Semi-Dry Suits

[ufcaver]

Im contemplating the purchase of a semi-drysuit. Does anyone have any first hand experience with these suits? I need somthing to keep me warm for a single stage dive (that's about the limits of my cavediving). I had a DUI 450 drysuit for several years, but sold it after not diving it enough to justify spending 2k on it.

[John L.]

I have a scuba-max 7mil semidry suit (similar to Atlan), and I love it. It has hyperstretch material, glideskin insides, built in 7 mil hood, and reinforced wear areas. I get cold easy, and I do 120 minute dives in it all the time, and I am comfortable in it. Only draw back, no pee valve.

[skip]

i love my semi-dry, 5/3mm, no hood, front shoulder zip with an interior bib. nothing fancy about it, but it was cheap from some online store, a "sea-elite." I only use it in the spring and fall when water temps are not cold, but not warm, about like florida cave temps. in open water only too. and if you pee in it, it stays with you and really really stinks so your dive buddy avoids you after the dive! I've heard of people putting pee valves in semi-dry suits, but with the stretch and compression that sounds painful to me, so i've learned to go before the dive, hold it during, and head for the men's room and nearby tree right after!

[Dwain]

A few of my dive buddies use Pinnacle Semidry Suits and love them. They got them @ Lloyd's in Gainesville.

http://www.digitaligual.com/pinnacleaquatics7/door.htm

[cavediver27]

When I choose to dive wet I like the Atlan 7/5 one piece semi-dry. I got my first one about 5 years ago and now I'm on my second one. They are well made and it keeps me plenty warm in the caves for dives up to about 1-1/2 hrs, after that I start to 'chill out' a bit.

Dave

[Angie Reim]

When I choose to dive wet I like the Atlan 7/5 one piece semi-dry. I got my first one about 5 years ago and now I'm on my second one. They are well made and it keeps me plenty warm in the caves for dives up to about 1-1/2 hrs, after that I start to 'chill out' a bit.

Dave

Ditto on the Atlan. It's good up to about 90mins but will 'crush' after a couple years and not provide the insulation. 'course I run cold being a Florida native. Sometimes my neoprene drysuit is barely seems warm enough.

For several years I dived a Scubapro 7mm semi-dry, than went to a 3mm semi-dry with 5mm jacket. Then I bought a used DUI crushed neoprene drysuit off eBay for $500, and I haven't dived wet since. I later got a TLS350 off eBay for $550, so I see no reason to ever dive wet again.

Russell

[Alan Garrett]

I occasionally dive a 7mm Dacor semi-dry. I have done many dives in it lasting well over an hour in 55F water and never got cold. Of course, I also use a good hood along with it. I'm fairly well aclimated to colder water, so you might not feel as warm in one as I do, but for me personally I find it more than adequate and have no problem recommending one. I actually find it to be TOO warm for my occasional Florida cave dives, but up here in the hills of Arkansas and Missouri it feels pretty nice. Also, I think the hood you choose makes a huge difference. I've dived some surprisingly light suits in very cold water and did just fine as long as my head didn't get cold. If your head gets cold it won't matter much what kind of suit you're wearing.

[Moonfuzzy]

I dove the Atlan for a season, but it didn't keep me cold and I found it a paid in the butt to get in and out of. It was not snug enough around my waist and back, so I had more water in my suit than I should have.

I am diving a Mares Evolution wetsuit now. Most of my dives on it are scooter dives, which is generally a colder dive than a swim dive. I would guess that on a swim dive I could be in the water 1.5 - 2 hrs before getting cold. I do that on the scooter dives also, but I include chemical heat packs to make up for the extra cooling affect of the water flow.

[ufcaver]

Thanks for the feedback guys. But it sounds like everyone would be hating a semi-dry after a 2hr dive with deco. I even got cold in my CLX450 with 300g underwear after a single stage at LR or JB (even with a good mix). I guess Ill have to bite the bullet and buy another drysuit. What do ya'll think about the insulation of the crushed neoprene suits compared to the trilams with thinsulate underwear?