What suits do colder climates wear?

[Brit Girl]

Its beeen really great to have got so much feedback from my initial intro.
Am going for my first theory and pool dive proper tomorrow so will let you know how I got on. I have no equipment of my own yet apart from a mask and snorkel and have been reading various articles about different suits.
For those English members (!) who dive in colder water than some other lucky people what type of suits do you wear. I will probably be doing my OW final dive in Feb in a quarry! and you can't get much colder than that. What are your views on membrane v neoprene for instance- see I am getting the lingo! Someone at work tells me that his neoprene dry suit keeps him dry and warm but someone else tells me they should be classed as semi-dry as you get wet. I am a naturally cold person who needs lots of heat if this helps.

 

[Hawk]

Don't know what the people who actually dive in cold water wear. Here in central Oregon the water is usually quite comfortable. I use a 7mm farmer john type wet suit and it keeps me quite cozy in our "balmy" 38F to 46F water. My last dive was in Waldo Lake. The vis was about 100+ feet and the temp was 44F. I never got cold at all.




Later, Hawk.

 

[DivingGal]

A lot depends on how cold your water gets, and how cold you get.

I have a custom fit Atlan 7mm 1pc neoprene with seals at the neck, wrists and ankles. When I wear it (which is less now -- 'cause I now have a dry suit) it's great. With hood, gloves socks and booties I'm toasty.

As I said, I now have a dry suit and really like it - but it's not recommended for a newbie. There are additional skils that you need to know before using one - the least of which is knowing how to deal with a run away inflation.

 

[Friggincold]

I would think the drysuit is your best choice for the cold waters there...you may look at the DUI www.dui-online.com ,Northern Diver line www.northerndiver.com and Otter Watersports www.drysuits.co.uk all make a good suits. Sounds like you have plenty of time before your open water dives to get a suit and do the training to learn to use it. I recommend the Trilam suits as you won't wear as much weight and can vary the undergarment depending on water temp and use it all year. Get a drysuit so you won't be.........Friggincold:cold:

 

[Heads Up]

Forget the semi-dry option - its just too cold in the UK most of the year to use one. They work fine for around 20mins but then you start to get cold and the fun ends. If you are diving in the UK in Feb in a quarry, you REALLY need a dry suit. Membrane or neoprene? I use a membrane but thats just personal choice. A neoprene DRY SUIT is different from a SEMI DRY SUIT in that it (should) keep you completely dry whereas a semi dry is just a wetsuit with tighter seals on your wrists, ankles and neck to stop water sluicing in and out.

Also remember that fresh water inland sites are COLDER in winter than the sea so expect water temps anywhere from 4-8 degrees centigrade. With a good dry suit and snug undersuit you'll be warm as toast even in mid winter (only your lips will go blue!!).

Which quarry BTW? (Stoney Cove I guess if you live in the midlands?).

You WILL meet macho divers who will dive in mid winter in a 3mm shortie (or so they say) but so what? I'd rather be warm and enjoy my dive than try to retrieve my testicles from my body cavity with my knife after each dive (wouldn't any sane man?)

Hope this helps!!

 

[Lost Yooper]

If you want to save money in the long run, get a good quality shell dry suit. I don't like neoprene dry suits because they collapse as you descend, therefore losing it's insulation properties, and they are generally less flexible than a good shell suit. A good shell suit is more expensive than a neoprene suit, but well worth it.

You can count on it taking about 20-30 dives to get used to a dry suit. After you're certified, you'll have quite a learning curve to get past. If you introduce a dry suit right away, you'll have a steeper curve. Regardless, you'll have learning curve to conquer, so you may as well jump in right from the get go.

You can do what most people do which is to buy a wet suit and freeze for awhile; then buy a semi dry suit and ease your suffering for awhile longer. The next step is generally buying a cheap used dry suit that leakes, but one that you can see the advantages a dry suit offers. Finally (if you're lucky), after you have spent who knows how much money, you'll dish out the bucks for a really nice dry suit that will last for a long time.

Get a nice shell dry suit (Viking, Abyss, DUI), and you'll be happier in the long run. Just expect a substantial learning curve for a while, and a hefty upfront cost.

Good luck.

Mike

PS. A cheap suit is probably a "cheap" suit. Invest in a good quality custom fit suit -- once.

 

[Brit Girl]

Hi Heads Up!
Hope I have replied to this ok- never done it before. Yes! your'e right it will be stoney cove that I will dive in. It gets very busy so I have been told!

 

[DameDykker]

Hi Brit Girl

There's also another advantage to drysuits I'd like to mention. When you change into divegear you only hve to get out of your overcoat or simliar and wearing your innersuit beneat you just slip into the tri-lam. That takes a lot out of the hassel when you stand at the sea shore or similar in sleet. Thats where the wet suit /semi dry people are really goint to envy you when they stand there in their wet bathing gear.

Otherwise I agree on the steep learning curve.

And don't forget good three finger mittens (practis in pool with gear handling) and a well fitting hood.

Enjoy and stay warm :cold:

 

[kelpmermaid]

Well, in terms of bouyancy control, you will be in for a steeper learning curve, but given that you are doing this in February, I don't think you have much of a choice, Brit Girl. Brrrrr...

 

[Jonathan]

Hi Brit Girl!

Don't let the location confuse you until recently nearly all my diving was in the UK and a fair amount in good old Stoney.

I use a membrane (or shell) - the advantage I find is that you can put as little or much underneath. Get yourself a nice thinsulate undersuit for winter and leggings and T shirt for summer.

Yes Stoney does get very busy but it does not really pick up too much until March as it does get very cold and you probably need to take more care in the car park........ Another tip for Stoney is take a second tank with you or face extended surface intervals whilst waiting for you fills (especially March/April).

Remember if you can and do dive in the UK all year round you can dive pretty much anywhere and don't let Joewr and his band of CAD's tell you otherwise

Enjoy
Jonathan