Review Seaskin Nova drysuit

[sinidive]

Wondering about ordering a Nova Drysuit, bolded options I am unsure about.

Rough info:
- Typically diving in a hogarthian setup
- Water temperature varies from warm to freezing, tolerate cold quite well
- 167cm / 5'6" height, 65kg / 140lbs, wide hips, narrow waist, some chest, athletic.
- Shoulder width (biacromial) ~40cm / 16"

Questions:
- Fully telescopic torso? I am flexible so getting into out of suits has never been an issue, but what is the best while diving?
- Elasticated Back Panel? Does it make the suit fit better?
- Quick Neck system with Silflex seal or Orust? I know Quick Neck is better, but will it be a pain with my shoulders?
- Neo Kubi Ring Covers? Are these good / just extra in the way. Usually wearing thin gloves.
- Warm Neck Simple? Usually wearing a hood (long hair...)
- Pee-valve - which? She-P, low profile and easy blanking plug?

Spoiler: Complete config

*** Boot and sock options
- Feet: compressed neoprene socks (+ rock boots)
*** Nova comfort & customisation
- YES Change Mat Drysuit Bag Upgrade
- NO Name Badge (extra bulk...)
- YES Increase Braces width to 40mm
- YES NO Logos on Suit
- ??? Elasticated Back Panel
- NO NO Reflective Tape on Arms
- NO Bag Option – Name Badge Change Mat Drysuit Bag
- NO Glow patches
- NO Reflective Tape Kit
- NO Ankle Weights for Nova Suits
*** Nova Pockets and Attachment Points
- NO Computer Strap Patches x2
- NO Bellows Pocket
- YES Expedition Pocket
- YES Second Expedition Pocket
- NO Large Bellows Pocket
- NO Second Bellows Pocket
- NO Second Large Bellows Pocket
- NO Computer Strap Patches x2 (Second set)
- NO Seaskin-Braces Pocket for 40mm elastic
- NO Large Zipped Pocket
- NO Seaskin-Braces Pocket for 25mm elastic
- NO “Universal” Knife attachment patch
- NO Second Large Zipped Pocket
- NO Flat Pocket
- NO Safe Fast Cut Sewn on to Seaskin Drysuit
- NO Second Flat Pocket
- NO Second Knife attachment patch
*** Nova Protection Options
- NO Kevlar Knee Pads
- NO PU Shoulder Reinforcement
- NO PU Crutch Reinforcement
- NO PU Elbow Pads
- NO PU Bum Pads
- NO PU Back Pad
*** Nova Seal, Neck and Wrist Options
- YES Quick Neck system with Silflex seal
- NO Warm Neck standard
- NO SiTech Oval Cuff Rings (Siflex seals)
- YES Supplement for Siflex (Silicon) seals with Sitech/Kubi Docking systems
- YES Kubi Fitted Dry Cuff System
- YES Warm Neck Simple
- NO SiTech Docking System 60910 fitted
- NO 3mm Neoprene Neck Seal
- NO HD Latex Wrist Seals
- NO HD Latex Neck Seal
- NO Orust system with Silflex seal
- NO Swap from Bottle to Cone Wrist seals
- NO SiTech SLAGGO Flex Rings
- NO Neoprene OVER cuffs hook and loop adjustable
- NO 3mm Neoprene Wrist Seals
- NO Neoprene over cuffs
- NO Attached Hood (vented)
- NO Manchette Wrist seals
- ??? Neo Kubi Ring Covers
*** Nova Style and Cut
- ??? Fully Telescopic Torso
- NO Allowance for extra thick undersuits
- NO Main Body Zip Set Up for Left Handers
- NO Back Entry Zip
*** Nova Valve Options
- YES Inflation Valve Comfort Patch
- YES Move Dump (DIR)
- YES SITech Valve System (including hose)
- NO Swap to Miflex LP Hose
- NO Increase the Length of the LP Hose
- NO Cuff dump in Addition to shoulder dump
- NO Old-style High Profile Apeks Dump Valve
- NO Swap Stardard Seatec Nipple for a CENJ
- NO SI TECH VEGA Inflation Valve
- NO Cuff Dump instead of Auto Adjustable
- NO Move Adjustable Dump to wrist (Rebreather)
*** Nova Zip and Pee Valve
- YES Main Body Dry Zip Cover
- YES YKK Plastic Dry Zip fitted into membrane drysuit
- XXX Left handed (Right shoulder to left hip) zipper
- ??? Pee Valve Hose Tidy
- ??? Light Monkey “Tinkle” Balanced P-Valve Fitted to Seaskin Drysuit
- ??? Fitted SiTech Trigon Pee Valve
- NO Convenience dryzip cover
- ??? Fitted Apeks Pee Valve
- NO Convenience Zip (medium weight)
- NO Convenience Zip YKK Plastic fitted into membrane drysuit
- ??? Light Monkey Non Balanced P-Valve Fitted to Seaskin Drysuit

 

[Boarderguy]

Fully telescopic torso? I am flexible so getting into out of suits has never been an issue, but what is the best while diving?
- Elasticated Back Panel? Does it make the suit fit better?
- Quick Neck system with Silflex seal or Orust? I know Quick Neck is better, but will it be a pain with my shoulders?
- Neo Kubi Ring Covers? Are these good / just extra in the way. Usually wearing thin gloves.
- Warm Neck Simple? Usually wearing a hood (long hair...)
- Pee-valve - which? She-P, low profile and easy blanking plug?

Telescopic - yes, worth getting it. Gives you that a bit more room to shift into the not stretchy plastic bag
Elastic - for curvy ladies that have a large difference between bust and waist is I remember correctly
Neck seal - sitech imo, orust is a bit narrower and more flexible. See if anyone around you has either one in their suit and try it on.
Kubi covers - I have them and would order them again. They prevent me from banging around the AL wrist when it's off. If you don't like it you can just leave them rolled up the sleeve.
Warm neck - standard works well and is easy to tuck my bib in. Simple might be a bit more challenge to do so? I do this before putting gloves or kit on.
Pee valve - trigon, no plug needed. Just use a dry break quick disconnect and never worry about it

*** Boot and sock options
- Feet: compressed neoprene socks (+ rock boots)
*** Nova comfort & customisation
- YES Change Mat Drysuit Bag Upgrade
- NO Name Badge (extra bulk...)
- YES Increase Braces width to 40mm
- YES NO Logos on Suit
- ??? Elasticated Back Panel
- NO NO Reflective Tape on Arms
- NO Bag Option – Name Badge Change Mat Drysuit Bag
- NO Glow patches
- NO Reflective Tape Kit
- NO Ankle Weights for Nova Suits
*** Nova Pockets and Attachment Points
- NO Computer Strap Patches x2
- NO Bellows Pocket
- YES Expedition Pocket
- YES Second Expedition Pocket
- NO Large Bellows Pocket
- NO Second Bellows Pocket
- NO Second Large Bellows Pocket
- NO Computer Strap Patches x2 (Second set)
- NO Seaskin-Braces Pocket for 40mm elastic
- NO Large Zipped Pocket
- NO Seaskin-Braces Pocket for 25mm elastic
- NO “Universal” Knife attachment patch
- NO Second Large Zipped Pocket
- NO Flat Pocket
- NO Safe Fast Cut Sewn on to Seaskin Drysuit
- NO Second Flat Pocket
- NO Second Knife attachment patch
*** Nova Protection Options
- NO Kevlar Knee Pads
- NO PU Shoulder Reinforcement
- NO PU Crutch Reinforcement
- NO PU Elbow Pads
- NO PU Bum Pads
- NO PU Back Pad
*** Nova Seal, Neck and Wrist Options
- YES Quick Neck system with Silflex seal
- NO Warm Neck standard
- NO SiTech Oval Cuff Rings (Siflex seals)
- YES Supplement for Siflex (Silicon) seals with Sitech/Kubi Docking systems
- YES Kubi Fitted Dry Cuff System
- YES Warm Neck Simple
- NO SiTech Docking System 60910 fitted
- NO 3mm Neoprene Neck Seal
- NO HD Latex Wrist Seals
- NO HD Latex Neck Seal
- NO Orust system with Silflex seal
- NO Swap from Bottle to Cone Wrist seals
- NO SiTech SLAGGO Flex Rings
- NO Neoprene OVER cuffs hook and loop adjustable
- NO 3mm Neoprene Wrist Seals
- NO Neoprene over cuffs
- NO Attached Hood (vented)
- NO Manchette Wrist seals
- ??? Neo Kubi Ring Covers
*** Nova Style and Cut
- ??? Fully Telescopic Torso
- NO Allowance for extra thick undersuits
- NO Main Body Zip Set Up for Left Handers
- NO Back Entry Zip
*** Nova Valve Options
- YES Inflation Valve Comfort Patch
- YES Move Dump (DIR)
- YES SITech Valve System (including hose)
- NO Swap to Miflex LP Hose
- NO Increase the Length of the LP Hose
- NO Cuff dump in Addition to shoulder dump
- NO Old-style High Profile Apeks Dump Valve
- NO Swap Stardard Seatec Nipple for a CENJ
- NO SI TECH VEGA Inflation Valve
- NO Cuff Dump instead of Auto Adjustable
- NO Move Adjustable Dump to wrist (Rebreather)
*** Nova Zip and Pee Valve
- YES Main Body Dry Zip Cover
- YES YKK Plastic Dry Zip fitted into membrane drysuit
- XXX Left handed (Right shoulder to left hip) zipper
- ??? Pee Valve Hose Tidy
- ??? Light Monkey “Tinkle” Balanced P-Valve Fitted to Seaskin Drysuit
- ??? Fitted SiTech Trigon Pee Valve
- NO Convenience dryzip cover
- ??? Fitted Apeks Pee Valve
- NO Convenience Zip (medium weight)
- NO Convenience Zip YKK Plastic fitted into membrane drysuit
- ??? Light Monkey Non Balanced P-Valve Fitted to Seaskin Drysuit

Brilliant suit build though I would add knee reinforcing. I took a nasty trip 2 weeks ago and went knee first into a barnacle covered rock. I subsequently slid down that same rock and there was no damage to the suit.

 

[JoeTPhilly]

Wondering about ordering a Nova Drysuit, bolded options I am unsure about.

Rough info:
- Typically diving in a hogarthian setup
- Water temperature varies from warm to freezing, tolerate cold quite well
- 167cm / 5'6" height, 65kg / 140lbs, wide hips, narrow waist, some chest, athletic.
- Shoulder width (biacromial) ~40cm / 16"

Questions:
- Fully telescopic torso? I am flexible so getting into out of suits has never been an issue, but what is the best while diving?
- Elasticated Back Panel? Does it make the suit fit better?
- Quick Neck system with Silflex seal or Orust? I know Quick Neck is better, but will it be a pain with my shoulders?
- Neo Kubi Ring Covers? Are these good / just extra in the way. Usually wearing thin gloves.
- Warm Neck Simple? Usually wearing a hood (long hair...)
- Pee-valve - which? She-P, low profile and easy blanking plug?

Get the fully telescopic torso. They should make that the default.
I think the elasticated back panel would fit a female shape better.
Quick Neck; I think your shoulders aren't wide enough.
P-valve- I believe She-P is the only system available for females. The actual valve is up to you.

Edit. I think the recommended shoulder width for the Quick Neck is above 43cm.

 

[Guille G]

Seaskin recommends the elasticated back panel for anyone whose hips are much wider than their waist. They have the difference in cm in the website description.

The suit needs to be wide enough to pass over your hips so if your waist is much thinner you’ll have extra fabric in the mid section. The elastic pulls it back.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

Well... somewhat bad news for me over the weekend. Looks like I have a very small leak (more of a seep) in my right arm. Went oyster diving over the weekend, was under for 2hrs 4min min in 38F and when I came up the outside of my right bicep was wet. Looks like it's coming from the patch area that has my name on it.

When I say small I mean I couldn't feel it and was maybe the size of a baseball or smaller after 2 hours of diving. It was just wet, not at all soaked. I kept feeling it to see if it was really wet, but it was more wet then from the normal humidity that gets in the suit. I think I have somewhere around 67 hours on the suit underwater. I really don't think it'll be a big deal to fix. I'm not sure if I should try to heat / remove the tape that's under the patch or just put new tape / glue over it?

It's not something I plan to mess with until it gets warmer and I can air test the suit out back. It's really not that bad. And there's always a chance there was another cause for the wet spot and maybe I really don't have a leak, but I'm 90% sure I do. I'll get a few more dives before I do anything.

So great news about this "leak", did a dive on Sat. 2hrs 42min 48F. Was dry as can be. Slight moisture in the suit, but to be expected from a little sweat / humidity. No leaks. Not sure what happened last dive, maybe some water trickled in from the neck, not sure. But I'll take it!

 

[SeaIRL]

US Duty/taxes question:

My order is supposed to arrive tomorrow, a mere 3 months after ordering. Today I received a UPS email notice that the order has a $178.64USD duties & taxes charge owing. Essentially 11.8% on my total order of $1523USD excluding shipping cost.

The order included both the Nova suit (943GBP) incl add-ons, plus 253GBP for under garment layers, extra seals, etc.

Does the 11.8% charge sound legit, or is there some means to dispute and with whom?

 

[Boarderguy]

US Duty/taxes question:

My order is supposed to arrive tomorrow, a mere 3 months after ordering. Today I received a UPS email notice that the order has a $178.64USD duties & taxes charge owing. Essentially 11.8% on my total order of $1523USD excluding shipping cost.

The order included both the Nova suit (943GBP) incl add-ons, plus 253GBP for under garment layers, extra seals, etc.

Does the 11.8% charge sound legit, or is there some means to dispute and with whom?

4% for your suit, 27% (I think) for the undergarments. Everything else is a low %

 

[Badger7]

Depending on the shipper used, there is probably a broker fee in there as well to push the paperwork

Does the 11.8% charge sound legit, or is there some means to dispute and with whom?

Unless you were charged some astronomically incorrect figure, it is not worth your time to dispute anything with Customs and Border Protection. This is an agency that won't even let you write them about items delayed in customs until 90 business days later. The carrier brokers your import duty, and we are just thankful that the stuff actually arrives on our doorstep instead of being stuck in a customs warehouse. Any duty between $100-300 is pretty much par for the course when importing items more than $1000 that could be interpreted under any number of HTS codes, especially garments.

 

[SeaIRL]

4% for your suit, 27% (I think) for the undergarments. Everything else is a low %

Using your estimated fee rates, the total should come to 106GBP or $134USD, so another $44US lost somewhere. $178 isn't the end of the world, just like to know where/why my money is being vaporized. Thanks for the responses.

 

[SeaIRL]

Depending on the shipper used, there is probably a broker fee in there as well to push the paperwork



Unless you were charged some astronomically incorrect figure, it is not worth your time to dispute anything with Customs and Border Protection. This is an agency that won't even let you write them about items delayed in customs until 90 business days later. The carrier brokers your import duty, and we are just thankful that the stuff actually arrives on our doorstep instead of being stuck in a customs warehouse. Any duty between $100-300 is pretty much par for the course when importing items more than $1000 that could be interpreted under any number of HTS codes, especially garments.

I was hoping since it is UPS collecting, that it might be UPS I would interact with for a dispute. However, as you noted, I'll probably just eat the extra $44US they seem to have assessed and move on.

Just for clarity, my Nova cost alone, as built, is close to $1200US + shipping + duty/taxes. I had also ordered a Rolock 90 kit, but after waiting 3 months since I ordered, when Seaskin finally shipped they notified me the Rolock is out of stock and mfr is apparently out too (I quickly ordered from elsewhere in stock).