wetsuit vs. drysuit for NJ wrecks

[JohnCollins]

I want to do a NJ wrecks course and I've been eyeing a 7mm Xcel one piece wetsuit with integral hood I can get new for $350 at my LDS. I've only dived in the tropics, though and I'm told that this suit won't work on many local NJ wrecks, I'll need a drysuit.

Now if that's true, I'll skip the 7mm entirely and go dry now for another few hundred. I'd be really PO'd if I got the wetsuit and it wasn't adequate.

On the other hand, if it is adequate, I have no burning desire to fiddle with the drysuit. I want one exposure suit for NJ wrecks, not two. I want 2 suits total, my tropical and my NJ suit.

Any NJ divers out there have an opinion or advice for me? Thanks. If it works I'll be delighted with the 7mm, but I want to know the shortcomings (if any) if I get it.

JPC

 

[docmartin]

i am definitely too cold in a 7mm. the dry suit is a much better option.

 

[SueMermaid]

I can wear a 7 mm wetsuit down to about 38-40 degrees, but if its any colder than I need a drysuit.
And there is a big difference between a one piece 7 mm and a farmer John/Shorty, since the latter gives you 14 mm over your trunk.

A drysuit is more versatile, and a WHOLE lot nicer when it's cold outside, so if you can only buy one exposure suit, I'd recommend that you get a drysuit.

 

[jonnythan]

JohnCollins once bubbled...
I want to do a NJ wrecks course and I've been eyeing a 7mm Xcel one piece wetsuit with integral hood I can get new for $350 at my LDS. I've only dived in the tropics, though and I'm told that this suit won't work on many local NJ wrecks, I'll need a drysuit.

Now if that's true, I'll skip the 7mm entirely and go dry now for another few hundred. I'd be really PO'd if I got the wetsuit and it wasn't adequate.

On the other hand, if it is adequate, I have no burning desire to fiddle with the drysuit. I want one exposure suit for NJ wrecks, not two. I want 2 suits total, my tropical and my NJ suit.

Any NJ divers out there have an opinion or advice for me? Thanks. If it works I'll be delighted with the 7mm, but I want to know the shortcomings (if any) if I get it.

JPC

A 7mm suit will be more like 2mm at 100 or 120 feet. And with the water temp around 45 down there, you'll be @#@*!%'in cold. And if you go diving in the fall or winter, you'll be freezing on the surface between dives.

Don't waste money on the 7mm, go straight to a drysuit. They're not that expensive.

 

[Curly]

...swear that the drysuit is the only way to go. That being said, I still know plenty of hardy souls who refuse to give up the neoprene and dive Jersey wrecks wet.

In the end, it comes down to your cold tolerance and your expense tolerance -- I have yet to find the drysuit I want at a price I can swallow. My 6.5mm farmer john does just fine for now.

Your mileage may vary...

 

[XJae]

You'll definately be cold in a one piece.
You'd probably be cold in the two piece.
If you plan on doing a lot of diving up here I'd go dry now.
You might be underestimating how much a dry suit costs.

 

[sasdasdaf]

no question, go for the drysuit. you must be a hardy soul to even consider going wet!

 

[WVMike]

JohnCollins once bubbled...
If it works I'll be delighted with the 7mm, but I want to know the shortcomings (if any) if I get it.

JPC

You might have to double your weight or more to dive the 7mm. I use 6 pounds with my 3mm and 20 pounds with 7mm two piece.

 

[JohnCollins]

I'll go dry. Yeah dry is more expensive, but I'll save the dough on the wet that doesn't seem too popular. Might work, but I'd rather be sure of being warm in any situation I dive.

Thanks for the input, all! I'll put it on my Christmas list and see what the wife does with it.

Later edit Yikes! Went Internet shopping -- these are expensive! I might have to do a bunch of housework between now and Christmas!

 

[jonnythan]

JohnCollins once bubbled...
I'll go dry. Yeah dry is more expensive, but I'll save the dough on the wet that doesn't seem too popular. Might work, but I'd rather be sure of being warm in any situation I dive.

Thanks for the input, all! I'll put it on my Christmas list and see what the wife does with it.

Later edit Yikes! Went Internet shopping -- these are expensive! I might have to do a bunch of housework between now and Christmas!

Depends on who you call. Look on ebay for some Nexus packages with everything included for $699. Call up Dan's Dive Shop in Canada (dansdiveshop.ca I believe) and they have some killer deals on Bare suits.. a Nex-Gen will probably be around $400 or $450.. I got my ATR HD for just over $800.

The key is to get yourself accurately measured to make sure you get something that fits.

BTW I have a medium-large Northern Diver's CNX-2RI for sale, 4 dives, if you're interested