Review Seaskin Nova drysuit

[Badger7]

I get a little chuckle every time I read about streamlined pockets. Dolphins and sharks are streamlined. Big pockets or little pockets, I'm approximately this streamlined in comparison:

 

[admikar]

My first dive in my Seaskin was a repair project with small tools in my side pockets in 40 degree water. I wore dry gloves (Showa 720's) with thin liners underneath. Probably the best possible "tactile" arrangement possible. My pockets are large bellows. After pulling open the pockets and reclosing them making sure the velcro surfaces mate together over and over in low visibility, I can see why others choose the zippered pockets. They may not "lay flat", but to me, they may be more utilitarian and easier to operate with gloves. Of course, that would depend on if the zippered pockets are a one hand operation. I may be totally wrong. Anybody?

You are doing it wrong.
Any tool is to be clipped off, regardless of pockets you have.
That's one thing I am missing from my old Santi, pocket d-rings.

 

[Boarderguy]

You are doing it wrong.
Any tool is to be clipped off, regardless of pockets you have.
That's one thing I am missing from my old Santi, pocket d-rings.

Seaskin zippered pockets have a plastic D ring in them

 

[rob.mwpropane]

Seaskin zippered pockets have a plastic D ring in them

Don't the velcro pockets?

 

[admikar]

Don't the velcro pockets?

Bungee loops

 

[Litefoot]

No D-ring in the large bellows. There are a couple of grommets holes at the top of each side of the pockets where you could tie or girth-hitch a bungee.

 

[MaxAir]

I ordered the Seaskin short neck hood, which is supposed to be MTM. It is far too small. I’ll try to stretch it, but if that doesn’t work, I’ll offer it up to anyone here who wants it. What dry suit hoods (5mm) do you recommend? The K01 hoods look nice, but $$$$.

I did the same thing - ordered a Seaskin short neck 5mm hood because it is fairly cheap and probably good for summer cold water diving. TBD.

For my main cold water hood (typical ~46-48F waters in the PNW), I have a Waterproof H2 5/7mm w/bib. WP bibs are medium sized and fit easily under the standard neck Nova option. I had used a H1 7mm hood, but got a stiff neck from trying to turn my head in that less flexible neoprene. The H2 material is a little more flexible and thinner, but higher tech which produces more warm without as much bulk.

 

[MaxAir]

Since this thread has become the de facto clearinghouse for dry suit related questions, I’d like to know how you secure your dry suit inflator hose in case case it pops off the inflator valve and flys off behind you (specifically for BP/W).

I wonder what others have experienced, but my 150g undergarment is really hard to get off. I wish they’d left another inch or so in the crotch area to facilitate this.

I just use the sliding LP hose lock provided on the end of the inflator hose. Never thought of needing to otherwise secure the hose than running the hose under my armpit and BC harness strap on its way to the inflator connector on the suit.

Everything (Nova, 150 250) fits me like it's properly tailored and not 80s rocker leathers Yeah, the lack of give from the material does require patience while pulling one sleeve down and off behind the back and not sweating in the process. Easy. LOL.

 

[MaxAir]

Under your left arm and strap, then to the inflator. It won't go flying anywhere once on unless you're dicking with it for some reason.

The undergarments fit wonderfully. Full open zip and pull it on like the drysuit. Extra material in the butt to prevent pulling when reaching down, not much extra in length to prevent sloppy fit. That's my experience with both my 150 and 250.

While testing the fit of the 150 and 250, I joked with my wife the excess butt area provided was for people without p-valves and needing to use diapers.

 

[MaxAir]

FWIW, I sent in my initial Nova order with the zippered pocket option. After more thought in the following month or so, I decided those appeared to be kind of square and bulky w/o option to lay them flatter. I began to worry about snagging the top of the box shaped zipper top on a wreck opening or such, or them getting in the way of sidemount/ccr configs.

My final order change swapped to the Large Bellow pockets. After receiving the suit, kind of wish I had ordered the Expedition pockets which are closer to the pockets used on the Waterpoof D7x Nylotech I've been diving lately.

As it stands, a Large Bellow pocket can hold a 6ft SMB + 150ft reel, so pretty good volume.

Ordering a custom suit remotely and never having the opportunity to touch beforehand definitely has an odd feeling to it.