Dry Suits!?

Voodoo2

Hi All,

Well its getting into the cold season for diving now, and the Dive 05 is coming up in about 20days, so what Drysuit do i get there, and do i get a shoulder or cuff dump? I have tried a Northern Diver Cortex and I found it a lovely suit, I use Typoon in a work sence with the Coast Guard but what other brands do people use!?

g'em

all depends what you want from your suit. Crushed neoprene suits tend to be warmer and feel more secure and only need a lightish undersuit, but can be a little more cumbersome. These suits are popular with commercial divers or those those who want fairly heavy duty suits. Bag suits like the cortex and most Typhoon suits have little or no thermal protection but tend to be more flexible, and so are great for work that you maneuovre around a lot in, like in the coastguard, when you move on boats a lot as well as in the water. Do you want latex or neoprene seals? for longer hair, latex is the only way to go, latex tends to perish quicker, but can be changed easily.

Another consideration will be how easy it would be to get repairs done in the likely event that something will go wrong (leaks always seem to appear only at 30m+ ). Is there a distributor in Ireland who can take care of it for you? Will you have to cover costs of sending it back yourself? Do you know much about the brand and how reliable it is?

I use a cortex with a fourth element arctic xerotherm (mmm... toasty) and love it, having been converted from a neoprene. I personally prefer the shoulder dump, as it doesn't seem to get in the way as much when putting on/ taking off gear, and I don't need to play with my buoyancy too much once I'm wet. The majority of people I know who use the cortex really like it too, and Northern Diver are reasonably good about repairs (you have to pay for carriage yourelf to have it sent over to the UK though) and relatively speaking they don't cost a fortune. Plus I get to look reeealll sexy in my yellow/black bumblebee combo suit with reflective stripes on the hood

Evil Phil

Wow, no offence but if you can look sexy in a dry suit you've got it goin' awn!

Peace

Evil Phil wrote:

Wow, no offence but if you can look sexy in a dry suit you've got it goin' awn!

Yes, i suppose i do....

Peace

I dive a Hunter (known as Gates when i hought it) Pro VSN 1100. Its a membrane/trilaminate suit with latex seals. Fantastic suit. The outer material is a weird kind of strechy material and VERY durable. I wear a Weezle Extreme + under it and it keeps me warm on bottom times of up to 40minutes which may require me being in water for upto 90minutes to complete deco. Sometimes it can be up to 45minutes of me just hanging under an smb doing nothing, which can get very cold without the proper thermal protection.

I am now thinking of getting a Xerotherm Artic as people who own them won't shut up about how great they are.

g'em

Peace wrote:

I am now thinking of getting a Xerotherm Artic as people who own them won't shut up about how great they are.

seriously, so worth the money. snug as a bug. i'm a real wuss when it comes to cold water (and by cold read under 25 degrees) and the arctic keeps me happy for 40 min no prob.


oh and i bet you don't look nearly as sexy as me in your drysuit btw

Peace

g'em wrote:

oh and i bet you don't look nearly as sexy as me in your drysuit btw

I misread the previous post... since phil got involoved i automatically thought it was "birthday" suits we were talking about...

Voodoo2

Anyone got Pro's and Cons on the Ndiver Cortex suit? I have done alot of research on the technology, now just to find out if its practical technology, What i like is that it has neoprene covers over the Cuffs and neck seal which is really needed in typhoon suits so as you can guess im going with latex seals, i repair all our Units seals, i suggest people learn how to do this is very easy if anyone whats hints or tips on that id be glad to help!, it has a zip protector flap, it comes standard with a shoulder dump,so apart from that what undersuit do i wear thats not bulky and warm?? does anyone have a good site or DVD#s about drysuit diving techniques?

dublinbay

Have a look at <snip>.

Voodoo2 wrote:

Anyone got Pro's and Cons on the Ndiver Cortex suit? I have done alot of research on the technology, now just to find out if its practical technology, What i like is that it has neoprene covers over the Cuffs and neck seal which is really needed in typhoon suits so as you can guess im going with latex seals, i repair all our Units seals, i suggest people learn how to do this is very easy if anyone whats hints or tips on that id be glad to help!, it has a zip protector flap, it comes standard with a shoulder dump,so apart from that what undersuit do i wear thats not bulky and warm?? does anyone have a good site or DVD#s about drysuit diving techniques?

Voodoo2

They look like nice suits, anyone used them?

Evil Phil

Right you lot, I've been lax with the advertising with the hope that it wouldn't get out of control. So I'll repeat this: There is one thread on this forum where you can advertise as long as you're offering some kind of deal to our little community, if not then pay for your advertising like everybody else.

If anybody want to advertise outside of that provided thread then talk to the admins.

Voodoo2

What other brands of suit are people diving in?

Peace

Otter Britannic seem very popular.

Ginger

Howdy, kinda on and off topic

When i was diving, i found my suit constrictive (rented suits) and they were the largest they had. Which when i was diving the rainbow warrior meant my bottom time was very very limited because my breathing was very shallow. 7mil legs and 7 mil jacket felt extremely constrictive. Didnt have that problem with 5mm equiv because the suit was large enough.

When i was diving the reef, i was using a 1 mm vest of my own and i had really decent bottom times 50 mins plus.

So wondering if you can get wetsuits custom fitted and made here and if so where. Also where is a good place for a dry suit to buy one in Ireland. Since i have done all my diving away from here, i would like to start diving here now.

g'em

O'Dare on Boghall Rd in Bray make custom suits, don't have their contact details but very good apparently

Voodoo2

Northen Diver do a custom fitting, I have to get mine custom fitted, cause they think tall people with big feet lol are broad on the chest area, so i have to get a boot change and a tighter fit on the chest!

So who has had an otter and how did they find the service by them?

Voodoo2

any one had to repair a leak on the fabric of the cortex,

Voodoo2

Ive just ordered my Drysuit

http://www.diveshop.co.uk/pages/drysuits/cortex.html

Cortex with a front entry Diagonal zip, much better that the rear entry, Not a nice time of the year to dive but of course it has to be tried out!!!!

Thanks for everyones help!!!

Evil Phil

Voodoo2 wrote:

... much better that the rear entry ...

I'll take your word for it - how much did the suit cost if you don't mind my asking?

Voodoo2

It cost me €745

This includes.
A boot change, to a non standards size (11 is the biggest on rack im a 12)
A knife holder,
Diagional front entry, Its great value

Front entry is a must doing a 2Tank dive in a day, on a boat needing to expell liquids, its a lot quicker with the diagional, but some people say that the rear entry is safer cause your buddy checks that its closed,

Peace

Voodoo2 wrote:

but some people say that the rear entry is safer cause your buddy checks that its closed,

Those people shouldn't be relying on others to close the suit properly. I have rear entry suit and i always (or should and if i don;t its nobodies but my fault) check if the zip is closed properly.

Nice one on the suit. The trick is to treat your dry suit well and they will last a long time.

Evil Phil

Voodoo2 wrote:

It cost me €745

This includes.
A boot change, to a non standards size (11 is the biggest on rack im a 12)
A knife holder,
Diagional front entry, Its great value

Front entry is a must doing a 2Tank dive in a day, on a boat needing to expell liquids, its a lot quicker with the diagional, but some people say that the rear entry is safer cause your buddy checks that its closed,

About 1,100 euro's. Not bad considering the extra work. I've been considering buying a 'cheaper' dry suit but I think I'll just deal with the cold until I can get something good like yours.

Voodoo2

Evil Phil wrote:

About 1,100 euro's. Not bad considering the extra work. I've been considering buying a 'cheaper' dry suit but I think I'll just deal with the cold until I can get something good like yours.

€1100? it was only €745

I also went on a spending spree again bought myself 2 Dumpy 12ltrs and a 15ltr (both faber with MDE valves) for €500 including shipping

Oh diving is great but costs alot, could spend it worse i guess that my spending till christmas!!