Review Seaskin Nova drysuit

[SeaIRL]

My experience with the Rolocks was exactly as you describe. If you read back a bit in this thread, they haven’t had them in stock at least since Q3 of 2023. I wish they would update the status. Ultimately, the dry suit is the most important thing and they seem to be nailing that one.

The suit seems very good, but I really really hate their diagonal cut toe pocket in the neoprene sock option. The length of the sock, at the longest - big toe end is perfect, but my next 2 toes are quite crammed because of the stupid wedge cut. A simple straight box cut would have worked much better for me... unfortunately was not aware of their odd design and so did not request a modification.

 

[Litefoot]

The suit seems very good, but I really really hate their diagonal cut toe pocket in the neoprene sock option. The length of the sock, at the longest - big toe end is perfect, but my next 2 toes are quite crammed because of the stupid wedge cut. A simple straight box cut would have worked much better for me... unfortunately was not aware of their odd design and so did not request a modification.

Yes, I thought the angle of the cut was a bit severe, but on my first dive wearing sneakers, it felt fine.

 

[eja12a]

The suit seems very good, but I really really hate their diagonal cut toe pocket in the neoprene sock option. The length of the sock, at the longest - big toe end is perfect, but my next 2 toes are quite crammed because of the stupid wedge cut. A simple straight box cut would have worked much better for me... unfortunately was not aware of their odd design and so did not request a modification.

Is this something anyone else has had issues with? I just placed my order so I’d like to know if I might need to have them modify it.

 

[Boarderguy]

Is this something anyone else has had issues with? I just placed my order so I’d like to know if I might need to have them modify it.

Something I noticed but not an issue. I have wide feet and it works.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

Did my first “dive” in my Seaskin today, although it was far from whatever I imagined. The local municipal water service owns a spring up the canyon from where I live and they needed two divers to fix an outlet gate. Me and my dive buddy are now the only two divers with dry suits in town. I wore my 150g under suit in 40 degree water for two 30 min dives. It was cool watching the sand “boil’” at the bottom of the spring as the water entered. Owing to the short duration of each dive, I was chilly, but not cold.

About the suit: I managed to tear a wrist seal on my very first dive. Luckily, I had the Rolocks so no big deal. The neck seal was a bit too tight. I’ll go again before I decide to trim it. Even though I siliconed the mating surfaces of the Rolocks, they were tight and I needed help getting them locked in. That’s probably my stiff fingers and bad technique. It will get better. Good news is that I stayed perfectly dry and I’m stoked for more!

For me and others the 90's had a break in period. It does get better. I thought I was doing something wrong but they loosen up a bit.

You can always cut the seals back and feel the warmth

 

[Litefoot]

I just received the Si Tech Combi tool that was missing from my order back in February. I emailed them on February 20th and got an immediate response, but it didn't ship until March 11. Took 12 days by Royal Mail. I think those poor saps are buried with orders right now. Good on them for following up, though.

 

[PartOfAnAmazingAdventure]

Good day all, hope you're all having a wonderful time wherever you are.

Thanks to everyone who's contributed to this mega thread, it's an incredible resource for lurkers like myself. I just received my drysuit after a long time of waiting, and have already taken it out on a nice date (read, a couple dives). So far I'm pretty happy with it, minus a few small errors that they said they'll fix up for me. I do have one main problem though.

The dump valve I got was the low profile Apeks one (the default one which comes with the Nova suit). When I raise my elbow to dump, I can't feel or hear a thing! I asked my buddies to take a look and they said they saw it venting fine, but I seriously can't tell at all if any air is going through. The only way I know if I've dumped any air at all is when I settle back into trim and feel the suit squeeze more than before.

Has anyone else had this problem? Is it just something to get used to (I've never dived dry before)? How do I stop panic gripping me like an upset octopus?

 

[Boarderguy]

Good day all, hope you're all having a wonderful time wherever you are.

Thanks to everyone who's contributed to this mega thread, it's an incredible resource for lurkers like myself. I just received my drysuit after a long time of waiting, and have already taken it out on a nice date (read, a couple dives). So far I'm pretty happy with it, minus a few small errors that they said they'll fix up for me. I do have one main problem though.

The dump valve I got was the low profile Apeks one (the default one which comes with the Nova suit). When I raise my elbow to dump, I can't feel or hear a thing! I asked my buddies to take a look and they said they saw it venting fine, but I seriously can't tell at all if any air is going through. The only way I know if I've dumped any air at all is when I settle back into trim and feel the suit squeeze more than before.

Has anyone else had this problem? Is it just something to get used to (I've never dived dry before)? How do I stop panic gripping me like an upset octopus?

Thinner hood, don't exhale while venting... nothing else preventing you from hearing it. Maybe open it a little bit so more bubbles come out at once? I wear a 7mm hood, run a scooter, and suck air like a hyperventilating elephant, yet I can still hear my sitech dump air. You'll learn to listen for it.

 

[PartOfAnAmazingAdventure]

Thinner hood, don't exhale while venting... nothing else preventing you from hearing it. Maybe open it a little bit so more bubbles come out at once? I wear a 7mm hood, run a scooter, and suck air like a hyperventilating elephant, yet I can still hear my sitech dump air. You'll learn to listen for it.

I'm not wearing a hood yet It's also fully in the open position.. But good idea to stay _super_ still and not breathe out at all, and listen for it again. I might even have to dedicate the next dive to just learning to hear for the air dumping.

 

[Boarderguy]

I'm not wearing a hood yet It's also fully in the open position.. But good idea to stay _super_ still and not breathe out at all, and listen for it again. I might even have to dedicate the next dive to just learning to hear for the air dumping.

You don't need it fully open, that's crazy pants. Go half or 1/4 open and adjust from there. If not you'll be venting and puffing back up at the slightest rotation or movement of your arm.