1st Dry Suit

[aj1snowman]

I'm looking to buy my first Dry Suit, its going to be used since its cheaper. What should I be looking for when I check out used suits? The one I'm looking at right now is a Viking 90 X or something like that.

[N2Fixx]

For my money, the only drysuit I would dive in is a DUI CF200x. Comfort, ease of donning (self zip) and function just cannot be beat. Yes, it is EXPENSIVE! But, you will own a single drysuit much longer than you own any wetsuit. Amortized over its effective lifetime, you will be money ahead.
You can find them used on ebay now and then, so if you're after a bargain check them out. I think you'll find that you will use a drysuit more often than not. There is just something special about climbing out of the water onto the boat and being DRY! Not to mention how cozy you are while you're diving. I had an aquaintance that actually used a drysuit in Cozumel in May while the rest of us were in .5mm skins. After dive number three, guess who was the most comfortable?
Good decision to go dry!

[waterpirate]

Having gone down this road last year, the most important things to consider when buying a used drysuit.
1. fit
Try to limit your purchase to ones you can try on before you buy. An ill fitting dry
or one that leaks sucks.

2. quality
Limit your purchase to only buying a used quality suit. Nobody would buy a used
ugo or kia with high mileage.

3. Type of suit
Self donning or not, commpressed neo or trilam, type of trilam material used.
Hunting wrecks in the mid atlantic in current quickly shreds some suits.

4. Repairs
You have to assume that any dry suit you buy used will need repairs right off the
bat or at least in the first year. A zipper replacement can be expensive. Any
anticipated repairs must be considered part of the purchase price. Also where will
the repairs be done? self? locally? send back to manufacture?

5. Life expectancy
When you think you have found a suit. Try to find out if anyone is still diving it and
get their feedback on its durability. Let what they say guide your decision.

6. Do not get ants in your pants
Time is on your side. I looked for almost a year, and when you think the perfect
suit is available and you have to buy, but one item is not right, trust me that
anotherone will present itself in the next month.
just my .02

I wound up with a older typhoon pro. Purchase price 100.00. Trip to Aqua diving Academy in new england for a complete rebuild 900.00. Time it took was about 4 weeks. Total investment was 1000.00, cost of new cheese ball suit. What I got was a bib front self donning suit with relief zipper. A hard kneck ring and cuff system so I can change my own seals at will. Probably at least 5-7 years of diving before it will be ready for new boots or a zipper. Priceless even for a cheapscate like me.
If any of you do not know Julie Footman at Aquadiving, I would highly recomend her and her staff for any drysuit rebuild repair.
Eric

[SEATUX]

I'm looking to buy my first Dry Suit, its going to be used since its cheaper. What should I be looking for when I check out used suits? The one I'm looking at right now is a Viking 90 X or something like that.

PM sent

[Grin]

I have been looking also. I won't buy this year, probably by next year. I like that Whites Fusion suit. My drysuit would not be for any real hard core "dry suit required" type diving. Just few months of the year when it is what we call cold in FL, and the water gets down to 50-60.