Semi Dry suit for use in the UK

[AndeeGee]

Hello everyone,
I'm about to buy a 7mm Two Piece Semidry suit for use in the UK for £50. Will I get cold diving in the UK with this suit and should I forget about semi dry and spend more on a dry suit. The price is a deciding factor for me one one hand but I don't want to buy something that I won't use.
thanks for your help
AndeeGee

 

[Jonathan]

I baught a 7mm semi dry with 5mm over jacket and I wore it once in the UK - and that was down south!!

I've got a membrane dry suite which I have worn everywhere from Stoney in winter to Japan with the air temp in the 30's and water temp 23.

I really think it is the best bit of kit I ever baught.....

I know price is a factor for you but if you are diving in the UK I really think it is a better bet.

Good luck
Jonathan

 

[AndeeGee]

Thanks for the reply.
So what you're saying is the semi dry suit will be too cold to use in the UK? or did you just get a dry suit anyway because you could?
I can't work out if the dry suit (with boots) will be any good for diving in the UK.
Do you know (or anyone else) what conditions are best for a 2 piece 7mm semi dry suit?
Thanks again for your help and knowledge.
take it easy
AndeeGee

 

[Jonathan]

If you are going to dive the "season" then a semi dry should be fine. If your season like mine is 365 days a year rather than 100 then at some stage you will be cold (even in a dry suite for that matter).

It also comes down to personal tolerances - I have, shall we say, a certain mount of insulation built in and probably could dive a semi most of the year in the UK - I know others that do.

There is also the convenience of the dry suite:
* You only have to dry your head and hands afer the dive
* No putting on cold, wet suites after a break if you take it off
* If you get a membrane suite you can wear as little or much underneath. In the UK winter I wear a 100g thinsulate plus leggings and a couple of T shirts - in the summer shorts and T.

I was also lucky that I picked mine up in a sale GBP350.

A two piece 7mm (is that both pieces 7mm - if so) should keep you toasty underwater down to about 10 - 14 degrees depending on your comfort factor. One of the other problems in the UK is the wind chill on the surface in a wet semi dry - get a cheap windcheater from Millets (a couple of sizes too big) , a wooly hat and some thinsulate gloves and that should be sorted.

It the UK don't worry about making fashion statements - worry about being fit enough to do the next dive, even if that means looking like a numpty on occasion!!

Enjoy

Jonathan

 

[AndeeGee]

Thanks Jonathan,
I'll go ahead and buy the semi dry. I don't feel the cold as much as most people and I don't plan on diving in freezing water just yet.
Your advice has been really useful thanks again.
take it easy

AndeeGee

 

[Welshman]

AndeeGee

You've seen my replies to your PMs but Jonathan's advice is sound.

Regards

 

[SubZone]

Whats the temperature like in the water over in the UK?
I'm here in Australia and the water is 15 degrees C at the moment.
I'm diving in a semidry but it's not warm enough.
Thinking of buying a drysuit.

 

[Tibbs]

Apparently the water temperature is 18C on the South Coast at the mo. Still, IMHO cold enough to use a drysuit!

Talking to people who dive in a wetsuit, it's not so much the dive itself, more the time in between dives that makes using a wetsuit such a pain.

I've done one dive in a wetsuit in this country (and it was in Scotland, in Winter...) and I will never do it again, short of Global Warming making us the next Red Sea!

I pretty much tell everybody I meet who is learning to dive to skip the wetsuit and go straight to dry. Saves money and a lot of hassle in the long run...

Chris

 

[AndeeGee]

I think yo're probably right. Instead of buying a wet or semi dry suit I'll just jump to the next level and get a dry one.
thanks again
andeegee

 

[Jonathan]

Andeegee - you won't regret it I'm sure......