Bio Seal for latex neck seal

[KevinE]

Does any one have experience with using Apollo BioSeals with a dry suit's latex neck seal? Do they really work, are they comfortable, do they harm the latex material of the neck seal?

http://www.apollosportsusa.com/Products/Drysuits/Bioseal.htm

Thanks in advance.

Kevin.

[Tegg]

They obviously do harm the latex seals...

Quoted from the page:

This product does contain oils which can cause early wear in latex type seals. Cleaning the neck seal of your suit thoroughly after each use can help delay this effect. Each seal includes a dry storage container.


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I wouldn't use it personally. Are you having issues with your neck seal?

[MTS]

I bought one when my dry suit neck seal was leaking. It reduced the leak but not eliminated it completely. The fit of my seal was so bad that I had to have it replaced with a smaller one. So now it is sitting on the self collecting dust.
I'd say that it may be a solution to a marginally fitting neck seal. It may also be useful if you get a skin rash from rubbing against the latex seal. Once you put it on, you will not even know it's there. It is made of a very pliable and stretchable, soft "stuff". And the dry suit does not touch your neck.

If your seal is not fitting well, I'd suggest that for a few more $$ you just get it replaced and forego anything else. With a price tag of $50++ this extra seal is not a cost effective solution.

[Angie Reim]

Unfortunately, I happen to be allergic to latex. BAD...ITCHY!. I didn't know about this other product. I do have a neoprene neck seal in my neoprene drysuit. I don't have enough experience with various drysuits to know if I should expect a neoprene neck seal to leak - especially if I look down and behind to see my dive buddy (shiver....cooolllddd between the shoulder blades). A latex neck seal is out of the question for me. Could this $50 compromise work in my situation or should I expect the existing neck seal to work better? If so, I'll have it replaced but I just don't know......advice?

[MikeH]

I don't have enough experience with various drysuits to know if I should expect a neoprene neck seal to leak - especially if I look down and behind to see my dive buddy (shiver....cooolllddd between the shoulder blades). A latex neck seal is out of the question for me. Could this $50 compromise work in my situation or should I expect the existing neck seal to work better?

I've got a better, and cheaper, solution....put a rear view mirror on one of your sidemount tanks so you don't have to look down and back to see your buddy. :-D

Mike

[Angie Reim]

I don't have enough experience with various drysuits to know if I should expect a neoprene neck seal to leak - especially if I look down and behind to see my dive buddy (shiver....cooolllddd between the shoulder blades). A latex neck seal is out of the question for me. Could this $50 compromise work in my situation or should I expect the existing neck seal to work better?

I've got a better, and cheaper, solution....put a rear view mirror on one of your sidemount tanks so you don't have to look down and back to see your buddy. :-D

Mike

Har...har....har........well, I guess that neoprene suit is a dampsuit anyway. Maybe someday I can afford to be 'drier'. Until then maybe I'll invest in some better underwear. :-)

especially if I look down and behind to see my dive buddy

I've seen your dive buddies. They're not worth looking at. :lol:

Russell

[MTS]

Could this $50 compromise work in my situation or should I expect the existing neck seal to work better? If so, I'll have it replaced but I just don't know......advice?

Unfortunately, there is no way of telling if a BioSeal would help you or not without actually trying it on a dive. In my situation, I have a latex neck seal, the extra layer of a very soft material helped some but did not completely eliminate leaks; my old seal was just too loose. If you have only a little water trickle down your neck, you stand a good chance to get it fixed with a BioSeal. Another issue is that you may be allergic to this high-tech material as well.

If we ever meet in cave country, I'll let you try mine.

[KevinE]

Thanks for all the input. My main issue is irritation at the point of contact for the latex neck seal. After several long dives a day over several days I have an irritation line/rash. I have played around with the fit and have it pretty close with almost no leaks unless I do some weird head movements. My hope was that this material might relieve some or all of the irritation. I do understand about the oils in it eating away at the latex but hope that very dilligent and immediate cleaning will limit the degradation. Steve G put the seals in and the latex he uses is pretty light. The next time I am down that way I'll probably stop in and talk to him about it. Kevin.

[jammer]

Do a research on non-latex materials. I had developed a reaction to latex with having to wear gloves about 6 or 7 Hrs a day so I got nitrile gloves and I do a lot better now. I know that there is a non-latex seal out there that is not neoprene. I would also try and call Steve Gamble and ask him about something non-latex.