Review Seaskin Nova drysuit

[elZub]

Maybe that's why mine was shipped 10 days later than promise date.


Generally talking: I can say that in this period many factories and industries are struggling to find raw and processed material.

 

[elZub]

I bought the nova with:

sitech quick neck
sitech valve set

But I did not find:

- Tool for attaching the neck seal and Lock Ring ( the day I will replace the neck seal how I will do? )

- Tool for attaching detaching Valve

for who has the same configuration, did you find the tools?

also but is not a issue because I can download pdf, I did not find any manuals.

 

[admikar]

I understand that.
I called few days before shipping date to check and was told it will be pushed back one week. Fine.
That week passed, so I sent an email. Got a response that it's going for test that day and if all fine it will be shipped as soon as it dries out. That week goes by too and now this. Why didn't they say that OK we are going to test , but we don't have valve/hose/whatever, we will ship as soon as we get it.

Great, now I have to worry about missing tools too

 

[drk5036]

As far as I've heard, the tool generally isn't provided.

It's provided as an option on the website:

Tool for Neck Tite and Quick Neck systems. - Seaskin Drysuits Shop - Purchase Drysuit Supplies

This tool is nessary for changing neck seals on the Necktite and Quick neck systems. It is used to push the yellow locking ring into the slot on PU neck Purchase Tool for Neck Tite and Quick Neck systems. from Seaskin - drysuit supplies made to order directly from the factory.

seaskin.co.uk

 

[elZub]

I'm not sure, because In the picture when you set up the dry suit you can easily see it...
In the note I read this:

To take full advantage of this system do not forget to order a spare neck seal to keep in your kit bag for quick at dive site neck seal changes!

Why don't write...and don't forget also to buy the tools... otherwise you will be on the boat like a stupid trying to change your neck seal

 

[jstreetley]

Mine came with the Quick Neck tool in a little plastic bag along with some zipper wax and manual for the Apeks dump valve. As I have Apeks valves, I can't say whether it should come with a SiTech valve tool. It definitely doesn't come with an Apeks valve tool.

edit: wait isn't the SiTech valve tool the same thing as the Quick Neck tool? It's a multi-tool; the wheel for the neck ring, the cut-outs on the handle for gripping valves and the lever at the end for levering out wrist seal rings.

 

[lexvil]

I'm not sure, because In the picture when you set up the dry suit you can easily see it...
In the note I read this:

To take full advantage of this system do not forget to order a spare neck seal to keep in your kit bag for quick at dive site neck seal changes!

Why don't write...and don't forget also to buy the tools... otherwise you will be on the boat like a stupid trying to change your neck seal

Buy something like this

 

[rob.mwpropane]

Fellas...... there's an awful lot of tears being shed in this thread about delays. I'm pretty sure Seaskin isn't in the business of making people wait, it's just the way the world is right now.

If you feel this is directed at you,... it 100% is... please follow this > LINK

If you can't take this as a joke, we probably can't be friends.

 

[BlueTrin]

Fellas...... there's an awful lot of tears being shed in this thread about delays. I'm pretty sure Seaskin isn't in the business of making people wait, it's just the way the world is right now.

If you feel this is directed at you,... it 100% is... please follow this > LINK

If you can't take this as a joke, we probably can't be friends.

It’s not related but if that makes you feel better: Santi gave me a really good birthday gift on the anniversary of my drysuit order: they finally fixed the last issue on the drysuit I ordered Feb 2021 and I was able to dive it in a quarry Feb 2022 … (yea to add insult to the injury, I got blown out for the 8-9th time in a row from a sea dive in Brighton)

Thank you Santi for this unexpected present …

 

[wolfhounds]

I ordered a new Seaskin Nova (trilam) drysuit at the beginning of June. It arrived last week. I took it up to the Saint Lawrence River and did 7 wreck dives from Fri to Mon (yesterday), as part of an Advanced Wreck Penetration class with @Trace Malinowski. I am VERY pleased with how it worked out.

Dry Suits from Seaskin Custom Drysuits home page - Seaskin Custom Diving Suits

Their suits are all made to measure. I ordered almost every option they offer. The price of the base suit is around USD$540. Mine, with all the options was somewhere around USD$1100. That is including a Si Tech Quick Neck system with silicone seal, Kubi dry glove rings and silicone seals, nice zippered thigh pockets, a Si Tech Trigon pee valve, a YKK plastic zipper, Kevlar knee pads, attached neoprene socks, my name and country flag embroidered on one sleeve and on the upgraded drysuit bag, and gauge holder straps on both sleeves. Plus some other minor options.

I also bought the Seaskin base layer, which is pretty much like cold weather Under Armour, their 250gram 1-piece coverall, their 150gram sleeveless shorty, and their 150gram socks. But, the lowest temps over the weekend were 61F at 150'. So, I wore the base layer and a pair of wool leggings and a long sleeve wool t-shirt. And short wool socks. I tried on the drysuit over the 250gram undergarment at home, but I haven't dived with it yet. The total, with all the undergarments and shipping from the UK here to VA, was just under USD$1500.

It also had in the bag the various owners manuals for the valves and neck seal system, the tool for replacing the neck seal, a big bottle of French talc, for the seals, and a piece of material and tie for making a talc bag.

Results? The suit seems to fit me pretty much perfectly. And it feels very sturdy. Definitely more sturdy feeling than my Waterproof D9X drysuit that I have been using. I did 7 dives that involved wreck penetration. Several with some pretty tight quarters. And all the wrecks are covered in sharp zebra mussel shells. The suit got some dirt streaks on some of the red areas but otherwise still looks like new. My previous drysuits have had thigh pockets with velcro flap closures. I am really happy that I got these pockets with zippered closures. The big flaps just get in the way once they're open and I'm trying to get anything out. With the zippers, I just put a piece of thick bungee and tied a loop in it for one zipper pull on each side. That made it very easy to find the zipper pull and open and close the pocket. I was in and out of both pockets for reels and a backup mask numerous times over the weekend and the pockets worked well for me.

The Seaskin base layer kind of put me off at first. It fits well. But, when I tried it and the suit on when I received it, it was warm and I got sweaty donning and doffing in my living room. The base layer seemed like it was still damp the next day. I thought it seemed like it should have been much quicker to dry. Then I used it for 4 days in a row up in NY and Canada where it was in the 80s surface air temp. I got sweaty. Especially doing 3 dives the very first day. What I realized is that the base layer would still feel damp the next morning, every day. But, I never felt damp when I had it on. My conclusion is that the base layer really did pull the moisture away from my skin and wick it to the outside of the base layer. It kept ME feeling warm and dry, even though it felt slightly damp on the outside. So, I reckon it works exactly like it should. And it's pretty darn cheap. I think I'm going to order another set and some spare silicone seals now, just to have them.

I have owned a Bare XCS2 Tech and still own a Waterproof D9X. I have also thoroughly examined a decent number of other suits, including Fourth Element, Hollis, Mobby's, Aqualung/Whites, DUI, and Santi. Right now, I would put this suit up against any of them for quality. And, being made to measure, it fits me better than anything else I have tried. The price is simply unbelievable!

A couple of pictures:

View attachment 480520 View attachment 480521 View attachment 480522

I am looking at the Seaskin and appreciate your review. It's been a few years. How has you suit held up? Knowing what you know now, what features would you think are essential/unnecessary/annoying? The number of choices for this suit are almost overwhelming.