Semi-Dry Suit ?

[Scott M]

For any of you dry suit owners out there.

When a manufacturer says semi-dry, what exactly does that mean?

I assume that the entry points are tighter than a wetsuit and that will limit the amount of water entering.

My question s are:

How wet do you get in one of these? completely wet?, partially wet?, not at all?

Is bouyancy a problem?

Thanks
Scott M

 

[diverlady]

Also referred to as a seal suit. It is a wetsuit so you'll get wet. What it does have is extra flaps or sealing material around the neck, wrists and ankles to reduce the water exchange going on when you're moving around. Less exchange than a regular wetsuit but it definitely is NOT dry.

Diverlady

 

[WileEDiver]

Or, to put it another way, semi-dry also means semi-wet. When I used one (by Xcel), it was much better (and warmer) than a standard wet suit, but it sure wasn't dry. I found buoyancy to be the same as a wet suit.

 

[divinglife]

I dive semi-dry from Cressi and find it to be much warmer than a wet suit. However, I do come out just as wet. While with a wet suit you get that immediate thermal shock as you enter the water, in a semi-dry I feel the water trickle in slowly when I'm hitting 20-30ft. What comes in is generally what staays in so no peeing. My suit is 7mm, has a dry-suit zipper along the back, has douple seals at the wrists and ankles, and comes with a dry suit type hood. They will vary some but generally follow same concepts. I found it a great combo with my 5 mm (for warmer water) as I wasn't quite financially prepared to go dry.

 

[paulwlee]

I have a Mares Isotherm Millenium semi-dry suit, that has a drysuit zipper across the shoulders and has neoprene neck,wrist and ankle seals.

Some people actually stay dry in them, (some even wear clothes under!) but I usually end up wet except for my upper back.

The nice thing is, it's water that seeped in, so once you turn the suit inside out it dries faster than a wetsuit as it's not really waterlogged except around my lower legs.

Another nice thing: as long as the seals fit you well, the suit doesn't have to be as skin-tight as a regular wetsuit to be warm.

I now dive a dry suit when doing SCUBA, but when I go free diving, I am happy that I have my trusty Isotherm instead of a wetsuit.

 

[Scott M]

Thanks for the replys.

I am heading for an LDS today so I am going to try some one if they have them.

Scott

 

[mattengstrom]

I agree with the fit thought mentioned above - a semi-dry does not have to be as tight as a good-fitting wetsuit, so they're easier to don/doff.

The Isotherm has a dry zipper across the shoulders. It has neoprene seals at the neck, wrists, and ankles. If you roll these back under themselves after you put the suit on, so the smoothskin is up against your skin, it will greatly reduce or even eliminate water intrusion. I usually stay almost completely dry in mine.

 

[CALI68]

Hi, I'm new here. I dive mostly in Monterey, California and I want to buy a my own suit. I was thinking about the Mares Millenium Semi Dry but there are two points that I'm concerned about:

1) The entire suit is only 6.5mm. Will it be as warm as a two piece suit like a Henderson Gold or will it be colder (or warmer) The water temp is around 51 degrees right now.

2) I heard the sizes are a little different and I'm a tough size to begin with. I'm an XL but I'm only 5'8" I'm worried the seals won't fit properly.

Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Thank You!

 

[FengShui]

CALI68 once bubbled...
Hi, I'm new here. I dive mostly in Monterey, California and I want to buy a my own suit. I was thinking about the Mares Millenium Semi Dry but there are two points that I'm concerned about:

2) I heard the sizes are a little different and I'm a tough size to begin with. I'm an XL but I'm only 5'8" I'm worried the seals won't fit properly.

Thank You!

If you're a weird size and you don't have the option to try the suit on before you buy it in your LDS, then I'd stay clear of the mares suit. It only comes in a few sizes. Xcel makes nice semi-dry suits in lots of odd sizes, so I'd look there for a semi-dry.

--Ted

 

[CALI68]

Thanks! How about the other question regarding the temp. ?