Can a valvless drysuit be converted for diving use?

OK,

So just talking to my dad, and he tells me that, "at your mums house is a
drysuit I bought a couple of years ago, i think it was a diving one but
never had the valves put into it, cost a fortune and I only used it a couple
of times, you're welcome to it if you want it?".

I imagine it's "colourful" in nature, but, at the end of the day, if it
means I can get all my own kit together cheaper/quicker, it's probably
worth-while putting up with that.

So, assuming that:

a) it's findable.
b) it's not full of holes or anything.
c) it is a "diving drysuit" without valves (is there a good way to tell?)
d) it fits me (my dad is about 4" taller than me, but other than that,
similarly sized).

Is it possible to get it converted for use with Scuba equipment? Or do it
yourself (i'd be less happy about this, but if i had good instructions, i
might try it). And, would it be worth it? I know i'd need to get myself an
undersuit, or some nice warm clothes :).

Thoughts / comments / advice / flames, send them my way!

Thanks folks,

Gavin.

"Gavin Carey" <gicarey@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bv0s10$4ph$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...
> OK,
>
> So just talking to my dad, and he tells me that, "at your mums house is a
> drysuit I bought a couple of years ago, i think it was a diving one but
> never had the valves put into it, cost a fortune and I only used it a
couple
> of times, you're welcome to it if you want it?".
>
> I imagine it's "colourful" in nature, but, at the end of the day, if it
> means I can get all my own kit together cheaper/quicker, it's probably
> worth-while putting up with that.
>
> So, assuming that:
>
> a) it's findable.
> b) it's not full of holes or anything.
> c) it is a "diving drysuit" without valves (is there a good way to tell?)
> d) it fits me (my dad is about 4" taller than me, but other than that,
> similarly sized).
>
> Is it possible to get it converted for use with Scuba equipment? Or do it
> yourself (i'd be less happy about this, but if i had good instructions, i
> might try it). And, would it be worth it? I know i'd need to get myself
an
> undersuit, or some nice warm clothes :).
>
> Thoughts / comments / advice / flames, send them my way!
>
> Thanks folks,
>
> Gavin.
>
>

Chances are it's a diving drysuit. If it's got neoprene wrist & neck seals,
you may be OK. If it's latex seals, then they're probably knackered and will
need replacing. As for fitting valves. It may be that your father bought
the suit valve-less, and you can easily fit valves to a valveless suit.
Apek inflator will set you back about £30 and an auto shoulder dump about
£20. Cuff dump will be about £10. It all depends on the make / model of
suit, and if it's watertight. if it isn't you may end up putting good money
after bad. In which case a new suit would be a better option.

HTH

"Gavin Carey" <gicarey@hotmail.com> wrote ...

> So just talking to my dad, and he tells me that, "at your mums
> house is a drysuit I bought a couple of years ago, i think it
> was a diving one but never had the valves put into it, cost a
> fortune and I only used it a couple of times, you're welcome
> to it if you want it?".

The chances are it's a sailing suit. You might get away with it but they are
often thinner (not as robust), not made to the same standards as a diving
suit and they wont have the reinforcing panels where the valves go. You
might get away with it but you're probably looking at near £100 for the
valves and materials plus you're hassle/will-it-work factor.

Worth a look, it might be a "common" suit from a small manufacturer that
makes sailing and diving suits, in which case it may be near to diving
standards. But it's probably worth looking second hand down at your local
club as well.

HTH

Keith L

Gavin Carey wrote:


> Is it possible to get it converted for use with Scuba equipment? Or do it
> yourself (i'd be less happy about this, but if i had good instructions, i
> might try it). And, would it be worth it? I know i'd need to get myself an
> undersuit, or some nice warm clothes :).

Best to take a look at it and find out what sort it is / who the
manufacturer is. Fitting valves is straightforward, but any
dive shop should be able to do it for you. Check the neck/wrist
seals - are they in good condition?

- Keith

"Gavin Carey" wrote a load of old tosh:

> So just talking to my dad, and he tells me that, "at your mums house is a
> drysuit I bought a couple of years ago....[snip]

Forgot to mention, if it makes any difference, he bought the suit for
jet-skiing, shortly before giving up the sport and getting old ;) don't
know if this makes any difference to the liklihood of it being a lightweight
"sailing" suit or a decent "diving" suit. I'll grab it next weekend and
take a look / some pics anyway.

Gav.

"Gavin Carey" <gicarey@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bv16le$rbm$1@news6.svr.pol.co.uk...
> > Sounds like a sailing suit then. In which case, don't bother.
> > At the end of the day, a drysuit is a piece of life support equipment
when
> > diving (i.e. buoyancy, thermal protection), therefore is it really worth
> > risking your life on it?
>
> Fair enough. Might pick it up and take it into a shop and ask them
anyway,
> but no, not worth risking life and limb to save a few quid if it ain't
> right, it ain't right, and it'll be penny saving time :)
>
> Gav.
>
>

Just out of interest, what measurements are you (height weight etc)

Have a look at the classified section of www.ukdiving.com

There are often bargains to be had there. At the moment there is an oceanic
panther suit (membrane) going for £125 secondhand.
I dive with one of these as a backup (aerdura is my primary suit). And it's
probably dryer than my aerdura.

HTH

> I dive with one of these as a backup (aerdura is my primary suit). And
it's
> probably dryer than my aerdura.

Hehe - i'm hoping this isn't redundancy gone mad, and you don't actually
*dive* with your backup under your main suit! :O)

David

> Just out of interest, what measurements are you (height weight etc)

5'8", 12.5 stone (from about 11 6 months ago, which i'd like to get back
to), similarly, i'd like to say 32" waist, but i probably won't reduce to
much below a 34", 40ish" chest (doesn't seem to change much).

> Have a look at the classified section of www.ukdiving.com

Ooo, will do, so far only really had a cursory glance at Ebay, and a go in
the aforementioned suit today.

> There are often bargains to be had there. At the moment there is an
oceanic
> panther suit (membrane) going for £125 secondhand.
> I dive with one of these as a backup (aerdura is my primary suit). And
it's
> probably dryer than my aerdura.

Cheers, i'll get some looking done.

Gav.

> Hehe - i'm hoping this isn't redundancy gone mad, and you don't actually
> *dive* with your backup under your main suit! :O)

Mmm flexible.

>Forgot to mention, if it makes any difference, he bought the suit for
>jet-skiing, shortly before giving up the sport and getting old ;) don't
>know if this makes any difference to the liklihood of it being a lightweight
>"sailing" suit or a decent "diving" suit. I'll grab it next weekend and
>take a look / some pics anyway.
>
>Gav.
>

Ah (Shhh) I used to do that too. I invested in a drysuit to get the most of it.
The suit was tough, it had neoprene booties so could be used with a choice of
boots. That sport can get very hot and sweaty as you try to out-run coast
guards and angry diving RIB Coxwains or slalom race your mates around those
orange tubes as they appear. (Joking Boys) ;o)

My suit had a goretex panel at the back of the shoulders to reduce the sweat
factor without allowing surface water splashes in. Check if your dads has one
of those; If so its not suitable. Otherwise most LDS's can fit the necessary
valves.

I can remember cautiously approaching a dive boat which had just off bussed its
patrons at what I now know well as the site of the Hood. I crept up and asked
where his divers were likely to surface so I could tell the boyracers I was
with to keep well clear. They did, which is more than can be said for some
Yachies! What did Woodie call him? I was still in the water.