What should a tall and skinny beginner do?

[pauliunas]

I just got my OWD license this year, not really planning to dive very often since I don't have good dive sites where I live, the weather is horrible most of the year and diving is more of a vacation thing for me, honestly I'll probably end up doing 10-20 dives a year so I'm not looking forward to buying any dive gear yet, it's way cheaper for me to rent everything, and more convenient since I can travel with hand luggage only if I'm not carrying a bunch of diving gear in addition to my usual change of clothes.

Anyway, there's one quite annoying thing for me: whenever I get to a new dive center, I have to try on several sizes of wetsuits, none of them fit, and I end up with a lot of water sloshing around, not the greatest thermal insulation, and not to mention I don't know how many people wore it before, how often they wash it and that makes me feel iffy about rental wetsuits in general.

So the first thing I want to buy is a wetsuit. But:

• I'm tall and skinny and I can't find any place that has my size (I would need something "extra small, extra tall": height 183cm, hips 90cm, waist 70cm, chest 90cm, spaghetti arms and legs)
• I live in Europe and I can hardly find any tailored wetsuit brands around here, and the ones I could find were quite expensive
• Importing from the US is also expensive

Could anyone suggest a cheap tailored 3mm wetsuit anywhere within the EU, or a brand that has super slim sizes? Or maybe someone who could narrow a standard size suit for me, if that would be cheaper?

 

[Umuntu]

See this thread

Thread '3mm full wetsuit for a tall person'

Dec 11, 2024

The 3mm Henderson Hyperstretch wetsuit I had, new in 2008, suffered its last few years with me as pads were coming loose around the edges and some of the stitching was fraying in different places. In 2023, I swapped it for a hat at the dive shop I used in Grand Bahama. This past year, in my only diving, I used my shorty.

What I'm seeking is any first hand information from others with my height/weight range on a suit that works for them whether it's a brand name or something they got from Amazon.

Here are my particulars:
6'4"
230 lbs
38" waist
I'm a warm water diver who dives when I...

• jonhall
• wetsuit 3mm
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Exposure Suits

 

[Mrs. B]

I just got my OWD license this year, not really planning to dive very often since I don't have good dive sites where I live, the weather is horrible most of the year and diving is more of a vacation thing for me, honestly I'll probably end up doing 10-20 dives a year so I'm not looking forward to buying any dive gear yet, it's way cheaper for me to rent everything, and more convenient since I can travel with hand luggage only if I'm not carrying a bunch of diving gear in addition to my usual change of clothes.

Anyway, there's one quite annoying thing for me: whenever I get to a new dive center, I have to try on several sizes of wetsuits, none of them fit, and I end up with a lot of water sloshing around, not the greatest thermal insulation, and not to mention I don't know how many people wore it before, how often they wash it and that makes me feel iffy about rental wetsuits in general.

So the first thing I want to buy is a wetsuit. But:

• I'm tall and skinny and I can't find any place that has my size (I would need something "extra small, extra tall": height 183cm, hips 90cm, waist 70cm, chest 90cm, spaghetti arms and legs)
• I live in Europe and I can hardly find any tailored wetsuit brands around here, and the ones I could find were quite expensive
• Importing from the US is also expensive

Could anyone suggest a cheap tailored 3mm wetsuit anywhere within the EU, or a brand that has super slim sizes? Or maybe someone who could narrow a standard size suit for me, if that would be cheaper?

Henderson Hyperstretch

Maybe even a newish one on eBay

 

[pauliunas]

See this thread

Thread '3mm full wetsuit for a tall person'

Dec 11, 2024

The 3mm Henderson Hyperstretch wetsuit I had, new in 2008, suffered its last few years with me as pads were coming loose around the edges and some of the stitching was fraying in different places. In 2023, I swapped it for a hat at the dive shop I used in Grand Bahama. This past year, in my only diving, I used my shorty.

What I'm seeking is any first hand information from others with my height/weight range on a suit that works for them whether it's a brand name or something they got from Amazon.

Here are my particulars:
6'4"
230 lbs
38" waist
I'm a warm water diver who dives when I...

• jonhall
• wetsuit 3mm
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Exposure Suits

That guy is tall, but far from skinny. I'm literally underweight, so the same thing that worked for him will not work for me. Think of it this way: if I get into a regular sized wetsuit that fits my height, I can probably get in there with my arms, without using the sleeves, have someone zip me up and still have some space to move my arms around inside the torso part of the wetsuit.

 

[Rilelen]

Look at Bare, Fourth Element, and Henderson. Measure yourself and compare your measurements to their size charts - they all have extended sizing beyond simple S/M/L.

 

[pauliunas]

Look at Bare, Fourth Element, and Henderson. Measure yourself and compare your measurements to their size charts - they all have extended sizing beyond simple S/M/L.

Unfortunately, Bare and Henderson only start their tall sizes at M, and I would need XS or S width-wise. I don't think I've checked the Fourth Element size chart before, but looks like their ST size is the same as regular L from Cressi. I definitely need much narrower than that.

 

[happy-diver]

aliex wetsuits - Google Suche

 

[pauliunas]

aliex wetsuits - Google Suche

umm, do you mean aliexpress? They definitely do not have anything close to tall and skinny sizes... My height is XL or 2XL by their standards, lol

 

[Landau]

The Fourth Element size chart has incorrect conversions from Inches to Cm. Not sure if that helps or not in your case.

If possible I’d definitely try out a Proteus II Small Tall. I’m 187 cm, 85kg and the Large fits me very well. The arms and legs are very slim cut and take lots of pulling to get on my skinny limbs. The ankle and wrist seals are tight and the uniquely designed neck seal cuts down on water circulation big time.

The other bit of equipment I always recommend to purchase rather than rent is a computer. Makes you an independent from the guide and is very easy to pack.

 

[elmo]

I doubt you will fit any stock size well. For the benefit of people from Liberia, Myanmar and some other country, the OP is 6’ tall with 27.5” waist. I’m your height and reasonably slim, but still an extra 12cm around the waist.
If I were in your position I’d look for a hooded vest to wear under a rented wetsuit. It’s not a massive investment, gives you plenty of extra warmth, and will help pad out the wetsuit. And it won’t break the bank. Of course you have to cope with the thought someone else has worn the hired wetsuit first.
The best, but most costly, solution is a made to measure wetsuit (or drysuit if you want to dive closer to home). It’s worth considering but maybe see how much you like diving first. I have no experience here but you might find something not eye-wateringly expensive direct from a Chinese manufacturer, or maybe somewhere in Eastern or Central Europe. Google or Alibaba could help, and get a tailor or someone else knowledgeable to take your measurements. You may or may not get great quality if ordering an unknown. Do report back if you go down this route.