I did my first dry suit dives today as part of the dry suit specialty course. Max depth 25 feet, water temp at surface and depth = 40F.
I purchased a SeaSoft Tx drysuit a week ago. I haven't seen a review on it here, so I figured I would write my initial thoughts on it. Since I haven't tried any other drysuit, I don't have much to compare it too, so keep that in mind.
Here is a link to the product page:
http://www.seasoftscuba.com/products.php?productid=STX&PHPSESSID=3ad263ffb12030b0b61a7cb0d4e5fd89
Cost - excellent. Seasoft's best package, which includes just about everything you need, including undergarment, hood, ankle weights, dry bag, hat, scarf, and the PADI DrySuit Specialty class, is less than a DUI drysuit and I mean just the drysuit. Gloves are not part of the package..not sure why, but even after I purchased their gloves...still cheaper than a DUI suit.
Weighting - In my full 7mm, hood/gloves, I need less than 14lbs to be neutral at 15 feet with 500psi. With this drysuit, hood/gloves, and undergarment I needed about 35lbs, using an AL80. I may be a little overweighted, but I doubt I will get under 30lbs. My next dive with it, I'll get my tank down to 500psi and then I'll know for sure. It was my first dive in cold water in over 6 months and first in a drysuit, so I may be able to shed even more weight off when I relax a little more.
Its a neoprene suit and I was informed ahead of time that I would need much more weight. I'm already looking into alternative weighting systems to spread the weight around. For these dives, I had 12lbs on a weight belt, 2lbs on each ankle, a 2lb tank weight, and 17.6lbs spread between two integrated weight pouches on my BC.
And since its neoprene it will compress at depth and with that goes the thermal protection you receive at the surface and shallower depths. I only made it to 25ft today, so I don't have much to say about this until I get deeper...next weekend.
Seals - The seals are also neoprene and they fold under themselves. Once folded, when air gets in between the tucked in part and the suit, this is what creates the water tight seal. In my two dives, I had no leaks. I am seriously considering shaving my wrist areas, because trying to tuck those seals under with the hair on my arms..yeaaoouch.
Valves - The inflator valve is on the center of the chest, as standard with most suits, but the exhaust valve is located about halfway between your elbow and wrist. In order to dump air, you have to raise your arm....again, never dove with a shoulder exhaust so I am indifferent on this. The exhaust valve worked fine.
Warmth - The only part of me that got chilly was my hands, but my head and the rest of my body were very comfortable. DUI's dry gloves work with this drysuit, so I am going to get a pair of those and take care of that problem, but I was extremely happy with how comfortable I was everywhere else.
Feet - Got some air in the boots and this caused my feet to start swimming around in there. I didn't realize this was the cause, so on my 2nd dive I just adjusted my body attitude a little bit, more of a head up position, so this kept the air to a minimum down there. Before my next dives I will put on some thicker socks and maybe even my wetsuit booties, if they fit...this should take care of that.
OVERALL - After my first two dives with this suit, I am very pleased. I was dry after both dives, and still can't believe that water was 40F, just didn't feel like it. I felt comfortable doing my skills...even though I took a guess on weight distribution, I was able to maintain a trim position.
The two instructors in the water with us today both had on DUI suits and I was impressed with both suits. The certainly have their advantages over the Seasoft suit, but for this season, cost matters.
J
I purchased a SeaSoft Tx drysuit a week ago. I haven't seen a review on it here, so I figured I would write my initial thoughts on it. Since I haven't tried any other drysuit, I don't have much to compare it too, so keep that in mind.
Here is a link to the product page:
http://www.seasoftscuba.com/products.php?productid=STX&PHPSESSID=3ad263ffb12030b0b61a7cb0d4e5fd89
Cost - excellent. Seasoft's best package, which includes just about everything you need, including undergarment, hood, ankle weights, dry bag, hat, scarf, and the PADI DrySuit Specialty class, is less than a DUI drysuit and I mean just the drysuit. Gloves are not part of the package..not sure why, but even after I purchased their gloves...still cheaper than a DUI suit.
Weighting - In my full 7mm, hood/gloves, I need less than 14lbs to be neutral at 15 feet with 500psi. With this drysuit, hood/gloves, and undergarment I needed about 35lbs, using an AL80. I may be a little overweighted, but I doubt I will get under 30lbs. My next dive with it, I'll get my tank down to 500psi and then I'll know for sure. It was my first dive in cold water in over 6 months and first in a drysuit, so I may be able to shed even more weight off when I relax a little more.
Its a neoprene suit and I was informed ahead of time that I would need much more weight. I'm already looking into alternative weighting systems to spread the weight around. For these dives, I had 12lbs on a weight belt, 2lbs on each ankle, a 2lb tank weight, and 17.6lbs spread between two integrated weight pouches on my BC.
And since its neoprene it will compress at depth and with that goes the thermal protection you receive at the surface and shallower depths. I only made it to 25ft today, so I don't have much to say about this until I get deeper...next weekend.
Seals - The seals are also neoprene and they fold under themselves. Once folded, when air gets in between the tucked in part and the suit, this is what creates the water tight seal. In my two dives, I had no leaks. I am seriously considering shaving my wrist areas, because trying to tuck those seals under with the hair on my arms..yeaaoouch.
Valves - The inflator valve is on the center of the chest, as standard with most suits, but the exhaust valve is located about halfway between your elbow and wrist. In order to dump air, you have to raise your arm....again, never dove with a shoulder exhaust so I am indifferent on this. The exhaust valve worked fine.
Warmth - The only part of me that got chilly was my hands, but my head and the rest of my body were very comfortable. DUI's dry gloves work with this drysuit, so I am going to get a pair of those and take care of that problem, but I was extremely happy with how comfortable I was everywhere else.
Feet - Got some air in the boots and this caused my feet to start swimming around in there. I didn't realize this was the cause, so on my 2nd dive I just adjusted my body attitude a little bit, more of a head up position, so this kept the air to a minimum down there. Before my next dives I will put on some thicker socks and maybe even my wetsuit booties, if they fit...this should take care of that.
OVERALL - After my first two dives with this suit, I am very pleased. I was dry after both dives, and still can't believe that water was 40F, just didn't feel like it. I felt comfortable doing my skills...even though I took a guess on weight distribution, I was able to maintain a trim position.
The two instructors in the water with us today both had on DUI suits and I was impressed with both suits. The certainly have their advantages over the Seasoft suit, but for this season, cost matters.
J
