I have a custom Whites Nuytpro suit, this suit has since been replaced by the 45 anniversary suit. My suit has held up very well and it keeps me nice and warm in cold water. My only complaint is that it's a little bulky and heavy. One of by dive buddies has a custom DUI suit, it too is very nice. I don't know if it's $600.00 nicer than my whites.
Need feedback on Whites drysuits
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wetbehindtheear
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I've got about 35 dives on my Whites Catalyst. I got it custom cut, with latex neck and wrist seals, with the Whites version rock boots. Overall, I like the suit. Watch the measurements though. Mine was custom, but doesn't fit perfectly. Insist that your lds measure you twice. I like the rockboots, but they are a pain to lace up. They come with neoprene soft socks for inside the suit - these are incredibly comfortable and warm. No cold feet even at 38F. The suit is pretty rugged. I've spent my fair share of time running into underwater obstacles, with no major problems. I do have a minor leak - could be from the inflator valve - difficult to tell. I've dropped 6 lbs of lead off with this suit compared to a wetsuit. The flex panels work quite well, and I don't feel the squeeze as bad as some of my crushed neoprene friends. The suit bag is great - carries all your exposure protection. I got the pocket matrix plates, but no pockets - i seriously doubt i will ever get pockets. The whites hood fits tightly, and for the first few dives, gave me jaw fatigue, but i love it now. extremely warm when i need it to be. i got a pretty good deal - about $2K canadian with the hood/boots/custom cut/2 matrix plates. i did have to wait 5-6 weeks for delivery, and a friend with a leak in his suit waited 5 weeks for a "rush" repair.
Note - if your feet are > size 13, you're stuck with the attached boots. Whites does not have rock boots that will fit you.
If you're less than 280 lbs, I would however take a serious look at the bare cd4. it's way cheaper, and given that the self-donning is really only for peeing (i don't know anyone who can reliably zip in and out easily), the bare back entry with a relief zipper (6" zipper horizontally by your crotch) works quite well. the crushed neoprene boot seems to go into the rockboot quite well. My buddy with the cd4 is always ready before i am.
Note - if your feet are > size 13, you're stuck with the attached boots. Whites does not have rock boots that will fit you.
If you're less than 280 lbs, I would however take a serious look at the bare cd4. it's way cheaper, and given that the self-donning is really only for peeing (i don't know anyone who can reliably zip in and out easily), the bare back entry with a relief zipper (6" zipper horizontally by your crotch) works quite well. the crushed neoprene boot seems to go into the rockboot quite well. My buddy with the cd4 is always ready before i am.
Megamouth
Registered
we've been waiting for our Whites aquapro suits since Sept 19. When we put in our order, we mentioned to our LDS that there are people on this forum who've had bad things to say about the waiting period before receiving their drysuits. The LDS assured us that this would not happen - that it would likely only take a couple of weeks. He said the people on the forum were likely dealing with dive shops that were sitting on orders, hence, the delay...etc...
One week after we put in our order, the LDS called us to say that the Whites factory ran out of one of the colour fabrics we wanted!! :banging: So we've decided to go with all black.
It is now approaching the fifth week of waiting for our suits to arrive. :google: We are, to say the list, very frustated. Don't know what to do in the mean time.
One week after we put in our order, the LDS called us to say that the Whites factory ran out of one of the colour fabrics we wanted!! :banging: So we've decided to go with all black.
It is now approaching the fifth week of waiting for our suits to arrive. :google: We are, to say the list, very frustated. Don't know what to do in the mean time.
I have a Whites 45th anniversary wetsuit. Friendly people but they are in Canada and you have to ship to Washington State to avoid import problems. They go once a week and bring goods to factory. Makes for slow turn around. The way they attach seals you pretty much have to return for seal replacement. 6 weeks and $250. My next suit will be DUI. On the positive sidr I never got cold and stayed dry to seals gave out.
Brian
Brian
Ive been to the Whites factory a few times in the last year (just across the straights). Whites has a contract making suites for Special Forces and were slammed with orders with all the stuff going on around the planet. That may explain the dely... or maybe their just slow.
The pocket matrix came from the sf suits where one dive you need a bottle for an RB and the next dive you need a dry pocket for secret squirrel stuff etc. The matrix has been redesigned since the first time I saw it and looks to be more stable, but in all honesty Ive gotta say Im not a big matrix fan (glue em on and Im good to go).... maybe when I get a rebreather and an MP5...
The suits themselves appear to be made for stout. I definitely get the feeling that the people at Whites care about their product and take pride in their work. Frank (Whites owner) is always trying to improve their products; most of their designs are tested by working commercial divers who, as a matter of course, beat the hell out of their suites. On our last visit, we were there a few days before DEMA and Frank (more than just a little busy getting ready for the trip) still took time to listen to feedback on the suits my friends had been using and help us sizing some new ones.
My main suit is a DUI CF-200 which I love. I recently got my Whites suit through sweet deal Whites made for our dive rescue team. Ive only had a few dives in it but, so far, I like it.
Their boots were also designed for the sf suits and kick butt (nothing more embarrassing than falling on your ass while trying to stealth your way onto an enemy ship). Theyre worth a look no matter what suit you end up with (I use mine with my CF 200).
Id be interested in any feedback you guys have once you do get your suits, I might have a chance to pass it on on our next visit.
Dave
PS Im in no way affiliated with Whites, its just that a boat ride over to Sydney now and then to look at dive gear beats the heck out of a day at work.
The pocket matrix came from the sf suits where one dive you need a bottle for an RB and the next dive you need a dry pocket for secret squirrel stuff etc. The matrix has been redesigned since the first time I saw it and looks to be more stable, but in all honesty Ive gotta say Im not a big matrix fan (glue em on and Im good to go).... maybe when I get a rebreather and an MP5...
The suits themselves appear to be made for stout. I definitely get the feeling that the people at Whites care about their product and take pride in their work. Frank (Whites owner) is always trying to improve their products; most of their designs are tested by working commercial divers who, as a matter of course, beat the hell out of their suites. On our last visit, we were there a few days before DEMA and Frank (more than just a little busy getting ready for the trip) still took time to listen to feedback on the suits my friends had been using and help us sizing some new ones.
My main suit is a DUI CF-200 which I love. I recently got my Whites suit through sweet deal Whites made for our dive rescue team. Ive only had a few dives in it but, so far, I like it.
Their boots were also designed for the sf suits and kick butt (nothing more embarrassing than falling on your ass while trying to stealth your way onto an enemy ship). Theyre worth a look no matter what suit you end up with (I use mine with my CF 200).
Id be interested in any feedback you guys have once you do get your suits, I might have a chance to pass it on on our next visit.
Dave
PS Im in no way affiliated with Whites, its just that a boat ride over to Sydney now and then to look at dive gear beats the heck out of a day at work.
Megamouth
Registered
Hi, my husband and I dove our Whites and we're very satisfied with their performance. They fit really well and the seals were great. It made us forget (well, sort of) the long wait before we got them - waited almost 7weeks.
One bad point about the dry suit though: we had a hard time with the drysuit whip. We're enrolled in the Padi Dry Suit Specialty course right now. As part of the skills required to complete the course, you need to remove and replace your BCD. That involves removing the dry suit whip in order to remove the BCD entirely.
The whip's connector is designed in such a way (wing like holders) that it makes it almost impossible for us to hold on to it to reconnect the whip to the drysuit inflator. Neither one of us could grip the "wings" with our wet gloves to stuff the connector back into the inflator. It kept slipping out of my hands during the exercise. It seems like it's a design flaw with the whip that came with the suit or, it could be that we're newbies and need practice. Any tips and pointers would be appreciated.
One bad point about the dry suit though: we had a hard time with the drysuit whip. We're enrolled in the Padi Dry Suit Specialty course right now. As part of the skills required to complete the course, you need to remove and replace your BCD. That involves removing the dry suit whip in order to remove the BCD entirely.
The whip's connector is designed in such a way (wing like holders) that it makes it almost impossible for us to hold on to it to reconnect the whip to the drysuit inflator. Neither one of us could grip the "wings" with our wet gloves to stuff the connector back into the inflator. It kept slipping out of my hands during the exercise. It seems like it's a design flaw with the whip that came with the suit or, it could be that we're newbies and need practice. Any tips and pointers would be appreciated.
Great quality suits. Someday soon I'll grab me a custom catalyst.
wetbehindtheear
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you can find a custom catalyst on sale for under $2K in the toronto area. just remember - measure twice (at least), and check the seals when you get them - they had a problem with lack of surface prep (4-5 week repair turnaround time).
There's like 50 measurements. It's insane.
My friend toured the facility on the island and was very impressed with the joint.
My friend toured the facility on the island and was very impressed with the joint.
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