Review Seaskin Nova drysuit

[lexvil]

Yeah I suppose it isn't that important, just something I am so used to. Worth the looking around, to at least try to find an option. I will most likely be swapping over anyways. Was just unpacking my drysuit bag and found that one of the antares clips is broken, so I am no longer problem free lol.

I had several glove side rings and may still have a few but I would have to search to be sure, I really feel like I tossed them but…

 

[Badger7]

I tried looking in this forum chat for information on tariff effects and didn't find anything. What has been the consequences for US residents buying from Seaskin lately?

Just cost like anything imported lately. When I bought my seaskin over a year ago, tariff costs even with some added garments that are taxed at a higher rate was still only a total of around $80. A friend of mine got a new suit a few weeks ago, and his tariff bill was twice that, and he just had the suit and some spare seals on the order. Other than that, same process, once the package makes it through customs, it sits in a UPS warehouse until you pay your tariff bill electronically to UPS and then your package starts moving again a couple days later.

You might have heard about EU countries pushing pause on mailing goods to US with the de minimis exemption sunsetting, but even a bare bones suit would exceed $800 and they are typically shipped UPS, so wouldn't be an issue anyway. If you put an order in today, any of the current shipping and tariff concerns will be addressed by the the time your suit is ready, and probably some new chaos getting our attention 3 months from now.

 

[DivingLane]

I 100% second all of the above. I use and love Rolock 90 glove rings, swear by waterproof brand neoprene replaceable neck seals as better than silicone in every way (you'll get a silicone seal with the quick neck system, so you can make your own call), and I don't mind being the last back on the boat because I already relieved myself once or twice during decompression (I am definitely on team p-valve). Even big expedition pockets could be bigger IMO, definitely wouldn't want to go smaller.

You didn't mention tech boots or neo socks. Both options are fine, totally personal preference, lean toward socks with thicker boots for shore diving, tech boots for mostly boat diving.

I run slighty warmer than others, but I don't think too many people would need a full 250g thinsulate onesey for 60 degree diving. At most a thin merino wool wicking layer and then midweight insulation tops and bottoms like arctic or meshtec should get the job done and require a little less lead, and allow you to to take your top off during surface intervals without needing to totally doff the drysuit. A year ago I would have suggested to buy the seaskin undergarments just to try them, but now with increased tariffs, I'd make sure thinsulate is what I wanted before adding them to my suit purchase.

You and Lexvil mention different neck and wrist seals, but I don't see them in the Nova options. Can you please clarify which ones you are talking about?

Sounds like I might only need a Thinsulate 150 for here in San Diego, with waters only as low as 52 degrees, now hitting the mid to high 50's.

Will definitely get p-valves, would be nice to not have to get out of drysuit top while on the boat between dives.

 

[Badger7]

You and Lexvil mention different neck and wrist seals, but I don't see them in the Nova options. Can you please clarify which ones you are talking about?

Sounds like I might only need a Thinsulate 150 for here in San Diego, with waters only as low as 52 degrees, now hitting the mid to high 50's.

Will definitely get p-valves, would be nice to not have to get out of drysuit top while on the boat between dives.

Neoprene Neckseal - Waterproof Diving

waterproof.eu

Seaskin doesn't sell those as an upgrade on their site. You would just order a normal sitech quick neck system and you'd specify a silicone neck seal with it, and if you want a nice warm comfy hug around your neck instead of a stretchy silicone seal you could pop out the silicone neck and pop in a neoprene neck at any point in the future. When I bought mine, they were less than $100 and picked them up from DRIS. Their price is now closer to $140 and their inventory only shows medium in stock, so might be something you need to poke around for a little more, but any LDS selling waterproof brand stuff should be able to source them.

I don't think any of us are using anything other than silicone wrist seals, but I know a lot of people who dive very reliable dry glove systems have cut their wrist seals down to the point where they really aren't a perfect seal anymore. I picked up a pair of "elastoseal" wrist seals from sitech so I could compare them to the silicone wrist seals, but I haven't had a chance to dive them yet, as I've been doing 100% dry glove diving the last month and want to swap them into oval suit rings to try them wet.

 

[DivingLane]

I got the antares seal system, its worked fine so far, common opinion is that they suck and will fail, I haven't had issues. I would order a full set of extra seals, nice to have if you rip one, can swap out super quick. I haven't used Kubi rings, however if they have a way to purchase just a second set of gloves and rings for the glove side I would do that. It is super nice to have a hot spare ready if something does rip, and you can do 2 different sized dry gloves based on what liner you will use. Also consider a hot neck, either one is fine, I have the standard version, that way you can tuck a hood, you will notice a difference in warmth at the neck if you don't do this at least I did the few times I wore my hood not tucked in. I wear US military surplus waffle tops and bottoms with wool socks and weasel extreme booties down to 60 degrees, stay pretty warm especially if working, that's like $50 instead of the amount seaskin charges. I have a Fourth Element Halo AR for colder and can combine both when temps are down in the 30's. I did take my waffles only down to 45 degrees on a working dive recently, didn't realize it was that cold below the thermocline, was manageable for the short time I was down (20 Minutes), was also amped up since I was working, YMMV. I would also recommend neoprene socks and rock boots, gives you more flexibility and if sizing is off you aren't screwed, I use Walmart brand knock off converse, rip the insoles out until its just fabric and rubber, drilled some holes, have worked better than any other rock boots I have used. If I wear them out, I just get a new pair for like $15. Also make sure to get a hood if you don't have one, and expect to maybe need a different fin, I found I didn't need the RK3HD that I figured I would, instead I have had great luck with the Dive Rite XT fins and they have fit my "rock boots" perfectly.

Are you saying your walmart knock off converse are your rock boots? Confused, sorry! So did you change the order from the default "The Standard Seaskin Nova drysuit has neoprene boots with study but flexible soles and uppers." to Compressed Neoprene socks? Then wear your 'converse" over those?

 

[DrakeTheDiver]

Are you saying your walmart knock off converse are your rock boots? Confused, sorry! So did you change the order from the default "The Standard Seaskin Nova drysuit has neoprene boots with study but flexible soles and uppers." to Compressed Neoprene socks? Then wear your 'converse" over those?

Yes, you get the appropriate Neoprene socks on the suit. Then once you receive the suit you buy a pair of knock off converse, I rip the insoles out, some people don't. Then these act as rock boots. So to don you would put on liner socks/undergarments, suit, then converse, then fin.

 

[Pat S]

I tried looking in this forum chat for information on tariff effects and didn't find anything. What has been the consequences for US residents buying from Seaskin lately?

Yes. They just posted this on their social media page yesterday. It only talks about the suits though and not the under garments.

Heads-Up for Our U.S. Customers looking to buy a Seaskin drysuit - Seaskin Drysuits

seaskin.co.uk

 

[rob.mwpropane]

Do you guys find it difficult to put on the Rolock Gloves, I know with the Antares on occasion I have used super thick under gloves and actually pushed the glove out of the ring when putting it on. I’d also be concerned about the additional bulk, but maybe that’s not really warranted.

No. I trust my Rolocks so much I cut my seals back. I dive in the mid 30°s all winter long with the thickest liners I can wear and never had it pop out of the ring.

I don't think I've ever dived water warm enough to not have gloves, so my suit ring is never exposed. (I dream about it though!.. maybe one day!).

 

[lexvil]

No. I trust my Rolocks so much I cut my seals back. I dive in the mid 30°s all winter long with the thickest liners I can wear and never had it pop out of the ring.

I don't think I've ever dived water warm enough to not have gloves, so my suit ring is never exposed. (I dream about it though!.. maybe one day!).

If it’s warm enough to not use drygloves it’s to warm for a drysuit.

 

[DivingLane]

The Nova price on their website is £597, for the non-UK orders too. Not sure what that means. I swore it was about £120 less in the non UK price.