Tropical drysuits

[mojo]

I'm thinking about getting a tropical drysuit for, well, tropical diving.

Before all the snide comments start, I'm 145lbs and about 5% body fat (actually up from about 3% in high school). I get cold in 78 degree water- enough to make the diving not worth it after a couple dives. If I go on a week long (or longer) liveaboard, it wears on me to the point where I just don't like getting in the water. I want to enjoy being underwater, not fighting hypothermia the entire time. I'm hoping a drysuit can make up for my lack of natural insulation...

So... I'm thinking about a tropical drysuit. Possibly the DUI 30/30. Does anyone have one? Any experiences? Does anyone know of a local shop that carries DUI equipment?

 

[crew]

why dont you just drink more and up the weight a bit

 

[crew]

it was good advice barb

 

[mojo]

Hmm- while that IS an option, I think I'd rather stay around my current size...

 

[corigan]

mojo;278365 wrote: Does anyone know of a local shop that carries DUI equipment?

DUI's are awesome, but man do you pay for them. They have Dog days sometimes out at Alabama Blue Water where you can test dive their different suits. there is a shop up in cartersville (May not be there anymore) that carried DUI. Susan at Divers Supply in Doraville became a DUI dealer at one time. Gerrards (which I do not recommend) is a DUI dealer. Good luck on finding a suit that you are comfy in.

Matt

 

[mojo]

Corigan;278401 wrote: DUI's are awesome, but man do you pay for them. They have Dog days sometimes out at Alabama Blue Water where you can test dive their different suits. there is a shop up in cartersville (May not be there anymore) that carried DUI. Susan at Divers Supply in Doraville became a DUI dealer at one time. Gerrards (which I do not recommend) is a DUI dealer. Good luck on finding a suit that you are comfy in.

Thanks for the helpful tips. Yes, they're expensive (about $1300), which is why I'm doing a little "research" first. I had heard about Dog days, but I'd really rather try out the dry suit in the conditions that I'd actually be using them in- if I can't wear it in 80 degree water AND air, then it's no good for me. I might try out Divers Supply- I didn't know they were a dealer.

 

[mojo]

Barbara;278397 wrote: Funny; maybe. Good advice; no. No offense, but skinny people have the same challenges that fat people have with their weight. Chris is healthy, and I wouldn't encourage anyone to "drink more" to bulk up. I wasn't saying your advice was bad; I was more empathising with his situation. I am overweight, so I don't get cold often, but when I do, it's the worst feeling in the world. I sincerely hope he finds some good advice to help him stay warm so he can enjoy being in the water. If they made XXXL dive suits, I might want to try it myself. It sounds like fun.

Thanks for the support, Barbara. I know most people will laugh, but yes, there are disadvantages to being smaller than average. I have a hard time finding size 29 waist men's jeans. I get cold easily. Coats rarely fit right. And so on. Yes, I have no doubt that being XXL is much harder with a "be skinny" society, but the reality is that it does affect things I like to do, including diving, and I'd just rather be more comfortable if that's a possibility.

 

[washowi]

You have to be kidding me!! You know what I always told ya...

Eat a Hamburger!!

Tropical drysuit....

 

[mojo]

I was waiting for you to say something Todd...

 

[washowi]

I am laughing my *** off!!!

I love ya.....

 

[corigan]

mojo;278407 wrote: Thanks for the helpful tips. Yes, they're expensive (about $1300), which is why I'm doing a little "research" first. I had heard about Dog days, but I'd really rather try out the dry suit in the conditions that I'd actually be using them in- if I can't wear it in 80 degree water AND air, then it's no good for me. I might try out Divers Supply- I didn't know they were a dealer.

You're Welcome. From my understanding of speaking with Susan she said that only the Doraville store is a DUI dealer. Things may have changed though, as that was around a year ago when I spoke to her about this. You might be able to rent a drysuit in cave country in florida and take it to the coast and get some warm water dives in to test it in the proper conditions.

Matt

 

[washowi]

Here is a deal


It says MEN"S but.....

 

[washowi]

Another place I buy from

look at the Apollo 4.0 EX

 

[budsreef]

I have the same problem and am a real freeze baby in water but usually stayed warm in a 1/4" wetsuit. I also used a full body lycra type thing that helped as well. Do you use a wet suit and still get chilled in it?

 

[enderg60]

just wondering if you have tried thicker wet suits?

A dry suit would absolutly work. Guys I dived with in New Zealand had them and would wear sweats and sweaters under them, but that was in 55 degree water.

I would just explore 6 or even 9 mil wetsuits before dumping well over a grand on a dry suit.

and FYI this is comming from another skinny guy that wears a 3 mil full body suit to dive 78 degree water

 

[mojo]

EnderG60;278589 wrote: just wondering if you have tried thicker wet suits?

I have. The problem is two-fold. Most of the dive trips I take are on a liveaboard for 10 days, 5 dives/day. At ~1hr per dive, that's just a lot of wear and tear, and by the end, I absolutely hate getting into a wetsuit. I can deal with a couple dives here and there in a 3mm, but when you start doing multiple dives over multiple days, it's just too much- my body can't keep up. I'd rather enjoy my trip than feel like I'm obligated to dive because I've paid all that money.

Thanks for the links, Todd... I'll want to look around a bit before moving on anything- ideally, I can try a couple out in carribean waters before actually buying one...

 

[wmboots]

dui tropical is an excellent suit but you could try going to a 5/3 for waters in the upper 70's to low 80's to cut cost. Although henderson and a few other wetsuit manufactures are getting pretty proud of their products. If you can gain access to DEMA you can purchase dui there for dealer cost.
in MHO dui is the best on the market and their tropical is awsome for someone who has problems getting cold. There is another outlet in marrietta at the end of dobbing runway that is a dui dealer. He can be a bit hard to deal with if his left shoulder (long time ago accident) has him in extreme pain but probably one of the most knowledgeable people in the industry.

 

[johnr2604]

Whichever one you get dont skimp and get a cheap one, Unless you want to be replacing gaskets all the time.

 

[wmboots]

Mojo,
reading some of the posts DON'T just rent a drysuit and jump in the water. This is a whole different breed of dive suit and you need to be properly trained in it and do several dives in a pool, quarry or lake lanier to get yourself accustomed to this new suit. You will be adding weight and in the beginning adding movements and steps in trimming out at depth. Have taught enough drysuit students to know the issues involved. I will say I love diving dry much more than wet and once you get used to it. It is much quicker and easier to don a drysuit than a wetsuit.

 

[mojo]

wmboots;278593 wrote: dui tropical is an excellent suit but you could try going to a 5/3 for waters in the upper 70's to low 80's to cut cost. Although henderson and a few other wetsuit manufactures are getting pretty proud of their products.

I currently use a Henderson 3mm hyperstretch with a Henderson 5/3 hood/vest combo under it, giving me 6mm on my torso, 5mm on my head, and 3mm on my extremities. I get chilled on multiple dives in anything under ~84 degrees.

I should also state that I'm fairly conservative on air by really limiting my motion, and I dabble with underwater photography, so I may not move from a spot for 10 minutes. This all contributes to more issues with keeping warm.

wmboots;278596 wrote: Mojo,
reading some of the posts DON'T just rent a drysuit and jump in the water. This is a whole different breed of dive suit and you need to be properly trained in it and do several dives in a pool, quarry or lake lanier to get yourself accustomed to this new suit. You will be adding weight and in the beginning adding movements and steps in trimming out at depth. Have taught enough drysuit students to know the issues involved. I will say I love diving dry much more than wet and once you get used to it. It is much quicker and easier to don a drysuit than a wetsuit.

I assumed that would be the case- I want to find a place that will take me through some kind of training. I don't particularly trust PADI or SDI's certifications- they're just after money and aren't very good in my experience, so I'll be looking for a shop that has experience and can spend some time with me. I have a number of questions before even putting a drysuit for the first time - I'm sure I'll have more questions when I get to the water!