Review Seaskin Nova drysuit

[Alfa13]

I'm looking into purchasing a Nova as my first drysuit and was thinking about going with the options listed below. Any advice on what options to go for and which ones to avoid? Particularly for the wrist seals, I'm thinking of the SiTech Oval Cuff Rings, but any advice would be appreciated.

Fully Telescoping Torso

Main Body Dry Zip Cover

Light Monkey Balanced P-Valve

Quick Neck System with Silflex Seal

Warm Neck Standard

SiTech Oval Cuff Rings (Silex Seals)

Compressed Neoprene Socks

Kevlar Knee Pads

PU Bum Pads

PU Elbow Pads

PU Crutch Reinforcement

PU Shoulder Reinforcement

No Logos on Suit

Bellows Pocket x2

Computer Strap Patches x2

 

[Bernhelm]

People in this thread like the Kubi system, but in my dry suit cert, one of the suits had the oval seals and they looked to give more maneuverability. As a photographer, I didn't want a large ring to impede my wrist flexibility if I could avoid it, so I went with the oval system. (I just ordered my suit, so can't speak to realworld use )
Also, the printable kubi ring-size template didn't give me full confidence my hand would fit into any but the largest size, so that's another reason I went with ovals.

 

[Addison Snyder]

I got the oval system and enjoy it. I haven't used gloves with it, and never intended to, so I can't really say whether it is good for that or not. As far as dexterity, I rarely notice the rings when diving. I strongly suggest getting spare seals for everything on the initial order, pretty sure they're heavily discounted when paired with the drysuit.
Not the Nova, but a video of a lot of features from Seaskin (including those oval seals) here.

 

[AtomC]

Just thought I'd throw out my order timeline and details since I've been checking for everyone else's while I wait.


Ordered (nova suit, undergarments, lots of accessories) Mar 2, 2022,

Sales order confirmed Mar 10

Estimated dispatch June 3

Actual ship date June 10

Arriving today June 13 via ups

Duties paid to ups into Canada $230 cad.

 

[stuartv]

Get a HangAir Hanger. I initially thought it was a little gimmicky, but it works great. HangAir Hanger

I have one of those. I have never found it useful for drying the inside of drysuit boots.

I got a set of these and they work pretty well for those occasions when the inside of my drysuit boots get wet.


Best just to have a good suit (like a Seaskin) and not get water in your feet.

People in this thread like the Kubi system, but in my dry suit cert, one of the suits had the oval seals and they looked to give more maneuverability. As a photographer, I didn't want a large ring to impede my wrist flexibility if I could avoid it, so I went with the oval system. (I just ordered my suit, so can't speak to realworld use )
Also, the printable kubi ring-size template didn't give me full confidence my hand would fit into any but the largest size, so that's another reason I went with ovals.

Before I ordered my first Kubi rings, I printed out their template, then traced the circles onto cardboard and cut them out with an x-acto knife. I could *just* fit my hand through the hole for the 80mm rings, so that's what I ordered. And, it turned out that I can *just* fit my hand through the actual 80mm rings (with a dry glove liner on). Pretty much perfect fit, for me.

I am also a photographer. I don't find that my Kubi rings impede wrist flexibility at all. In fact, one of the things I like about the Kubi rings over some other systems is how narrow they are. Meaning, the total length that the complete, assembled system takes up on my forearm/wrist area is the shortest of any ring system I have looked at.

Regardless, I don't feel like wrist rings have any impact on my ability to shoot photos. The thing that concerns me about wrist rings is how they affect my ability to fit my hand down in between my body and any pony/deco/bail-out cylinders I have slung on my sides. For example, if I'm trying to reach down into a thigh pocket.

I guess oval rings might help ease that issue. I think the Kubis are also a good option (at least for me) for that because they are not one-size-fits-all. My wrist rings are the smallest that they can be and still fit my hands through. I am skeptical that any one-size-fits-all rings (oval or not) are really going to be much, if any, smaller to ease fitting my hand down and through to my thigh pockets.

The ScubaForce Thenar rings seem like they might be the best - at least for that issue. I would love to try them out, but don't really have that option.

Thenar Drysuit Glove System

ScubaForce Thenar Drysuit Gloves with their unique oval ring sets provide more freedom of movement than traditional ring systems and are perfectly designed for technical diving. The oval Thenar rings are constructed of hard, anodized aluminum and the shape of the ring is devised to match the...

www.diverightinscuba.com

 

[2as2js]

Thanks for the update. I ordered March 3rd, estimated dispatch June 3rd. Still haven't heard anything. I emailed a couple of times last week to get a ballpark for how far behind they are and got no response.

I've kind of gathered through this forum and other corners of the internet that this is just the way they do things, so if you place an order expect it to be delayed and expect no communication. I'm honestly good with the delay bit, but the getting ghosted part is frustrating.

Maybe we should start a new thread that just gives ordered and delivered dates so that people can get a feel for how delayed their suit is going to be? Lol... Like a crowdsourced progress bar.

 

[admikar]

Just give them a call. It ain't that expensive.
My delay was caused by Aqualung/Apeks and Brexit.

 

[ferdv]

Thanks for the update. I ordered March 3rd, estimated dispatch June 3rd. Still haven't heard anything. I emailed a couple of times last week to get a ballpark for how far behind they are and got no response.

I've kind of gathered through this forum and other corners of the internet that this is just the way they do things, so if you place an order expect it to be delayed and expect no communication. I'm honestly good with the delay bit, but the getting ghosted part is frustrating.

I'd do what @admikar said. I ordered undergarments from them last November and they "forgot" to ship my order until I got through to them to remind them. After that, it was quick and easy. Timely replies (or any replies...) are not one of their strengths, but once you get them on the line (email or phone), I find them to be good to deal with.

 

[AtomC]

Thanks for the update. I ordered March 3rd, estimated dispatch June 3rd. Still haven't heard anything. I emailed a couple of times last week to get a ballpark for how far behind they are and got no response.

I've kind of gathered through this forum and other corners of the internet that this is just the way they do things, so if you place an order expect it to be delayed and expect no communication. I'm honestly good with the delay bit, but the getting ghosted part is frustrating.

Maybe we should start a new thread that just gives ordered and delivered dates so that people can get a feel for how delayed their suit is going to be? Lol... Like a crowdsourced progress bar.

I had some changes I needed to make and after a few days of no email response I opened up my 10 year old Skype account and called one morning for 5 cents a minute or something. Everything got sorted quickly after that Including timely replies to emails once I had actually started a conversation with someone. I'd imagine you are pretty close to the next suit in line after me so if the order was similar it will likely ship this week.

 

[Chris H]

Thanks for the update. I ordered March 3rd, estimated dispatch June 3rd. Still haven't heard anything. I emailed a couple of times last week to get a ballpark for how far behind they are and got no response.

I've kind of gathered through this forum and other corners of the internet that this is just the way they do things, so if you place an order expect it to be delayed and expect no communication. I'm honestly good with the delay bit, but the getting ghosted part is frustrating.

Maybe we should start a new thread that just gives ordered and delivered dates so that people can get a feel for how delayed their suit is going to be? Lol... Like a crowdsourced progress bar.

Call them. They answered my call immediately, and told me the status of my suit.