Neoprene Drysuits (how tight should they be?)

OK,

Looking to get my first drysuit, just something to get me in the water, dry,
and get practicing, i'll look to getting a made-to-measure when I have a bit
more disposable cash.

Anyway, found, and got through the post today, on kind of "sale or return"
if it fits and works for me, a black otter ultimate neoprene, which i'm
assured is totally dry.

Just clambered into it, fully clothed (combats, t-shirt, thin sweat-shirt,
socks), and could get in happily enough (if a little warm), but it's quite
tight (accross the gut specifically, but i'm working on that at the moment),
feels a bit like a wetsuit, only furry :).

The membrane I used recently was obviously less tight, much more room for
air should it be needed, though generally stayed fairly close to my body in
the water, so I guess i'm asking, how tight should a neoprene drysuit
generally be? Is something like this good? or going to be difficult in the
water?

I await the return of my misses to do the zip up soI can check my mobility.
At one point i thought I was going to have to await her return (2 hours+) to
get my arms and feet out :)

Cheers,

Gav.

> The membrane I used recently was obviously less tight, much more room for
> air should it be needed, though generally stayed fairly close to my body
in
> the water, so I guess i'm asking, how tight should a neoprene drysuit
> generally be? Is something like this good? or going to be difficult in
the
> water?

OK, misses returned, aided my entry into the suit (this time in fewer
clothes (underwear, which was actually harder, I guess more friction, lesson
learned), and zipped me up. Size wise, it's just about right, i guess it
could do with being a little baggier (or i could lose a bit of weight), I
found movement of the arms a little restrictive, putting arms above head
required a little effort, for example.

I also found the knee pads felt a little uncomfortable on my shins when I
was standing straight, fine when sitting or kneeling. Guess that might be
sortable though.

I got Zoe to snap a few pics, much to her amusement, which i've uploaded
here:

http://gicarey.mysite.freeserve.com/...ter/index.html

Would you chaps mind taking a look, and giving opinions? Right size? too
big? or too small?

Cheers,

Gav.

"Gavin Carey" <gicarey@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bvml0b$uuj$1@news6.svr.pol.co.uk...

> Would you chaps mind taking a look, and giving opinions? Right size? too
> big? or too small?

It's way too small, http://www.dui-online.com/newsite/tech_motion.htm - are
you sure you want a cuff dump.

Get yourself on a drysuit course before you buy one - this is all stuff you
should learn on it.

/F

"Frank Bruce" <fbruce@cruelmail.com> wrote in
news:401eed2b$0$2431$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com:

> "Gavin Carey" <gicarey@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:bvml0b$uuj$1@news6.svr.pol.co.uk...
>
>> Would you chaps mind taking a look, and giving opinions? Right size?
>> too big? or too small?
>
> It's way too small,

Having thought about it, that was the impression I was getting myself.

> http://www.dui-online.com/newsite/tech_motion.htm

useful site, thanks.

> - are you sure you want a cuff dump.

When I did my drysuit course, the guy teaching it said that you could
either have a cuff dump, or a shoulder (or presumably anywhere else
which is the highest point when diving?) auto-dump. But that most
people prefered cuff dumps. The suit I was borrowing at the time also
had a cuff dump, his (new suit) had a shoulder dump which he said he was
going to get replaced.

> Get yourself on a drysuit course before you buy one - this is all
> stuff you should learn on it.

See above, did a drysuit course, but I guess the suit being loaned to me
was selected as the right size, roughly, and was also membrane, so guess
it wasn't concentrated on?

Gav.

Gavin Carey <gicarey@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> When I did my drysuit course, the guy teaching it said that you could
> either have a cuff dump, or a shoulder (or presumably anywhere else
> which is the highest point when diving?) auto-dump. But that most
> people prefered cuff dumps. The suit I was borrowing at the time also
> had a cuff dump, his (new suit) had a shoulder dump which he said he was
> going to get replaced.
>

*grin* I was told exactly the same thing when I did my drysuit course and
the same instructor was going around telling people that they should get
rid of their auto dumps and replace them with cuff dumps. Ignoring this
advice (along with a lot of other "advice" I was given by the same guy)
my first suit had an auto dump and I've never looked back since.

That said, like most things with diving, its a case of personal choice
and getting the kit that suits your kind of diving. Cuff dumps are
simple and have very little moving parts but if you reach up
when diving (to hold on to a shot line, hanging off a trap or blob when
deco-ing) then they aren't that wonderful. Its because I don't like this
restricted movement that I use an auto-dump but its really up to you to
try both and see which ones works best for you.

Nick

PS. No, I haven't ever trained with the same instructor again and no,
I won't say who it is online.

"Nick Bown" <nbown@nospamthanks.ixcg.com> wrote in message
news:401f8da3$0$9043$fa0fcedb@lovejoy.zen.co.uk...
> Gavin Carey <gicarey@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> That said, like most things with diving, its a case of personal choice
> and getting the kit that suits your kind of diving. Cuff dumps are
> simple and have very little moving parts but if you reach up
> when diving (to hold on to a shot line, hanging off a trap or blob when
> deco-ing) then they aren't that wonderful. Its because I don't like this
> restricted movement that I use an auto-dump but its really up to you to
> try both and see which ones works best for you.

Absolutely. Most people tend to stick with what they know which is,
unfortunately, what they were first introduced to. I personally dive with an
auto dump too but several of the people I dive with continuously badger me
to switch to a cuff dump. Unfortunately for them, it aint never gonna
happen...

In reference to what Frank said earlier about doing a dry suit course, it
has to be said that most of the instructors I've ever come across rarely
seem to show their students how to correctly size up a suit. Certainly when
I did my PADI dry suit speciality many years ago, no mention was made
whatsoever but then most PADI instructors don't really consider things like
being able to reach back to do a valve shut down!

Bear in mind also that it's not just your dry suit that will restrict
movement - if anything, most people's lack of flexibility is often more a
result of a bulky inflexible undersuit rather than the dry suit itself. I
used to have a Northern Diver Flextron 200 which, despite being reasonably
warm, severely restricted movement - suffice to say that it had to go!

"Gavin Carey" <gicarey@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Xns948457D52ADCEgicareyhotmailcom@159.104.224 .48...
>
> See above, did a drysuit course, but I guess the suit being loaned to me
> was selected as the right size, roughly, and was also membrane, so guess
> it wasn't concentrated on?
>
> Gav.

Hmmmm.....

I'll be building some pages on drysuits, layering, features and fit - all
cause me issues when bringing people into twinsets - and the example given
previously about the cuff dump, dumping when really you don't need it too.

If you weren't aware I'm associated with Wittering Divers
(http://www.witteringdivers.co.uk) and if you want a dry suit that fits,
Gates, O3, ScubaPro and all the rest - phone up arrange a time and come on
down.

/F

Bardo wrote:
> Absolutely. Most people tend to stick with what they know which is,
> unfortunately, what they were first introduced to. I personally dive
> with an auto dump too but several of the people I dive with
> continuously badger me to switch to a cuff dump. Unfortunately for
> them, it aint never gonna happen...

I trained on a cuff dump and switched to an auto when buying a suit.
The right decision made for the wrong reasons as it happens. I like
the auto. It took a few dives to get used to it but now it is just
that: automatic. I put the air in when I want soand it lets it out
when the suit has too much. It certainly suits me now I'm back to
using the suit as buoyancy device on the turtle.

A dry suit wants to be the right length on arms and legs but have
plenty of room inside for your undersuit. If you want form fitting
wear a wetsuit and put duck tape on the wrists, neck and ankles.

> .... most PADI instructors
> don't really consider things like being able to reach back to do a
> valve shut down!

I've seen people with tight drysuits that probably looked so sleek
and felt so snug in the shop but when they come to put on their fins...

I know I shouldn't laugh but I'm weak, so weak...

nigelH

Nigel Hewitt wrote:

> Bardo wrote:
>> Absolutely. Most people tend to stick with what they know which is,
>> unfortunately, what they were first introduced to. I personally dive
>> with an auto dump too but several of the people I dive with
>> continuously badger me to switch to a cuff dump. Unfortunately for
>> them, it aint never gonna happen...
>
> I trained on a cuff dump and switched to an auto when buying a suit.
> The right decision made for the wrong reasons as it happens. I like
> the auto. It took a few dives to get used to it but now it is just
> that: automatic. I put the air in when I want soand it lets it out
> when the suit has too much. It certainly suits me now I'm back to
> using the suit as buoyancy device on the turtle.
>
> A dry suit wants to be the right length on arms and legs but have
> plenty of room inside for your undersuit. If you want form fitting
> wear a wetsuit and put duck tape on the wrists, neck and ankles.
>
>> .... most PADI instructors
>> don't really consider things like being able to reach back to do a
>> valve shut down!
>
> I've seen people with tight drysuits that probably looked so sleek
> and felt so snug in the shop but when they come to put on their fins...
>
> I know I shouldn't laugh but I'm weak, so weak...
>
> nigelH

Bugger off - I'm saving

Danny
--
The box said windows 98 or better, so I installed Linux

Header is false, correct is Danny at danshome dot org

"Nigel Hewitt" <news@REMOVETHISnigelhewitt.net> wrote in message
news:d2fd3ad1ad638a6f5f12d40733d0d1d0@news.teranew s.com



> A dry suit wants to be the right length on arms and legs but have
> plenty of room inside for your undersuit. If you want form fitting
> wear a wetsuit and put duck tape on the wrists, neck and ankles.


Rich Meese does it with his Dry!


> I've seen people with tight drysuits that probably looked so sleek
> and felt so snug in the shop but when they come to put on their fins...
>
> I know I shouldn't laugh but I'm weak, so weak...
>

Was that aimed at me by any chance?

I can reach to do shutdowns I'll have you know!

DaveA




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