Which wetsuits for MI diving?

[ScubaRook]

Hi again. Newbie here with more questions. I've searched the forums for suggestions on wetsuits. My wife and I want to start building our gear inventory and though we would start with wetsuits that fit properly and keep us warm. But, all those threads have a millions opinions and really left me with little direction. Add to that the limited inventory of the LDS's. So, what wetsuits do you all reccommend for MI diving?

Farmerjohn/jane? Full 7mill? full7mill with a shorty hooded warmer? Semidry? Which brands?

One LDS recommended Henderson due to their great service over other companies and the hyperstrech due to its comfort. But that's $450, each!! Do many of you buy on-line? I purchased a lot on-line but I imagine that it will be a pain to get the right size and what happens if there is a problem with the suit? Ideally, we would like to get the full gear, suit/boots/hood/gloves for $300 each.

Thanks, Also, how cold do the inland lakes/quarries and the great lakes get during summer in MI?

 

[scubadoguk]

I am in Traverse City and dive both here and in Tobemoray, last summer I wore a dry suit but this year due to the 80+degree days I have been wearing a Xcell 1 peice 5-4-3 down to 90 Ft and survived! I was getting cold down at that depth but 40 ft to 60 I was ok for a longer time, I have been on average diving 3 times a week doing 3 dives per trip of 35/40 mins a time.
Great suit well made hard wearing.
But I would caution that the lakes are cold and if you intend to extend diving past Sept or Oct 2 peice 7mm is a must or better yet a dry suit.

 

[ScubaRook]

I don't think we are ready for dry suits. We were thinking of 7mill with possibly a hooded shorty vest 5 mill over top that we could not use if the water was not as cold.

 

[Slick6]

Just FYI on being ready for a dry suit: My first drysuit dive was my eighth dive ever. Haven't looked back since. Depends on your comfort level in the water I suppose. I took a drysuit class but I know plenty of people that never did, and looking back, by the time I actually had the class, I had already had a dozen dives in it. Kind of a moot point after that.

I bought a Mares Isotherm semi-dry before I bought my drysuit, and have never once used it. I doubt I ever will. Anyone wanna buy it? I paid $400 for it and it's never been wet. It's the 2004 version with the built in bib thingy. Mares size 6/XL.

It was 31 degrees at the bottom of Gilboa last weekend. Well, my computer registered 40 and my buddies registered 31. Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer choice. even splitting the difference, that's farkin' cold! Too cold for a wetsuit. :errrr:

April 30th at White Star it was 40 degrees at the surface. Ask DMP how cold it was in a wetsuit.

 

[Mitten Diver]

Scubarook,


I live here in Jackson and have a ScubaPro S-Tek 7mill semi-dry that I will not be using again. This suit was used on four dives in Lake Superior. This is a nice suit, I have since moved on to a drysuit. I found a heck of a deal on a custom suit here on the board.

The suit is a size XXL short, let me know if you have any interest.

Mitten Diver

 

[alpenadiver]

I have a 7mm Bare Artic semi-dry(hooded), and have been very happy with it, the coldest temp i've had it was a 100' dive at 38°, but for mid forties and up it is very comfortable.

Mike

 

[spectrum]

I'm not in MI but ME isn't that different.

I prefer a fullsuit over a John-Jane & Jacket set as a base. Haviing a single membrane over your body is a good start towards limiting water movement.

I'm in a Bare Arctic 7mm and wear my 3/5 hooded vest under it and that's fine down into the 50s, even upper 40s for a short time.

I also have the 7mm sleeveless hooded shortie to wear over the Arctic fulsuit and will swap out the vest when the water temperature tells me to. I've beem very comfortable skin-diving that set-up in 40F water. I haven't had a chance to scuba dive in it yet. When that's not enough it's drysuit time.

Henderson is a great brand. Hyperstretch you may have found has it's ups and downs. Many are sold based on the stretch factor (250% yikes) and if stretched a lot then the 3 dimensional neoprene is no longer the same thinckness. The pliant material is also less effective at depth, very vulnerable to velcro and in general reported to not hold up as well. But they acclaimed as being wicked comfortable.

The Bare suits come in a slew of sizes for men and ladies and are a great way to go especially if you're setting up 2 divers. I feel your pain, I just did that. Www.divetank.com has awesome prices if your a mail order type of person. There are regional shops that will come close to the DT pricing if you ask.

Don't get ropped into the local offering, cast a wider net if you need to.

Pete

 

[ScubaRook]

So, do you guys know if I buy on-line will most stores allow you to return items if they don't fit right, either for a new size, or if you cannot find the right size return completely? i saw somewhere the store in Canada that has a great sale on Bare wetsuits 7mill with a free hood vest shorty.

So, are Bare suits any good? Any one else hear about them not being so good on service?

Also, I am likely a medium suit, my wife is likely a small/short. Thanks for the sale offers though.

 

[scubadoguk]

I would be trying on a suit before you buy returns take forever and savings dont seem so good after waiting for weeks, also how much weight you wear will be afectted by how much neoprene covers you the more rubber the higher the weight goes.
As someone else said try a dry suit if you get chance it will change the way you think of diving

 

[joedelt]

i dive a drysuit and a deep sea 6.5 mill long john. the shorty part of the long john works great for lakes when its warm out, and the drysuit for everything else. i'd recommend a system that allows you the most flexability you can get out of it.