Northern Diver Divemaster Drysuit - Thoughts? Opinions ?

I was thinking of changing from my membrane Drysuit to compressed
Neoprene - been looking at the Nothern Diver Divemaster suit.

Has anyone got one or had experience of one ?

im interested in everyone's opinions but cant find a review site on
the 'net that has it listed

whats everyone's thoughts - sre they a good suit or bad ?

TIA, Iain

The ND Dive Master is reviewed inthis months edition of Dive Magazine, along
with a number of other neoprene suits.

I've never tried a ND neoprene suit but had a Vortex membrane from them for a
while and as a result of that suit I would never use them again.

I found their quality control very poor and their customer service even worse.
That said I'm others will have different experiences.

Safe diving whatever you buy.

Angus

On 15 Feb 2004 10:29:28 GMT, ajt251065@aol.comdeleteme (AJT251065) wrote:


>I've never tried a ND neoprene suit but had a Vortex membrane from them for a
>while and as a result of that suit I would never use them again.

I have a ND Neoprene and am very happy, but then my dive buddy had problems
with his suit, needed two returns and finally a complete new suit made.
Northern Diver did make sure he was satisfied in the end. I would suggest if at
all possible, go and get measured properly.
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"Iain Sutcliffe" <iain@avproductions.co.uk> wrote in message
news:hoht20pdim93dmdnv97spe1s4fdjlvoltd@4ax.com...
> I was thinking of changing from my membrane Drysuit to compressed
> Neoprene - been looking at the Nothern Diver Divemaster suit.
>
> Has anyone got one or had experience of one ?
>
> im interested in everyone's opinions but cant find a review site on
> the 'net that has it listed
>
> whats everyone's thoughts - sre they a good suit or bad ?
>
> TIA, Iain

They used to make some good suits, until they moved it all to China.
If you can find an old one in relatively good condition, go for it.
Otherwise, give them a wide birth.
I used a Divemaster neoprene for most of last summer, and I can't remember
having a dry dive in it!

I am sure that Northern Diver do not need any defending but. I am have used
a Vortex Drysuit for about 2 years and never had any problems with it. The
shop which I botught this from was extermely helpful and did not rush me
into any descisions. I did buy direct from the factory, though in
Lnacashire.

I understood that all of the ND suits are made in that factory htough so I
am not sure wher ethe line they are made in China comes from. ?

"Tricky" <scubatricky@nospam.yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:c0np1b$um$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk...
> "Iain Sutcliffe" <iain@avproductions.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:hoht20pdim93dmdnv97spe1s4fdjlvoltd@4ax.com...
> > I was thinking of changing from my membrane Drysuit to compressed
> > Neoprene - been looking at the Nothern Diver Divemaster suit.
> >
> > Has anyone got one or had experience of one ?
> >
> > im interested in everyone's opinions but cant find a review site on
> > the 'net that has it listed
> >
> > whats everyone's thoughts - sre they a good suit or bad ?
> >
> > TIA, Iain
>
> They used to make some good suits, until they moved it all to China.
> If you can find an old one in relatively good condition, go for it.
> Otherwise, give them a wide birth.
> I used a Divemaster neoprene for most of last summer, and I can't remember
> having a dry dive in it!
>
>


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"Justin Champion" <j.c.champion@staffs.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:c0o38j$19k9er$1@ID-190940.news.uni-berlin.de...
> I am sure that Northern Diver do not need any defending but. I am have
used
> a Vortex Drysuit for about 2 years and never had any problems with it.
The
> shop which I botught this from was extermely helpful and did not rush me
> into any descisions. I did buy direct from the factory, though in
> Lnacashire.
>
> I understood that all of the ND suits are made in that factory htough so I
> am not sure wher ethe line they are made in China comes from. ?
>

The vortex and divemaster suits are very different suits.
The problem I found with the divemaster was the seal leaked constantly, no
matter how tight they were. Neoprene i suppose!

ND suits are manufactured in China (they have been for several years now).
They may have the boots fitted at the factory in the Uk, but the suit is
glued outside the UK (simular to many manufacturers, Oceanic being one that
springs to mind!). Also the repair work is carried out in the UK.

Iain Sutcliffe <iain@avproductions.co.uk> wrote in message news:<hoht20pdim93dmdnv97spe1s4fdjlvoltd@4ax.com>. ..
> I was thinking of changing from my membrane Drysuit to compressed
> Neoprene - been looking at the Nothern Diver Divemaster suit.
>
> Has anyone got one or had experience of one ?
>
> im interested in everyone's opinions but cant find a review site on
> the 'net that has it listed
>
> whats everyone's thoughts - sre they a good suit or bad ?
>
> TIA, Iain

I have an ND Divemaster suit. Bought it last October after my elderly
Gates Pro-Am (membrane) became porous. I've been in cold water with
it, most recently last weekend at Gildenburg. I was warm, cozy and did
not get wet. I had a PolarTec undersuit on to help with keeping warm.
The suit seems to be well made, fits like a glove and is very
flexible. It's the first neoprene drysuit I've had. Up to now, I'm
quite happy with it.

regards

Tony D

I wonder what all that very expensive CNC cutting gear, the large stacks of
unglued panels, lots of very busy people, and all the suits waiting to be
despatched, are for, that I saw on a recent visit to their factory at
Standish, nr. Wigan. No small yellow skinned people in sight!!

Safe diving, Ken Phillips

"Tricky" <scubatricky@nospam.yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:c0o759$uj3$1@news6.svr.pol.co.uk...
> "Justin Champion" <j.c.champion@staffs.ac.uk> wrote in message
> news:c0o38j$19k9er$1@ID-190940.news.uni-berlin.de...
> > I am sure that Northern Diver do not need any defending but. I am have
> used
> > a Vortex Drysuit for about 2 years and never had any problems with it.
> The
> > shop which I botught this from was extermely helpful and did not rush me
> > into any descisions. I did buy direct from the factory, though in
> > Lnacashire.
> >
> > I understood that all of the ND suits are made in that factory htough so
I
> > am not sure wher ethe line they are made in China comes from. ?
> >
>
> The vortex and divemaster suits are very different suits.
> The problem I found with the divemaster was the seal leaked constantly, no
> matter how tight they were. Neoprene i suppose!
>
> ND suits are manufactured in China (they have been for several years now).
> They may have the boots fitted at the factory in the Uk, but the suit is
> glued outside the UK (simular to many manufacturers, Oceanic being one
that
> springs to mind!). Also the repair work is carried out in the UK.
>
>
>

I've got a ND DM and to be honest, I find the suit quite hard work. Not
a lot of flexibility in it and, when the water's really cold, its seems
to make it even stiffer still. I'm doing a course at the moment that
involves having to do shutdowns, which I'm finding hard work due to the
lack of flexibilty in the suit and the heavy duty zip.

Having said all that, I've not had a wet dive and I've never felt
particularly cold - its normally my fingers that give up before I feel
to cold to carry on.

In hindsight, I probably would've gone for a flexible membrane suit!!

Happy hunting

Donna :)


--
Donna

'Always be the best you can be'
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