Semi-dry advice

Hi,

I've done a few dives in the UK using hired semi-drys and the hassle of
having to hang around dive shops waiting for something that never quite fits
right is beggining to grate so I was wondering if the group could offer some
tips on things to look for when buying one of my own.

My budget is about 150-180ukp (please nobody tell me I should be buying a
dry suit - cash strapped studentness means that a new one is not a
possibility right now and second hand dry suits for short arses like me seem
to be few and far between) and I'll probably be looking to buy it from
Stoney.

Any advice gratefully received!

Cheers,


Pete.

"Peter Neal" <no@email.specified> wrote in message
news:mxTQb.10640$JL4.87183@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net...
> Hi,
>
> I've done a few dives in the UK using hired semi-drys and the hassle of
> having to hang around dive shops waiting for something that never quite
fits
> right is beggining to grate so I was wondering if the group could offer
some
> tips on things to look for when buying one of my own.
>
> My budget is about 150-180ukp (please nobody tell me I should be buying a
> dry suit - cash strapped studentness means that a new one is not a
> possibility right now and second hand dry suits for short arses like me
seem
> to be few and far between) and I'll probably be looking to buy it from
> Stoney.
>
> Any advice gratefully received!
>
> Cheers,
>
>
> Pete.
>
>

Oceanic Shadow.

It will fit you like a glove, you have my personal guarentee on that, and
very very warm.

Just make sure that you go for a 'size too small', they stretch really well,
but most people seem to think that they're too tight, go for the next size
up, then complain cause they have water slopping around in them.

If your near Somerset then I'll happily lend you one on trial, I know I
wouldn't get it back though as they're *that* superb. When mine wears out
(which it is just about to go through the outer neoprene pad at the knee,
after 300 dives, so about anoth 100 left i reckon), I won't bother shopping
around. I'll just go straight down to my local dive store, hand over £200
and take away another one.

HTH

"Peter Neal" <no@email.specified> wrote in message
news:mxTQb.10640$JL4.87183@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net...
> Hi,
>
> I've done a few dives in the UK using hired semi-drys and the hassle of
> having to hang around dive shops waiting for something that never quite
fits
> right is beggining to grate so I was wondering if the group could offer
some
> tips on things to look for when buying one of my own.
>
> My budget is about 150-180ukp (please nobody tell me I should be buying a
> dry suit - cash strapped studentness means that a new one is not a
> possibility right now and second hand dry suits for short arses like me
seem
> to be few and far between) and I'll probably be looking to buy it from
> Stoney.
>
> Any advice gratefully received!
>
> Cheers,
>
>
> Pete.
>
You might be able to get a new dry suit (even made to measure) in your price
range. Mine was not much more (if I'm remembering correctly) and wasn't the
bottom of the line. That was a few years ago now, so maybe I'm miles out on
pricing (or memory). Mine came from Ken Clegg who works from his home in
Manchester. It's been absolutely leak tight from day one and I've never had
a problem. It's best if you can visit him to be measured and it certainly
saves a few quid in postage if you can go and pick the finished suit up. If
you're nowhere near it's probably not worth bothering with. If you want his
phone number email me.

Even if it's a few pounds more than you really want to pay now, I'd buy the
drysuit and a few fewer beers. (But of course I didn't then, and now have a
nice semi-dry which I use for working in the pond).

Neil

> You might be able to get a new dry suit (even made to measure) in your
price
> range. Mine was not much more (if I'm remembering correctly) and wasn't
the
> bottom of the line.

Just a FYI, cheapest i've been able to find new so far is from RobinHood
(http://www.roho.co.uk/dive/diving_offers.html), no idea on quality (anyone
got comments?) for £299, unless anyone knows different, or someone who makes
them privately in the Cambridge area (Manchester is a bit far out for me
really).

Cheers,

gav.

I use an Oceanic Titanium two peice suit, I have found it very good. All my
dives are in Northern Ireland so you can imagine it can be cold. I dived
yesterday for 30 mins in 8 degrees with no problems. Its a bit of a grind
getting it off but I carry a large container of hot water with me to sort of
shower at the end of the dive. It can be a little cold if going for a
second dive but I peel the top off and cover up. . I have never dived with
a dry suit . Most people I dive with have dry suits that seem to always
leak? Read the write ups on the Oceanic it seems to be a good choice.

Good luck

P.S I can well afford a dry suit but just have not had the urge to get one
yet.


Barry

"Tricky" <scubatricky@nospam.yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:bv11sm$3d7$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk...
> "Peter Neal" <no@email.specified> wrote in message
> news:mxTQb.10640$JL4.87183@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net...
> > Hi,
> >
>
> Oceanic Shadow.
>
> It will fit you like a glove, you have my personal guarentee on that, and
> very very warm.
>
> Just make sure that you go for a 'size too small', they stretch really
well,
> but most people seem to think that they're too tight, go for the next size
> up, then complain cause they have water slopping around in them.
>
> If your near Somerset then I'll happily lend you one on trial, I know I
> wouldn't get it back though as they're *that* superb. When mine wears out
> (which it is just about to go through the outer neoprene pad at the knee,
> after 300 dives, so about anoth 100 left i reckon), I won't bother
shopping
> around. I'll just go straight down to my local dive store, hand over £200
> and take away another one.

Yep - would agree with that whole heartedly! The Oceanic Shadows are superb
suits!

>I've done a few dives in the UK using hired semi-drys and the hassle of
>having to hang around dive shops waiting for something that never quite fits
>right is beggining to grate so I was wondering if the group could offer some
>tips on things to look for when buying one of my own.
>
>My budget is about 150-180ukp (please nobody tell me I should be buying a
>dry suit - cash strapped studentness means that a new one is not a
>possibility right now and second hand dry suits for short arses like me seem
>to be few and far between)

If you really don't want to go dry, a good alternative "semi dry" for non
freezing conditions is the 2 piece Mares Icelander. It's a 2 piece longie,
shortie or both together and the hood is very warm too. I remember the looks
and remarks from the group on Woodies boat when they saw me wearing that when
my drysuit was sick, I stayed warm!

Drysuit wise- If you want to dive in Britain blah blah blah (and I agree).
Driduck near Liverpool -

http://driduck.com/drysuits.htm

make to measure and to personal (limited) colour choice a good budget priced,
trilam drysuit, fitted with quality seals and hardware. I find the material a
little stiff compared to my original Oceanic Flex but it does loosen off.
Contact him to see if he can build one from your supplied measurements.

A 2nd hand suit can be something of a problem. My Oceanic Flex knees, bum and
boots wore thin and started leaking on every other dive and it was being
patched with aqua seal regularly. To have new boots, knee + ass patches and new
neck seal would have cost more than a new Driduck suit. I was tempted to sell
it but my conscience got the better of me, I removed the valves for spares then
dumped it.

Rob H

> Drysuit wise- If you want to dive in Britain blah blah blah (and I agree).
> Driduck near Liverpool -
>
> http://driduck.com/drysuits.htm

Do the prices quoted there include the valves etc? presumably not an
undersuit? I realise I could mail them and ask, but...... ;)

>
> Yep - would agree with that whole heartedly! The Oceanic Shadows are
superb
> suits!
>

Again, the Shadow, it really is that good. Agree with all the reasons stated
before, really toasty and a superb fit.

Watch out for rubber burn on the neck seal, I use a cheapo water based
lubricant and it's fine. The other thing I found was there's a smidge too
much rubber round the hood (makes mask fitting a prob with gloves on), but
that can be snipped.

Happy getting wet!


Jeff.