Undersuits and buoyancy

[Twisticles]

When I dive dry I dive with a Gates ProAm 1050 (vulcanized rubber) which I've settled on after various crushed neoprene and tri-lam efforts. I'm well happy with it 50+ dives later.

But, I'm carrying 20lbs on my waist when diving "PADI style" for DM purposes in freshwater...about 22lbs in saltwater.

My undersuit is a 3M TriCore 100gm/m² Tri-core suit
Tog rating of 3.0 - which is incredibly warm even in 10c UK waters.

I'm looking for a new undersuit that is going to keep me toasty in British Columbian waters over the next year, but that has minimal positive buoyancy.

I realise this is a contradiction in terms: trapped air = insulation = buoyancy...but is there an undersuit known for its less buoyant characteristics while still doing the warm thang?

Cheese,
Twisticles

www.cryogen.com/twisticles

 

[VTernovski]

When I dive dry I dive with a Gates ProAm 1050 (vulcanized rubber) which I've settled on after various crushed neoprene and tri-lam efforts. I'm well happy with it 50+ dives later.

But, I'm carrying 20lbs on my waist when diving "PADI style" for DM purposes in freshwater...about 22lbs in saltwater.

My undersuit is a 3M TriCore 100gm/m² Tri-core suit
Tog rating of 3.0 - which is incredibly warm even in 10c UK waters.

I'm looking for a new undersuit that is going to keep me toasty in British Columbian waters over the next year, but that has minimal positive buoyancy.

I realise this is a contradiction in terms: trapped air = insulation = buoyancy...but is there an undersuit known for its less buoyant characteristics while still doing the warm thang?

Cheese,
Twisticles

www.cryogen.com/twisticles

I just got Andy's new super strech ST1000, check out http://www.andysdrysuit.com/undies.htm I haven't had a chance to dive it yet, but it seems warm, yet very thin. They claim it is good for 38F-55F waters..

 

[spurtill]

i use fourth element xerotherm under a 100mg bear in the winter (toasty), and loose the xerotherm during the summer. Similar water temperatures to yourself. You could consider the artic version of the xerotherm, but i reckon you'll bake during the summer. It is way less buoyant than a normal bear though.

 

[MarkH]

I would stick with what you have. If you are toasty warm with it in 10 degree Celsius water, you should be fine in the water here which is around 5-8 or so degrees in the winter. I don't know if a 2 or 3 degree difference would justify buying a whole new set of undergarments. If you get here and are cold, I would just try adding another layer of long johns or something. (For legal purposes, I'm crazy and my suggestions are only suggestions.)

 

[Twisticles]

Thanks for the feedback guys...

As it happens, I lost a lot of weight over the last year and my undersuit is really too big now...but my main aim is to reduce buoyancy in the undergarment and drop some lead weight too