Review Seaskin Nova drysuit

[Badger7]

something is definitely wrong if you're only 166 lbs and you're needing that much lead while being "shrinkwrapped" as you say. I know it's said that you "need what you need" but something is up here. For refence, with the 250s, and an additional merino layer, I use around 18lbs of lead with a steel 100, and zero additional weight with 100 doubles.

I agree, but reading between the lines, i don't think his weight numbers are in addition to his rig and tank, I think he is first trying to determine how much lead sinks the suit, so you could back empty tank buoyancy, valve, backplate, first stages, lights, etc off his weight number for comparison.

DHYB - id suggest starting a fresh thread to talk through your undetgarmenr and weighting questions, others might benefit as well instead of getting lost in the seaskin review and configuration thread. If you suspect your undergarments are crazy lofty, maybe just for an experiment, try like a pair of longjons and fleece pajamas or sweatsuit, something you already own, just to see the difference. That might be closer to the bouyancy of like merino and arctics, just so you can get a feel for how thickness of undergarment affects your buoyancy.

 

[lexvil]

6'2" (188cm) and 166lbs (75.3kG) but have to imagine its mostly the unergarmets holding air in even when I try to get it all out.

Where do you dive? Shore or boat? The squat air purge is ok for a boat dive but unnecessary for a shore dive where you just leave the exhaust valve open and let the water pressure squeeze the air out. Looking back to your undergarment post, it is probably holding air which is what it’s supposed to do but I don’t know how it could hold that much air to require 32 lbs for fresh water (rocks are poor ballast for diving due to low density) nonetheless it takes what it takes.

 

[Dont_Hold_Your_Breath]

Where do you dive? Shore or boat? The squat air purge is ok for a boat dive but unnecessary for a shore dive where you just leave the exhaust valve open and let the water pressure squeeze the air out. Looking back to your undergarment post, it is probably holding air which is what it’s supposed to do but I don’t know how it could hold that much air to require 32 lbs for fresh water (rocks are poor ballast for diving due to low density) nonetheless it takes what it takes.

I'm diving in freshwater form the shore, usually have to hike in .25 to .5 miles into a site (.4 to .8km) and bushwacking through the forest. I should've added this before and didn't think of it....I don't have a tank or BCD so that might be why I may need even more weight. While I have plenty of diving experience, very little in cold water with a drysuit....current project requires snorking or using a tankless hookah diving system.

Good idea I will startt a new thread. Current on day 13 of 18 for a photography trip and in the water 6-7 hours a day so might have to start it when I get back and after I've had a bit more rest. Apprecaite all the feedback!

 

[Umuntu]

Fair question and yes. Have let out all possible air by crouching down and compressing myself to push the air out the valve. The suit then feels like one of these vacuum seal bags stuck my body and still with 32lbs I can't get down. Too much wait to haul a mile though the woods to my dive sites...thinking of bringing a backpack and adding rocks to it when I'm there so I don't have to carry the weight in and out.

You need a wheelbarrow … or a trolley

 

[davecampbell]

I'm diving in freshwater form the shore, usually have to hike in .25 to .5 miles into a site (.4 to .8km) and bushwacking through the forest. I should've added this before and didn't think of it....I don't have a tank or BCD so that might be why I may need even more weight. While I have plenty of diving experience, very little in cold water with a drysuit....current project requires snorking or using a tankless hookah diving system.

Good idea I will startt a new thread. Current on day 13 of 18 for a photography trip and in the water 6-7 hours a day so might have to start it when I get back and after I've had a bit more rest. Apprecaite all the feedback!

that makes a lot more sense now... I just assumed you were diving. Snorkeling in a drysuit didn't occur to me... at all.

 

[ADVRider808]

Anyone here that got SiTech valves installed get the valve removal tools Included? I did not and when I contacted Seaskin I was told they do not come with the valves. I though the SiTech valve kit came with the tools. At least they included the tool that comes with the Trigon pee valve.

 

[Badger7]

Anyone here that got SiTech valves installed get the valve removal tools Included? I did not and when I contacted Seaskin I was told they do not come with the valves. I though the SiTech valve kit came with the tools. At least they included the tool that comes with the Trigon pee valve.

No, they included the little pizza cutter to reload the yellow neck ring, but I haven't heard of them including the whole multitool with anyone's suit. On my suit, I've removed all the valves by hand no issue (make sure you hold the exhaust valve exterior by the base, not the top), exept the p-valve, that needed the spanner tool.

I helped a friend leak testing an older suit, and even with the mulitool, it took far longer than id like to admit to carefully remove the exhaust valve, it was on TIGHT! I wish I had the full round notched removal ring instead for that project, instead of putzing around with the multitool hinged wrench thing (which i bought locally).

Also: Seaskin Nova

 

[WillieJustice]

something is definitely wrong if you're only 166 lbs and you're needing that much lead while being "shrinkwrapped" as you say. I know it's said that you "need what you need" but something is up here. For refence, with the 250s, and an additional merino layer, I use around 18lbs of lead with a steel 100, and zero additional weight with 100 doubles.

Doubles make a difference. I use 27 lbs with a single steel 100. I suspect that I'll be down below 25 lbs with a little more fine tuning and experience with getting the suit to purge. I have only had the drysuit for a few dives. I'm finding that there's a learning curve to getting all the air out coming back up.

 

[WillieJustice]

You need a wheelbarrow … or a trolley

Or a roadie.

 

[Dont_Hold_Your_Breath]

that makes a lot more sense now... I just assumed you were diving. Snorkeling in a drysuit didn't occur to me... at all.

DIdn't cross my mind until later to mention that detail

In additon to snorkling I also used an electric snooba to stay down at 6ft for a few hours. Since I was working in remote areas in freshwater streams I would not be able to get tanks refilled so that wasn't an option. I carried in an empty backpack and filled it with rocks to get me slightly negatively bouyant so I could stay on the bottom in addition to carrying in 40lbs of weight. Estiamte the rocks weighed close to 75-100lbs in additon to the 40lbs I wore on my weight belt.

Will have to figure out a better solution for next trip so I can add in all my weight at the stream instead of carrying some of it in and so the backpack of rocks is more comfortable on my back and doesn't shift around. Certainly open to suggestions.