How Much Dry Suit Does a New Diver Really Need?

[Buoyant1]

Shop around...look for ANY online dealer and check for close outs, old stock, etc... I picked up a $2,000 Dive Rite 905 front zip from Scubatoys for $700 because they had it on a rack as a model (that apparently someone bought and returned for some reason) and when Dive Rite re-vamped their suits, they needed a new model since it wasn't the "newest"! Thankfully, it was one in MY size, and I only needed to have the boots replaced because the feet would have fit Herman Munster!

E-bay is probably a good way to find them, but they are most likely used, no matter how hard or slight. I have a friend I dive with occasionally that purchased a suit for something like $500. and sold it a few years later when he upgraded for more than me paid!

Good luck!

 

[TSandM]

bodrgrd, as nobody else seems to be listening to you, let me congratulate you on the purchase of your suit! If it's keeping you warm and dry, and you can manage your buoyancy and reach your valves in it, then it's doing all you can ask from a dry suit.

You may eventually want something different, but you also may not. If it works, it works!

 

[bodrgrd]

I really like my suit. Now that I have been out with other divers and seen some other suits I have an idea of what I want in my custom suit. My next purchase will be a four gas computer I can dive trimix with, and then in a year or so I am going to get the custom suit.
I like the O'niel suit though. It is thick and tough and should last. It is pretty buoyant so I have to compensate for that, but man is it warm.

 

[elan]

You may want to skip the computer and get the suit first, all divers I saw diving trimix use simple bottom timers