Thermoplastic exposure suits - good or bad?

[The New Guy]

I just bought SCUBA Diving, third edition by Dennis Graver. I noticed that when he discusses wetsuits the thermoplastic suits sound nearly ideal: they block wind and yet breathe, and they are lightweight and stretchy. Why then do I never hear about them? It almost seems as though the term "wetsuit" is synonymous with neoprene.

 

[cummings66]

Thermoplastic—sandwiched between two layers of spandex—is another type of wet-suit material. A suit made from this three-ply material is about 30 percent warmer than a spandex suit. Thermoplastic suits are thin (1.2 to 1.4 millimeters) and designed for use in tropical waters (75 to 85 °F, or 24 to 29 °C). Some suits feature soft, plush lining for extra warmth. The plush lining increases the warmth of the suit by about 10 percent. You can wear a thermoplastic suit beneath a neoprene wet suit for extra warmth in colder water.

You'll notice they're talking about warm water diving, wetsuits are used in cold water and probably more common due to that, especially in your neck of the woods.

 

[The New Guy]

Thanks for the info! I knew they were mostly for tropical waters, but even the few reef divers I've heard talking always seem to use Neoprene wetsuits. Are the thermoplastic suits popular in tropical waters, or does neoprene pretty much rule all?