Is there such a product...

[KJNDIVER]

Ok, given that I dont do much winter diving and dont know a whole lot about wetsuits, thought I would ask this. When winter time comes around the water around here generally gets a lil chilly for me and besides that, hunting season is here to take up the slack. Now, while duck hunting, I have a pair of neoprene chest waders that I use. They keep me dry from the water I am wading thru and also provide some supprising warmth. My question is, since wetsuits are made of neprene, is there one out there that uses the same neoprene that is used for chest waders in hunting or fishing? Seems it would keep ya warm and dry at the same time. Is there such a product out there? Or will the effects of pressure with depth be enough to force water thru since wading is at sea level atmospheric pressure? Any and all responses welcome.

[one_lucky_shot]

ye they tend to call it a dry suit. :D crushed neopren. works great at depth :D :D

[KJNDIVER]

again, i have a lack of knowledge on the subject, but I thought that a dry suit was more or less like a big plastic suit you wore that would have the tendency to trap air and mess with your buoyancy. Just a thought, but I wouldnt think what I am talkin aobut would cause that much of a problem. Where can I find one on the net? How much?

[FredT]

The first is a semi-dry, which is a wetsuit with neck, wrist and ankle seals, No inflation.

Henderson, Scubapro, and several others make semi-dry neoprene suits. You dive this like a wetsuit, but have little or no water under it.

A true diving dry suit has some sort of inflation mechanism to maintain an "air bubble" under the suit and increase insulation abilities.

Shell suits are simply a bag with seals where you wear underwear appropriate to the water and air temperature to give you insulation.

Viking makes these, as do DUI and a bunch of others. Cost is in the $1-1.5K range with "vulcanized" suits for commercial work going at up to twice that.

Neoprene suits are used in colder water where a failure in a dry suit could be immediately life threatening. These have the "shell" made of crushed neoprene so even if the shell is breached the diver has a couple minutes to get out before bodyparts start freezing in 28°F seawater. These are in the $1.5-2K price range for a basic suit, double that for special purpose commercial suits.

For a relatively inexpensive shell suit e-mail Bob3 over on scubaboard, or PM or call me (733 7776) in NO weeknights for other sources.

FT

[KJNDIVER]

Thanks FredT, that clears things up a bit. But why the high prices for the neoprene jobs? I mean, a pair of chest waders is only about 50 bucks and that is more or less about 75% body coverage. Where does the other $1 k or so get justified?

[FredT]

Chest waders would be fairly thin neoprene, 1/8" to 3/16" for most I've seen, and it's a much lower "quality" of rubber than is used on drysuits.

Drysuit rubber may be 1/2" or 3/4" before it's crushed. Good quality seals are about a c-note a set uninstalled. Inflation mechanism ad constant volume valves are a hundred or so each, plus the boots and assembly / test labor.

I dive a Viking shell and vary the underwear the couple of months a drysuit is necessary in the northern gulf. Be aware they are a bunch harder to hunt in than t-shirt and shorts:rolleyes: so I delay the switch to dry as long as possible.

FT

[KJNDIVER]

Thanks, I appreciate the info.

[swimndive]

Not sure what your waders are made of, but you might want to look for a suit made using Yamamoto's new chloroprene. Lighter, warmer, more flexible and more crush resistant than gas blown Rubatex.

[DFC5343]

I saw a bumper sticker in Fl. last year that said,

"I love manatees with potatoes and gravy".

[SEATUX]

If You Buy A Dry Suit Take A Cource, It Will Probably Save Your Life, Its Not Like Diving A Wet Suit.
Look Into Mares Semi Dry, An Incredable Bargin, Its 1/4" Neo So The Warmth Of Insulation Is There, Has Seals Of Neo At Neck/wrists/ankels, And A Drysuit Zipper, And You Dont Have To Inflate It, Which Cuts Down On The Dangers. Neopreme (not The Crushed) Suits Are Very Hardy, And The Easiest And Cheapest To Repair, Latex Seals Are The Pits,dont Last As Long And Cost More To Replace, The Zipper Is Very Expensive To Replace, So Treat It With Great Care, It Helps To Have Your Buddy Help You Zip Up And Unzip, To Replace A Zipper Will Cost You In Excess Of $250.

[chasintail]

:stupid:
Very different than diving a normal suit.Instruction is very important.

[PatMyGreen]

Knowing how to power out of an ascent if the air bubble gets to your feet will damn sure be a handy piece of knowledge if you plan on diving in dry suits.

[The Collector]

I dive a semi-dry (no training or inflation issues) to 55 degrees without any trouble. Any colder than that and I'll shoot land based animals.

[shaun748]

I think fit has much more to do with warmth than just material..

A loose fitting open-cell would feel colder than a tight fitting closed cells because it would allow cold water to continually "flush" thru it..

I am a real coldwater wimp so I usually wear a 7mm closed cell and am fine, but with a open cell suit I can go down to a 5mm and feel just as warm, since the skin-tight open cell prevents "water flush".

[IRONHEAD]

I have never dove really cold water yet but I used to surf in 53 degree water in the winters here in daytona. I used to surf with a 3/2 mm suit with a hood and booties. can anyone elaborate why I might not be warm in just that while diving? I have considered buying a 7 mm suit but am not sure if it will be neccessary