathes, so in theory, it should expel some
moisture also. Plus, smart wool has an unreal ability too not stink at all after you hang it too dry for a few minutes! HUGE plus for smart wool, hand it between dives, and it smells new every time...see merino wool wet suits......which is exactly what i would buy if i wasn't going dry.

So in short, it's all about the under layering from my research. And with so many good base layer products on the market, i'm convinced i can dive dry 90% of the time, and remain dry, cool, warm in water, and enjoy the versatility of dry over wet.










I have ruled out the miflex 100%

Funny you mention HOG..i was just reading some reviews about them. Seems like a good system for a great price. But i was spoiled rotten with the mk20's....You really think the HOG regs will flow as well as the mk17/25 in all conditions?

thxs

 

[syntaxerrorsix]

Thxs, i will research the LP tanks in the 85-100 size soon enough.

---------- Post added ----------




That why i research now, i need start gear, and i dont want to buy the BASE items wrong and have too pay extra later on......

My last (and 1st) outfit, when i was collecting trop's off Jupiter was a Zeagle ranger mk20 and a g500 hp 80 tanks

I have not been diving in yrs, so after doing research on what i like now, on the market new, i posted here to get others thoughts. IMHO.... go buy this, and buy that, then dive it, once you figure out that your first purchase was wrong, buy more stuff......is for suckers.....<not a sucker.....

No one here can tell you what is or isn't going to fit you physically or work for your diving style.
Your best bet to avoid "sucker" buying is to rent or borrow gear to see if you are going to like it.

Steel tanks are nice but are you still going to have ditchable weight? With 130's you are going to find yourself back on the boat with lots of air left.

What training do you have in regards to solo diving? With ~50 dives I'd hold off on that event for awhile.

Still not getting any real suggestions about why a tropic dry suit in S. fl is a bad option......There is sooo much varied diving too do in S. FL why have 2-3 wetsuit's when you can have one drysuit? Plus, you are nice and dry top sides after dive, if you want to dive doubles, you get the benefit of extra buoyancy, Every DM that has dove Dry seems to prefer that when they get too use it? So with the DUI 30, that has a breathable fabric, and the ability to use different layers underneath, it seems like it offers some huge +++++'s too me? Whats the down side? Too hot top side?

Dry suits have seals that tear and are expensive to replace. Your underwear determines your thermal protection. Two wetsuits are more durable and more versatile than a single dry suit designed for tropical waters and will be cheaper in the long run. I see no DM's in south Florida wearing drysuits. None. I average 50-60 dives throughout South Florida in the summer months.

The only time I wear my drysuit is in North Florida caves or long deep dives in the ocean during the "winter". I certainly wouldn't consider jamming my arm up underneath reefs grappling bugs knowing how much a new set of seals is gonna run me.

ETA, underwear has a secondary benefit of putting padding where it's needed to prevent the squeeze from becoming a pinch. Just something to think about.

 

[SirBubbleHead]

No one here can tell you what is or isn't going to fit you physically or work for your diving style.
Your best bet to avoid "sucker" buying is to rent or borrow gear to see if you are going to like it.

Steel tanks are nice but are you still going to have ditchable weight? With 130's you are going to find yourself back on the boat with lots of air left.

What training do you have in regards to solo diving? With ~50 dives I'd hold off on that event for awhile.




Dry suits have seals that tear and are expensive to replace. Your underwear determines your thermal protection. Two wetsuits are more durable and more versatile than a single dry suit designed for tropical waters and will be cheaper in the long run. I see no DM's in south Florida wearing drysuits. None. I average 50-60 dives throughout South Florida in the summer months.

The only time I wear my drysuit is in North Florida caves or long deep dives in the ocean during the "winter". I certainly wouldn't consider jamming my arm up underneath reefs grappling bugs knowing how much a new set of seals is gonna run me.

ETA, underwear has a secondary benefit of putting padding where it's needed to prevent the squeeze from becoming a pinch. Just something to think about.

Thxs for the good point i didnt think about.. i did not consider (the reason i ask questions in the first place) the durability of a dry suit, collecting fish (reefs)....and hunting bugs.......I honestly figured the suits would be more durable.....So i guess its back to the Merino Wool wet suit. Hell if i want to worry about screwing up a 2k dry suit on reef and rocks....... and ill save $$$ too boot. will just get a 5mm
to start, then i can add a hood and gloves if i need a little more warmth.

for the tanks, i have come off the size some in my list, dwn too around 100CF ill rent first to see what i like.