Drysuits: Too many choices

[Cantey]

I've been diving a custom fit Santi for roughly a month and a half or so and it is by far the best dry suit I've ever used.

do the Santi's only come custom cut? I couldn't find a sizing chart on the website, what is the pricing on the e-space?

I would have to go with Whites. Their new Fusion suits are very innovative.

do you cave dive in your fusion?

[newman_diver]

do you cave dive in your fusion?

I haven't personnally dove the Fusion yet. My dive buddy uses one and the range of motion is excellent. At first, I was sceptical about the durability of the outer skin but after seeing it used on numerous wreck dives it holds up to the task. I am hoping to give the Fusion a try in the caves this fall. I will keep you posted.

[Puttzer]

I haven't personnally dove the Fusion yet. My dive buddy uses one and the range of motion is excellent. At first, I was sceptical about the durability of the outer skin but after seeing it used on numerous wreck dives it holds up to the task. I am hoping to give the Fusion a try in the caves this fall. I will keep you posted.

I just bought a Fusion and will try out when the caves clear.

[contender]

do the Santi's only come custom cut? I couldn't find a sizing chart on the website, what is the pricing on the e-space?





do you cave dive in your fusion?

Santi's come in stock sizes as well. www.santiusa.com, you will find the charts here.
Edit:http://www.santiusa.com/SizingTable/sizingtable.pdf

[systematic.entropy]

RE: material

I was wondering about the crushed neoprene vs trilam when I first got my suit, for cave diving, I don't know why anyone would go any other way than crushed neoprene, they are great against abrasion. However, for wrecks, I'd have to suggest trilam, for the puncture resistance.

[Sludge]

I don't know why anyone would go any other way than crushed neoprene, they are great against abrasion. However, for wrecks, I'd have to suggest trilam, for the puncture resistance.

Funny, I look at it just the opposite. Trilam: advantages lightweight, quick dry. CN: advantage durability.

When I got my first custom suit, I wanted to get a CN because of the durability, but was talked out of it. I'm glad. After six years it was just beginning to show scuffs on the shins, so I got some knee pads.

If I were a NE wreck diver, I would go for the CN, as it's much more durable. One scrape against a piece of rusted metal and the trilam is toast. But in caves, I wouldn't have anything but a trilam.

[NJCaver]

I have some experience with Whites and though the suits are comfortable and flexible, the outer layer of lycra is good for maybe 1/2 dive on a wreck. I came up and had torn through the suit in about 3 places.

I'm not sure about their other "legacy" suits but they also have a current recall on their LP hoses which doesn't bode well for reliability.

As far as material is concerned, trilam is good against punctures for sure but a good scrape will start a leak pretty quickly. I think if drying time and weight is unimportant, the crushed neoprene seems to be better from what I'm reading elsewhere.

[fireman cave]

I have had my Sanit for 3 months now.. It is great.

[aainslie]

Funny, I look at it just the opposite. Trilam: advantages lightweight, quick dry. CN: advantage durability.

When I got my first custom suit, I wanted to get a CN because of the durability, but was talked out of it. I'm glad. After six years it was just beginning to show scuffs on the shins, so I got some knee pads.

If I were a NE wreck diver, I would go for the CN, as it's much more durable. One scrape against a piece of rusted metal and the trilam is toast. But in caves, I wouldn't have anything but a trilam.

Yeah, I love my trilam for travelling and caving but it sure makes me a lot more careful in wrecks. There I use my neoprene. On the whole though I far prefer my trilam suit to my neoprene one.

[w ripley]

I've owned several and have to agree with the previous posts. Lots of very good drysuits out there.

Here's another consideration. If your technical diving takes you on to dive boats for long, offshore dives, or if you find youself in jungles like in Mexico (you get the idea, a long way from a repair shop), then you might consider the DUI.

I now dive their crushed neoprene with ZIP SEALS. The crushed neoprene because it is so strong and provides a degree of thermal insulation, and the zip seals because they allow me to switch out torn wrist and neck seals in the field in under 5 minutes. They also allow me to put on dry gloves for those cold dives (I've glued on Sitec dry gloves to the latex wrist seals so that I can dress with my bare hands vs putting on the DUI dry gloves and having to dress with them already on.)

It's a good and tough suit. My earlier DUI trilam was trash after about the second year, as it came down with "pinhole" syndrome. I sealed hundreds of tiny pinholes for two years and DUI finally took it back and credited me towards the crushed neoprene.

So, the DUI offers a lot of flexibility, but it is pricey.

I still have a BARE trilam that works like a charm, and carry it for a backup. Never had any problems with it, just wanted to replace it before it died. A friend borrowed it for a dive a few weeks ago and it worked fine. Glad he did as I had forgot it doesn't have a pee valve, so need to pack a few diapers in the bag should I need to use it.

Regards,

Bill