Discovering a New Sport Wet versus Dry

[diveconjeff]

Working with dive shops and liveaboards in the Pacific NW, I had many opprotunities to dive a wide variety of dry suits. I have also owned quite a few as well.

So we know there are many types of dry suits, different materials, zipper styles, seals, enough so that different personalites will prefer different suits.

The same is true for wet suits. I now own a custom made five mil (Wet Wear in Hallendale,FL) suit that when combined with the matching hooded vest is warmer, more comfortable, and far more flexible than any two piece 7 mil suit that I ever dove. If deep dives and loss of bouancy due to compression are a concern, there is a nitrogen blown neoprene that is far more resistant to compression at depth.

I love it for all the reasons metioned earlier in the thread. Virtually everyone that I dive with smirks at it and recites the praises of their respective dry suits. However, it all boils down to one thing. I am comfortable diving it, I stay warm (enough) and there is less to worry about.

BTW, I also dive a dual classic wing to address redundant bouyancy.

Finally, when I go back to the PNW, rest assured I will be in a dry suit. Water temps in the 30 to 50 degree range are an entirely different matter for this diver, than the 70's in Northern FL.

[divindoc]

I took Basic and Apprentice Cave from Mike O'Leary. I noticed he always dives wet. When I asked him to elaborate, he said "One less failure point". That's the flip side of the redundancy issue. I don't think there's a right or wrong, you can make cogent arguments for either position.

All that being said, pissing myself in my wetsuit is a nonevent - not so the drysuit!

[Jay]

My favorite dry suit is my 5 mil neoprene. (well it used to be 5 mil, after 8 years and 4 or 500 dives it may be a little less now) More comfortable then a wet suit and about the same drag (ie-significantly less then any bag suit). The wrist dump valve spoils you very quickly. The suit is actually less restrictive then any of my wet suits except the 2 mil shorty!