Has anyone dived both the Santi Extreme 400 and the Whites MK3 in similar conditions? I get cold in the MK3 and was considering the Santi for added warmth without creating more bulk by having another layer under my MK3. Thanks.
Hi Christophe.
I own a Whites Mk3, as well as a Santi BZ 400. Both are extremely warm, with a slight edge to the Santi. By this I mean that a Mk3 in 42 degree F water will feel the same as the Santi in 39 degree water.
The Santi is a custom cut suit, and I was very impressed with the cut on the shoulders, as well as the "motorcycle knees", both of which give better than average flexibility for a Thinsulate suit. I found that I was able to drop a couple of pounds from the Mk3, but surprisingly, not as much as I anticipated.
Over the last year, my Santi BZ 400 has been my "gold standard", easily making hour long scooter dives in 45 degree water, and staying snug (as a aside, I mentally equate scootering in cold water as subtracting 5 degrees from the water temperature, due to the total lack of exertion).
However.
Over the last two months, I have been able to dive the new Whites' Thermal Fusion undergarment. Pretty much everything I can say at this point will sound like the derainged babbelings of someone breathing nitrous oxide, BUT, in a nutshell:
- It's a "couple degrees" warmer than my Santi BZ 400
- I was able to shed 5 lbs
- It is as flexible as a pair of running shorts and a tee shirt. Really.
- The legs are far easier to slip into the drysuit.
Right now, the Thermal Fusion is my first choice for cold water. It is as big of a leap in undergarment design, as the Fusion was in drysuit design.
All the best, James
