Drysuit Recommendations for SAR?

[canuckdiver]

good point devilfish!
never thought about the drag issue.
I have been diving this way for a year, using the coveralls to protect the drysuit, but that has been in a recreational enviroment.

 

[devilfish]

Yes, coveralls for rec is fine, but psd is a different environment. Besides the drag there is also the hasmat absorbtion factor.

 

[Bob3]

Commercial divers very often wear coveralls, they can get away with it 'cuz they're walking on the bottom, not swimming in the water column.

For a drysuit review, check out RSD's article: http://www.scubadiving.com/gear/dryunder1k/

MSRP on the Xtreme is $950

Whacking the hood off reduces value by about $100. The Germans are fond of wearing a neoprene hood over the latex; the Swedes get the model with attached neoprene hood.
Here in the US, the latex hood is the norm.

 

[AquaTec]

Vikiing Pro
The hazmat is a big issue.
but eventhe smell of swamp mud is hard to get out.

 

[jeepster0000]

Dear MnScuba
I am a SAR diver for my local dive team. Though we do not get called out much, we train for every situation. We used to used the neoprene drysuits for a while, but after a couple of marina searches, the suit was trashed. Go for the vulcanized rubber suit. Our team got a great deal though one company. We are now an authorized dealer, so we can buy more gear.

I personally dive with the TLS 350, but if I am going to do a team dive, I will deffiantly use the vulcanized rubber suit. I do not know if your team is OSHA approved for hazmat, but to do hazmat, you have to have a hard hat/ full face mask.

If you do get the rubber, which I highly reccomend, then get some kevlar knee pads or some other type. Aslo in my opinion, I would stick away from the dry gloves while doing team dives. If you do evidence recovery, you will be digging alot. I am on my third pair of gloves. The dry gloves would be expensive to replace every time.

 

[Bob3]

Viking has a Kevlar over glove for their dry gloves. Not that great of protection for needles, but works great w/broken glass.