Neoprene or membrane drysuit for new diver?

[Daryl Morse]

I just completed my OW and I used a drysuit since I live in Vancouver, BC. The shop I took the course with offered neoprene drysuits for rental so that's what I used.

Some of the LDSes have neoprene rental suits and some have membrane suits. A few have both. Since I've already tried a neoprene suit, I'd like to try a membrane suit for my AOW, which I plan to do right away. I'll probably sign up for a 6 month rental at the same time.

One reason I'm inclined to try a membrane suit is simply to have an opportunity to try as many different types of equipment so I'll get a better idea of what I like and don't like when decide to start purchasing my own equipment.

Another reason I want to try a membrane suite is because I really noticed the buoyancy change with the neoprene suit as I descended. I understand there is less buoyancy change with a membrane suit because the membrane doesn't compress, although I've heard a variety of different opinions on this.

Before I decide to use a membrane suit, I'd like to get a few opinions from the board. The issue I'm wondering most about is what to wear underneath a membrane suit, because purchasing made-for-diving fleece suit is not inexpensive, and no shops seem to rent them. Are there any relatively inexpensive alternatives that work acceptably well? I guess a factor in favour of a neoprene suit is that you don't need to wear so much underneath. Perhaps I should look around see if I can find a shop that rents a fleece suit.

Comments?

 

[String]

Id avoid a standard neoprene dry suit HOWEVER the compressed/crushed neoprene suits dont suffer the buoyancy changes at depth and are pretty much "tough" membranes.

Rest of it is personal choice - i prefer a membrane which has no ingerent warmth but wear a thick undersuit whereas others have thinner undersuits and a neo dry suit.

I prefer latex seals as find neoprene leak, others are different.

As for undersuits you HAVE to get a proper wicking suit or you will get exceedingly cold. Fleeces dont cut it.

Im sure its been asked here before though, try a search.

 

[decompression]

I just completed my OW and I used a drysuit since I live in Vancouver, BC. The shop I took the course with offered neoprene drysuits for rental so that's what I used.

Some of the LDSes have neoprene rental suits and some have membrane suits. A few have both. Since I've already tried a neoprene suit, I'd like to try a membrane suit for my AOW, which I plan to do right away. I'll probably sign up for a 6 month rental at the same time.

One reason I'm inclined to try a membrane suit is simply to have an opportunity to try as many different types of equipment so I'll get a better idea of what I like and don't like when decide to start purchasing my own equipment.

Another reason I want to try a membrane suite is because I really noticed the buoyancy change with the neoprene suit as I descended. I understand there is less buoyancy change with a membrane suit because the membrane doesn't compress, although I've heard a variety of different opinions on this.

Before I decide to use a membrane suit, I'd like to get a few opinions from the board. The issue I'm wondering most about is what to wear underneath a membrane suit, because purchasing made-for-diving fleece suit is not inexpensive, and no shops seem to rent them. Are there any relatively inexpensive alternatives that work acceptably well? I guess a factor in favour of a neoprene suit is that you don't need to wear so much underneath. Perhaps I should look around see if I can find a shop that rents a fleece suit.

Comments?

Both suits offer different features..........suffice it to say you'll love either one. My preferance? I dive a shell suit....I like the options for what to wear underneath and the excellent buoyency charicteristics. Also it rolls up very small. So what to wear underneath? I dive our Pacific waters year round and I use Polar Fleece from MEC. I hope that helps.......

 

[Bretagne]

I have no personnal experience, but i have heard of people wearing ski suit under the dry suit.

 

[Don Burke]

Before I decide to use a membrane suit, I'd like to get a few opinions from the board. The issue I'm wondering most about is what to wear underneath a membrane suit, because purchasing made-for-diving fleece suit is not inexpensive, and no shops seem to rent them. Are there any relatively inexpensive alternatives that work acceptably well? I guess a factor in favour of a neoprene suit is that you don't need to wear so much underneath. Perhaps I should look around see if I can find a shop that rents a fleece suit.

Depending on the dive, I'll wear anything from a t-shirt and shorts to sweats to my full drysuit underwear. Sometimes I layer. Poly under the drysuit underwear can get pretty toasty.

As stated above, some use snowmobile suits. Some drysuit underwear deals with compression better than others. Try what you already own first before you spend a lot of money.

 

[Paul Evans]

I,d go with a compressed neo (Not Crushed) and as String rightly points out you need to have a wicking base layer to keep you dry and warm, the clothing does not have to be diving kit there are plenty of wicking type clothes for skiers, walkers etc.

Do a search, there a some other threads on this you could try,



At the end of the day its down to personel choice.

 

[Michael Schlink]

I prefer my Trilam, easier and faster to repair, lighter and easier to pack and transport. where whatever underwear for water temp. Go to any sports store and get some polypropolene for underwear. I wear the poly only in 68-70 and if I need to warm up I'll throw on a sweatshirt. I have a heavy set of undergarments for colder water.

 

[eod]

Before I bought my drysuit I used the normal poly under garment I use for almost everything else when I need undergarment. On top of that, normal training clothes. It was ok, put a bit on the cold side when using a shell suit. This was in relatively warm waters, 15 degrees C.

 

[pt40fathoms]

Simply use long underwear that you can buy at Marks Work Wearhouse (you do have them in BC?) that wick the moisture away from your body. Marks brand if you have the stores, they will be exactly the same as the more expensive brand names, or Helly Hansen or North Face if you need to go to some other clothing store that carries sporting goods. On top of them you can wear most any other warm "close fitting" but not tight clothing. A fleece lined wind breaker, if it is not baggy will work fine for the top, and sweat pants over the underwear for your legs will most often do. If you have no fleece lined wind breaker handy, your sweat shirt will do, but beware, it may hold too much moisture close to your upper body.

Most importantly is your feet! Make sure you also purchase socks that wick moisture away, and wool socks for on top of them. Do not use cotton socks, they hold moisture and your feet will get cold! Your feet will be the first to get cold if you have dry gloves, so treat them well with good insulation.

You can peel away layers or add them as needed, depending on water temp and duration of your dives.

Happy diving.

---text added---

Don't forget to try MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op) They will have full fleece undergarments as well as long underwear that wick moisture. Prices should be good their too.

 

[pipedope]

In a dry suit is largely a question of suit use and diver choice.

In caves it seems that shell suits are more popular than neo.
For wrecks it tends to go the other way as many divers feel the neo suit is less likely to snag and be punctured on sharp parts of a wreck.

Shell suits work for a wider range of water temperature as warmth is determined by the undersuit.

Shell suits dry faster and pack smaller.

In the end, diver comfort is the bottom line so your idea to try several suits before buying is a good one.

Try this, as you go diving, ask the divers you meet what they use and why. Ask them what they like best and dislike most about the suit they are diving. You will quickly learn things that will help in your search.

There really is no 'perfect' suit, but there may be a suit very well suited to your location and diving style.