How wet is dry?

[steve thatcher]

Hi All,

I've seen a lot of comments on the type of dry suit to buy. This seems to come down to a personal choice. But the thing I really want to know is how wet do you actually get in a dry suit? How much water entry is acceptable? Is a wet patch around the outlet valve OK? Are a couple of wet sleeves OK. What about a whole arm wet? When is the time to say this suit is not good enough and should be called a semi-dry?

I'd like some people's impressions on what degree of wetness they accept in their own dry suits.

Cheers,

Steve

 

[Lost Yooper]

You're right. Most people who dive dry do get a little wet once in while. Ocassionally, my neoprene wrist seals leak a little bit, but not enough to notice. As for the valves, they will leak if you let the suit squeeze too much, but not usually enough to worry about. Occasionally, water will dribble in a neck seal which can be quite uncomfortable for a few seconds. A good quality, well fitting suit will keep you pretty dry most of the time.

Commercial divers have to worry about this in contaminated waters.

Mike

 

[scubakat]

I have latex seals & once in a while I will get a bit damp at the wrist from flexing my wrists, usualy from taking my fins off.

-kate

 

[Jonathan]

I have a shell suit with latex seals and this does a pretty good job excpet when I leave a strap from my under suit through the wrist seal!

When I put it on properly I get a little damp patch by the dump and very occasionally where the air inlet is (I'm sure there is a technichal name for that but it is failing me at the moment!). By damp I mean that I can not wring any water out. Any wetter than that and I would be concerned...

I know some people have problems round the wrists and necks but in my experience it tends to be the bonier people and then those that have neoprene seals.

Jonathan

 

[DameDykker]

After I switched to long 20 cm conical latex wrist seals I only get a little damp at the sleves. Otherwise completely dry - if the zipper is closed

 

[steve thatcher]

Thanks for your replies. So what I'm hearing then is that you probably have to expect a little wetness around the wrists and the dump valve. Dry suit should not be interpreted literally.

Thanks Steve

 

[Bob3]

If you really need to be 100% dry, it is entirely possible. You have to use a hardhat mated directly to the suit with a dry glove system, usually with no valves on the suit.
About the only time you need to stay completely dry is in a contaminated environment. (raw sewage, radioactive cooling water, etc)

 

[Rick Murchison]

Over the years, reading lots of reviews and talking to lots of divers, and from personal experience, I have reached the following simple conclusion:
Neoprene seals leak.
Latex seals leak less than neoprene seals.
If you're getting more than a drop or two at the exhaust valve, and if you're getting *any* at the inflate valve I would suspect the valve isn't seated quite right.
Rick

 

[Green_Manelishi]

I've used both neoprene and latex seals and EXCEPT
for incidents traced back to carelessness on my part, or a damaged seal/zipper, I've not been wet.

You can be truly dry in a dry suit.

 

[detroit diver]

Steve,

The amount of water let in is so small that you can literally say it's a dry suit. Unless of course you have a hole in the suit like it did, and then you can call it a water balloon!!