Wetsuit

[T.C.]

LOL -- although i think the OP wants an exposure suit, not an exposed suit --- and at least you were wearing something under the wetsuit.

That is an exposure suit.

Or, more properly, an indecent exposure lawsuit.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Getting away from Bill's butt and back to the original poster - what make is this suit? I ask because something sounds fishy here. Rescue style suit. All orange, reflective patches. Sounds an awful lot like a mustang survival suit. Maybe I'm wrong but would be nice to find out before he spends any money.

 

[fnfalman]

Hey guys, new to the forum and also a new diver. I have a question about a wetsuit I was considering to buy. It is a farmer john style, but they said it is a rescue diver one. It is all orange with various reflectors on it. I dive in socal and it is a 7mm. I tried it on and it feels comfortable and the guys at the local dive shop said it was very durable and that the coast guard have used them. My question is, would buying an all orange wetsuit be a bad idea? Reasons being that it is for rescue divers. Another example of colors, when I was looking at regs and octo, I liked them both in yellow, but they said they have the octo to be yellow only so it is easily visible for someone in need of it. Thanks.

The boat captain will check your cert card to make sure that you're a certified rescue diver. Otherwise he won't let you wear the orange wetsuit with reflectors.


And you don't want your main second stage to be yellow either because the panic diver will snatch it out of your mouth.












Just pulling your leg!!!

Wear whatever color wetsuit you want to wear. There is no law that says you can't wear a certain color wetsuit. Same thing with regulators and octopuses. Use whatever colors that float your boat. An OOA diver will snatch the one that's in your mouth regardless of whether or not it's black, blue, red, yellow, orange, green, purple, or pink.

 

[fjpatrum]

Getting away from Bill's butt and back to the original poster - what make is this suit? I ask because something sounds fishy here. Rescue style suit. All orange, reflective patches. Sounds an awful lot like a mustang survival suit. Maybe I'm wrong but would be nice to find out before he spends any money.

Could be the Henderson rescue wetsuit, though I think OP said it was a farmer john rather than a full suit and I think the Henderson is only a full suit, shorty, or "core warmer". The only farmer john "rescue" suits I've found have been geared toward kayakers.

Either way, if it's a "rescue" suit it will have a ridiculous price premium (double or triple the price) and I'd pass on it. You want reflective patches, add them on after the fact for $40.

 

[DaleC]

I'm going to take the alternate position.

While many of us may think we are the rugged individual type and don't care what others think, a new diver buying an orange wetsuit with reflectors and using two yellow reg covers is setting themselves up for a lot of teasing from other divers. Is that a barrier that a new diver needs.

Diving is a social activity and new divers have a hard enough time feeling inadequate because of skills deficits, air consumption, slow set up, forgetfulness etc... why add dork diver to the mix - unless one does actually possess an extremely thick skin or enjoys being the class clown.

Sure, some of us, like Dr Bill can take the piss out of ourselves and roll with the punches but I would say that's because there is a grounding in self confidence around our diving skills. If one of our buddies showed up in an orange wetsuit we'd laugh our arses off (in a good natured way). And probably that would define our initial interaction with that diver every time they suited up. A comment about the suit. Even if we really liked the diver (probably more so). It would be a broad target and the wearer would have to have broad shoulders or prepare to become resentful. That's just social reality. I'd expect the same.

So I am suggesting that sort of reaction may not be what the new diver seeks or needs. If they are with friends it may be accepted as good nature'd but in a boat with strangers it might not be so fun... all the time.

 

[LowDrag]

I'm going to take the alternate position.

While many of us may think we are the rugged individual type and don't care what others think, a new diver buying an orange wetsuit with reflectors and using two yellow reg covers is setting themselves up for a lot of teasing from other divers. Is that a barrier that a new diver needs.

Diving is a social activity and new divers have a hard enough time feeling inadequate because of skills deficits, air consumption, slow set up, forgetfulness etc... why add dork diver to the mix - unless one does actually possess an extremely thick skin or enjoys being the class clown.

Sure, some of us, like Dr Bill can take the piss out of ourselves and roll with the punches but I would say that's because there is a grounding in self confidence around our diving skills. If one of our buddies showed up in an orange wetsuit we'd laugh our arses off (in a good natured way). And probably that would define our initial interaction with that diver every time they suited up. A comment about the suit. Even if we really liked the diver (probably more so). It would be a broad target and the wearer would have to have broad shoulders or prepare to become resentful. That's just social reality. I'd expect the same.

So I am suggesting that sort of reaction may not be what the new diver seeks or needs. If they are with friends it may be accepted as good nature'd but in a boat with strangers it might not be so fun... all the time.

Good point Dale, that did not occur to me but being a new diver myself I think I would take it rather personally if someone that I did not know started talking crap about my gear.

OP...go with a black or black and blue wetsuit and scrap the orange. Dale is right, save yourself the heartache.

 

[T.C.]

While many of us may think we are the rugged individual type and don't care what others think, a new diver buying an orange wetsuit with reflectors and using two yellow reg covers is setting themselves up for a lot of teasing from other divers. Is that a barrier that a new diver needs.

Easily solved. Tell them to mind their own business and deploy middle finger.

 

[DaleC]

In a perfect world.

I just don't know if setting someone up for such confrontations right out of the gate is a helpful strategy. Calling your boy Sue to build character only sounds good in a country song.

 

[Searcaigh]

Surprised nobody has mentioned it yet "If it is not black you will die"

Personally I don't give a monkey's *ss what colour a wetsuit is, if it fits wear it.

The bright colour will also help your buddy identify you under water (along with your bright yellow split fins ) plus you will be noticed on any boat and unlikely to be left behind.

Seriously though, if the price is right and it fits, buy it.

 

[Mike.D]

Bright colours also attract sharks
Searcaigh pretty much nailed it for you.