New Aussie Member - Wetsuit Recommendations???

[Scoy]

Hello!

New member here from Australia. Great to be here!

Relatively new diver (>15 dives), open water certified. I'm getting to the point where I would like to start buying my own gear and was hoping for some suggestions on the best wetsuits out there.

I'd be looking at a 5mm as I mostly stick to warmer climates and obviously don't go past 18m.

I'm interested in members opinions on:
- Best brands?
- Best features & what do you like about your current wetsuit?
- Worst features & what you don't like about pervious wetsuits?
- Any traps/quality problems a beginner should know to look out for?

I'd like a quality one and don't mind paying up. I just want to make sure I get something that's worth it!

Long post. Thanks for reading!

- Scoy.

 

[Julius SCHMIDT]

Adreno is good.
Hello!

 

[chillyinCanada]

Hello, welcome to Scubaboard!

Very pleased to have you join us.

Personally, I've been happy with my Bare suits.

 

[Angelo Farina]

Based on my limited experience on the Australian Great Barrier in Cairns (just 10 dives there), a 3mm suit is plenty enough for thermal protection, and much more stretchy and comfortable.
I was there on July 2007. I do not know if during other periods of the year the water is colder, but in that period it was so warm that I had been fine even without any suit (as at Maldives or other tropical places).
I went down to 30m, and there was no thermocline.

 

[chris kippax]

Where do you live/dive?

 

[Yawana-Dive]

Welcome aboard Scoy

I find that Billabong makes a damn fine 5mm steamer.

 

[Mike1967]

PROBE WETSUITS AUSTRALIA : SCUBA WETSUITS : DIVING WETSUITS : SNORKELLING WETSUITS : SPEARFISHING WETSUITS : WETSUIT UNDERGARMENTS

 

[Pressurehead]

Where do you live/dive?

2nd that, where in Australia [as you know, it's a BIG place] ?
Sunshine Coast Qld [where I now live] I have 3 wetsuits:
1: Aqualung Bali 3mm [go to suit ,2mm vest and hood if needed]
2: Scubapro Sport 5mm [2nd gen].
3: Billabong short spring suit for further north.
The wetsuits [and dry suits] nowdays are fantastic.
Water temp was 21c a couple of days ago and two dives in 3mm was no problem at 27.5m and 25m
Now down south in NSW, VIc, Tassie and SA you can't get away with that, when I dived those states 5mm, 7mm [hate 7mm, used a semi dry] and dry suit , always used a hood and good boots down south also.

 

[scuba2you]

Just another opinion here, and maybe a bit controversial but I'm sold on the following features:

Get a custom made suit if you can, 3 mil for me, some like a 5/3 even in warm water for 1 to 2 week repetitive dives. Get the best neoprene you can afford, it matters for longevity, read about it. You can always get a shortie to go over it for cold thermocline dives etc.

Elbow length arm zips
Knee length leg zips
Knee pads
Spine pad if your using a backplate
And I wouldn't own anything but a front zip for warm waters, make that front zip with a pee zip, outstanding.

When I was buying suites of the rack, Hendersons worked quite well, just make sure they fit properly.

Welcome to a great sport for a lifetime......

 

[Pressurehead]

And I wouldn't own anything but a front zip for warm waters, make that front zip with a pee zip, outstanding.

Oh yes, how I miss my old 2 way front zip short sleeve with a jacket. The Navy had them for years, used one for years after.
Can't afford a custom suit now.
I have alterations done to some wetsuits: The Scubapro sport 5mm has a fly zip [in the right place ] very nice. Done by :
Custom Wetsuit Designs Brisbane, he has been fixing and making wetsuits for over 30 years.