Drysuit leaking around neck

[Arkman]

I picked up a new to me drysuit a while back. I have about 10 dives on it and I'm consistantly damp after each dive. I think it is coming in around my neck from what I can tell.

I feel like, if anything, the neck seal is on the tighter side. I don't think it is too loose, when I got it the seal was uncomfortably tight. It even made me slightly light headed when trying it on so I trimmed it down, but only a little at a time.

I've used a couple drysuits in the past. One I rented during my drysuit class, the other I was testing out to see if I wanted to buy it. Neither one I had a issue with.

Does anyone have any reccomendations on what I can do?

 

[OTF]

- you could briefly dive the suit in a pool or pond with a cotton tshirt for undergarment, you should be able feel where it's leaking and see on the shirt where it's wet
- Test for leaks. Find some cylindrical objects (like bottles or yogurt tubs) and use them to plug the wrist and neck holes, maybe use a wrap of masking tape to secure them extra well. Inflate the suit fully and use a spray bottle of very soapy water to squirt all suspicious seams and watch for bubbles. Check the neck, around the dump valve, zipper, etc.
- you might need a new better neck seal, which is not a big deal

 

[Arkman]

- you could briefly dive the suit in a pool or pond with only a thin cotton tshirt for undergarment, you should be able feel where it's leaking and see on the shirt where it's wet
- Test for leaks. Find some cylindrical objects (like bottles or yogurt tubs) and use them to plug the wrist and neck holes, maybe use a wrap of masking tape to secure them extra well. Inflate the suit fully and use a spray bottle of very soapy water to squirt all suspicious seams and watch for bubbles. Check the neck, around the dump valve, zipper, etc.
- you might need a new better neck seal, which is not a big deal

I'm pretty confident that it is coming from the neck area.

I'm going to do a leak test tonight, but ultimatly I think I might replace my neck seal. I need quick shipping, does anyone have a recommended seal from amazon?

 

[grf88]

I tracked down a leak in a drysuit neck seal that turned out to be a small pinhole in the latex seal which was difficult to see but just enough to cause problems.

 

[BRT]

Is it a latex neck seal? You might try positioning it lower on your neck. I've seen the cords of the neck muscles create leaks when moving the head to certain positions.

 

[OTF]

Do you suspect the water is leaking around the neck seal along your neck (bad fit) or is leaking through a pinhole/poorly glued seam? It would be hard to know without testing. Pictures of the seal as it is worn on your neck might be useful.

 

[Arkman]

I think it's coming in around the neck. Not leaking through the seam or hole. But hard to say. I'll try and grab a photo tonight after my leak test.

 

[lexvil]

I think it's coming in around the neck. Not leaking through the seam or hole. But hard to say. I'll try and grab a photo tonight after my leak test.

Are you damp all over or just down the front?

 

[Imla]

Follow this video. Good way of finding the leak on your own.

 

[Arkman]

Are you damp all over or just down the front?

I think mostly the front but it's hard to say exacly. It seems like after 1.5 hours worth of diving (2 to 3 dives) I'm the wetest by my neck and dryer as you go down, but it seems like I'm wetter down my front that back.