Dry Suit

Evil Phil · 12-11-2004 12:01pm #1

Folks,

I need to buy a dry suit as the water is too fecken cold. Any suggestions for a starter suit. I don't mind something that will need ot be replaced in 3 years or so if it's cheap. Can anybody make a good suggestion?

donny · 12-11-2004 3:05pm

The Otter britannic is meant to be an excellent suit http://www.drysuits.co.uk/britanic.html

The Gates/Hunter (whichever they are now) Pro VSN 1100 is also meant to be extremely good.
http://www.sixbiz.com/cgi-bin/checkitout/bhb03/checkitout.cgi?bhb03STORE:CKIE:PRO-VSN%201100++++CATEGORY

Neither are particularly cheap.

I think my next suit will be an o'three http://www.othree.co.uk/
Their suits seem very good.

At the moment I have a Typhoon
http://www.typhoon-int.co.uk/products/products_detail.cfm?ProductID=2678&ProductTypeID=11&CategoryID=1

Its not a bad beginner suit and I've been quite lucky with it although I think I've finally developed 2 leaks somewhere. I've had it for 4+ years now. It does tend to trap a lot of air which moves around a bit and my shoulder dump isn't in the best location but that might just be my suit.

The typhoon would work out a lot cheaper

bigfeller · 12-11-2004 3:47pm

I bought and ex-school suit this year - only used for one season (have to replece their gear every year). Has served me pretty well for the season (apart from both valves being clogged with salt - nothing that €1.29 in vinegar didn't sort out). The one I got was this http://www.diveshop.co.uk/pages/drysuits/divemaster.html Cost €400. Bought a new wolly bear to go with.

Hmmm...diving in Killary tomorrow. Hope those dump valve repairs work!!!

donny · 12-11-2004 3:56pm

Thats meant to be quite a good suit too from what I hear. €400 isn't bad for it either. If you're buying an ex rental I'd recommend a dive in it first before you buy it to check for obvious leaks.

I think I'm diving the Julia T Sunday afternoon...

Peace · 12-11-2004 3:58pm

donny wrote:

I think I'm diving the Julia T Sunday afternoon...

So how do you stay awake?

donny · 12-11-2004 4:02pm

heheh... ah the Julia T isn't the worst. Lots of bottom time. Gonna pick a buddy that doesn't have a leaky drysuit and wants to go up after 10 mins this time

Note I said afternoon... think we'll be heading out for "a pint" after the Leigh Bishop talk so mightn't be the brightest first thing on Sunday morning

Scubachick · 15-11-2004 12:08pm

HI Evil Phill,
Kilkee Dive Centre are getting their hands on some slightly (cosmetically) imperfect dry suits shortly. These will be sold at below cost price, so it would seem to be a great deal.

As to the type of suit to go for, I am sure you are aware that there are two basic types of dry suit: Membrane (bag) and Neoprene. My first dry was a bag suit. Less restriction, more freedom of movement and you can pile up on the clothes underneath to suit various water tempertaures. However, the major advantage I found with a bag suit is that if they leak there is little or no thermal protection. I recently got a compressed neoprene drysuit. A little less movement, but on a par with a wet suit. Now if my dry suit leaks (which is hasn't!) I have a semi-dry. I am much warmer on dives and more comfortable.

HTH
Scubachick

Peace · 15-11-2004 12:52pm

Scubachick wrote:

Now if my dry suit leaks (which is hasn't!) I have a semi-dry. I am much warmer on dives and more comfortable.

As with all neopreme suits as you go deeper you loose thermal protection. Fine if you're staying shallow but not great if you're going deep....

NordicDiver · 18-11-2004 2:33am

Scubachick wrote:

However, the major advantage I found with a bag suit is that if they leak there is little or no thermal protection

You are so right, no termal protection in a bag suit BUT add a good undersuit and you are wrong, just had to say it

sorry.

NordicDiver · 18-11-2004 3:10am

Evil Phil wrote:

Folks,

I need to buy a dry suit as the water is too fecken cold. Any suggestions for a starter suit. I don't mind something that will need ot be replaced in 3 years or so if it's cheap. Can anybody make a good suggestion?

How about E-bay, Phil ? PM me if you find something.

Evil Phil · 18-11-2004 11:00am

I've already had an outstanding offer form dublinbay but I'm too broke. Have to save meh pennies. When I'm in a position to buy a suit I'll discuss it here first.

paddywhack · 03-12-2004 7:53pm

"Leigh Bishop talk" ?? Sorry I am outside the thread but can you tell me more. I like the photos he has taken etc and didn't realised he did "talks".

On the Drysuit side of things SDW sell used dry suits, have you spoken to them?.

Finally, Hello! This is my first post on this bulletin site. I dive in SDW whenever I can, mostly Sundays so I may have met some of you already in passing, and maybe again.

Evil Phil · 04-12-2004 2:26pm

Hi paddywhack

gibo_ie · 20-12-2004 12:59pm

I just did the same and bought one on ebay for £90 and is a Beaver Neoprane Drysuit. It is in the post so i will know more soon but it cant be too bad of a deal for that price? Next up is a BCD...now the looking starts for me!
Gibo

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7121010712&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOAB:UK:6

Evil Phil · 20-12-2004 1:21pm

Looks like a bargain

paddywhack · 27-12-2004 3:57pm

£91.00 for a drysuit is a fantastic bargain.

He is selling it because his wife doesn't want him to dive anymore. That is shocking!!!!!.

Surely you feel bad being a party to such a tragic state of affairs.

This must be a thread in its own right. What do you do if the love of your life doesn't want you to dive anymore????

Dry Suit

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