New to the ScubaBoard with wetsuit question

[Altamira]

I am new to the DiveBoard and this is my first post and could use some advice on wetsuits. My wife and I have snorkeled in the Caribbean on a cruise last year and are going to at least continue that on future trips. We are also considering getting certified for scuba (occasional sport diving only) , so we want to get a 3mm wetsuit that will work for either snorkel or dive in the Caribbean during the spring through fall months. Because of body shapes we are going to need to go the "custom" route and have talked to the nice folks at Liquid Fit, Aquaflite, and Wet Wear. All three companies have been very helful, seem knowledgeable, and prices are reasonably competive with each other for comparable materials. However, we want to make sure we get the wetsuit best suited for our needs so we don't need to "reinvent the wheel" a year from now and have to buy another wetsuit. My dilemma comes from the issues of compressability of the imported/stretch type neoprenes (all three vendors have a version of this) vs the the nitrogen neoprene material touted by Wet Wear. A rep at Wet Wear tells me the imported/stretchy neoprenes will compress at 80' to the point it will loose most of its thickness/insulation. Also, I don't know if the Titanium impregnated material is worth the additional cost. Too much has changed in dive technology during the 35 years since I did cave and spring diving in Missouri so I don't know what we really need in modern wetsuit materials. Too bad the wetsuit I made 40 years ago does not still fit! Thanks for any advice.
Guy

 

[DCBC]

Too much has changed in dive technology during the 35 years since I did cave and spring diving in Missouri so I don't know what we really need in modern wetsuit materials. Too bad the wetsuit I made 40 years ago does not still fit!

Welcome to SB Guy and thanks for your post. 40 years ago I was 17 and my body has changed some as well, so I can appreciate your situation.

I don't think that compressibility is a legitimate argument to be made for a 3mm suit. Regardless, you will have to be weighted appropriately at the surface and any compression can be easily off-set. In warmer waters, it's not a real warmth issue anyway (at least not for me).

 

[Herk_Man]

For the amount you will be diving, get a reasonably priced wet suit that is thick enough to keep you warm in tropical waters. No fancy bells and whistles needed. To be honest, my cold averse west texas farm girl wife dove a skin our entire time at Bonaire (just a rash guard really) and had no problems with getting cold. Beyond just the custom fit you require, you should not need anything that further increases the cost.

 

[fnfalman]

I have yet to dive the tropics (snorkeled, yes, but not dived), but I would be wearing a lightweight wetsuit too (1.5-3mm is my guess). Not just for thermal protection but also for protection from brushing against coral (not that you're suppose to be hugging the reef but things happen) or got swarmed by stinging jelly fish. I got stung badly by a school of jelly fish before. It ain't gonna happen again.

 

[MDJ1016]

When I first started diving I was much "larger" and thought the same thing, what kind of wetsuit would fit me. I purchased a NeoSport 3x and it worked very well. There is/are a type called super stretch which I am told works very well for us larger built people. Here is the best part-

Since I started diving I am about 60 pounds lighter and dropped a few wetsuit sizes. Trust me, and I think many will agree, this sport is adicting. My though is, and continues to be either you are a diver, diving as much as possible or you are a bubblewatcher that is certified a diver!

As to suits- do you know what size you need? If you want to experiment with size stop by your local dive shop. Most (if not all) have a discover scuba program (some free, some small fee), and you will have a chance to try wetsuits on.

Please keep us updated on your status, we all enjoy to see new divers taking the plunge!

Any more questions feel fee to send me a PM.

 

[CamG]

Greetings Altamira and welcome to Scuba Board / back to diving! I think you will find that the new wet suit materials would be worth the extra money. The 3mm would be pretty versatile but very warm if only snorkeling. The dive skin would be a great way to have both. I have used one or the other or both when I feel cold. I have found that after a week of diving by the end of the week I start to get chilly at times.
Dive skins are usually pretty reasonable especially in the winter.
Just be sure that a custom suit is a must several wet suit manufacturers have lots of sizes to pick from. Pinnacle and Bare are the two I am most familiar with but others have very liberal sizing available.
Regardless it is awesome to hear of your bolstered interest, the water is great come on in. Spring and cave diving in Missouri now that sounds very cool indeed. I have just became involved in cave diving and am interested in Missouri as future dive site. You may enjoy the super vis of the springs once again very soon.
Keep us posted and ask more questions if you like. Feel free to PM me if you want as well. Have a blast and take your time enjoy the process. Keep snorkeling and sign up for your dive training.
CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!

 

[Altamira]

GamG,
Thanks for your input. My size problem is not the weight so much as the fact that my sitting height is normal, but my legs are short in proportion to my height. So the suits I have tried on fit great on top, thighs, and calf, but too long. This results in the knee pads not being where they are supposed to be, and the bottom of the suit extending below the ankle. I had this same problem 40 years ago and wound up having making my own 7mm suit. Also, I may go to a 5mm suit to keep my options open for dives in cooler water.
Although it has been many years since I have cave dived, there is one thing I can tell you from those experiences--be very, very careful. The most frightened I have ever been in my life were on two separate dives, on one of which my tank caught on the roof, and I got stuck between the roof and the floor. The other occurred when our crystal clear water suddenly turned into a narrow rock tube that looked like it was filled with milk because it rained somewhere and the inflow dumped a ton of dirt and mud into the water upstream from where we were. There is nothing to get the heart beating like going hand over hand along a rope to find your exit when you can't see your hands. Oh yea, that was fun!
Guy

 

[Latitude 59]

Got a custom 3 mil fullsuit from Aquaflight and was very pleased with glove fit, minimal water fluctuation in suit, got second one 2 years ago and again, the fit was marvelous and special lining makes it MUCH easier to don/doff and dries faster inside. (Worth the price IMO). Got a custom suit for my son who is 6'3" with a 29" waist and he loved it, also fit perfectly. Pinnacle stretch 3 mil does compress at depth so depends on personal warmth factor you are looking for. Depending on type of kneepads, might be able to get a stock suit altered for very reasonable.

 

[knotical]

I'm far from an expert in this area, but from what I read:
All neoprene you're likely to run in to has nitrogen in the cells. I think all wetwear is saying is that they have a stretch type neoprene, and another more typical neoprene that holds up better to repeated compression / decompression cycles.

Another manufacturer has a somewhat informative page here:
About Wet Suit Materials

 

[Altamira]

After trying on every wetsuit I could find locally, I think I am going to order the Bare 3mm Elastek from Scuba.com and try that for fit before I jump into the custom suits. As a side note, the folks at Scuba.com have been fantastic in giving me very helpful and friendly advice without trying to push me into more expensive items. Of the people I have spoken to about custom suits, I personally found Aquaflite to be the most responsive and helpful, so if I have to do custom, I will likely go with them. Thanks for all of you very helpful suggestions.
Guy