Semidry choices

[CompuDude]

I have just started diving with a Scubapro Nova Scotia semi-dry suit.

Right now my major issue with this suit is that air bubbles can get trapped inside while I am dressing. I have tried to bend on my knees and squeeze the suite from my ankles to my neck but I was not very successful. I could not sink. My buddy and I decided to let water inside it, which, obviously made me feel colder straightaway, but at least I was able to stay underwater. However during the dive my buoyancy was all over the place until, it seemed to me, I reached a depth of about 60 feet, where it was easier to control it.

Any tips on how I can release this air in a more efficient way?

Land is a losing proposition. Instead, once you're in the water, floating on the surface, go vertical for a moment and pull open the neck seal. The water pressure pushing in against your body should force the air out. Just do your best not to let water in.

 

[bgi]

Yeppers. If I don't burp my isotherm at the surface, it's kinda hard to descend. Good advice.

 

[old gaffer]

I have a Aqualung SolAfx 7/8mm semi-dri and I like it alot. It is easy to get off and on even with the built in hood. It has a drysuit style front entry zipper. Keeps me warm on long dives with temps down to about 50 degrees but I did get cold diving lake Superior with temps at 41 degrees. I got cold at those temps but really my hands and feet using Henderson 5mm dryfit boots and gloves got cold before my body did with the Aqualung. I would recommend it for temps down to about 45 to 50 degrees.

Gaffer

 

[Soakedlontra]

Thanks for your suggestion CompuDude,

I will try next time I hit the water with scuba gear.

 

[coflynn]

Has anyone tried the semi-dry suit at activewetsuits.com/mens7mmhoodedscubadivingwetsui8.html ?

I imagine it's closer to wetsuit for that price.... but even as a wet-suit, is it worth anything? I can't seem to find much on H2Odyssey wetsuits in terms of reviews.

Thanks!

 

[Nismo]

I'm pretty happy with the performance of my Pinnacle Kodiak. Some issues that hopefully have been taken care of. My zipper broke two teeth. I don't know if it's due to the high stretch or if other factors came into to play but I need to stay 60 feet or above to stay warm. The day I went to 80 feet I was much colder than when I didnt go much deeper than 60. Of course I don't know if I was just feeling it more the first time I used it, if water temps were equal or what. Of course it was a headache that bothered me mostly so maybe my air got nicely chilled.

 

[astrofunk]

The best way to save money on a wetsuit, is to buy a drysuit from the start. I have a Pinnicale Polar that sits in the closet, and only gets used if I am abalone diving. Otherwise drysuit all the way.

Bingo. Somebody gave me the same advice back when I was shopping for a semi-dry. I ignored it, and now a couple years of diving later, I have a beautiful Xcel semi-dry collecting dust in the closet

Long dives? Multiple dives? Diving when the air temp starts to drop? The Xcel is a great suit; it just didn't keep me warm enough. Once I went dry, I enjoyed my dives more, and so dove more, and so enjoyed my dives more... It's a virtuous cycle.

 

[Soakedlontra]

I am beginning to think that buying the Scuba Pro Nova Scotia semi-dry suit was a waste of money. My decision to go for a semi-dry was determined by two factors: I could not afford a dry suit and I heard a lot of positive comments from other divers about the suit.

Well, I guess for some reasons it does not keep me as warm as the other folks. I noticed that that at 84 feet (my deepest dive so far) it got worse. My feet and hands always get cold no matter the depth, especially the feet. I tried to wear thick merino wool socks but they do not work, I am thinking about buying some neoprene socks to see if they can help me to keep my feet warmer. I can handle to dive around 60 feet for about 40 minutes (my maximum time so far) and probably 30/20 minutes further down. I have to put up with the cold until I have enough money to buy a dry suit. In the meantime I am going to experiment and add the top of a farmer's John wet suit to see if it makes a difference...Wish me good luck!

I still cannot release the air inside the suit even if I do it in the water so I am giving up! I am trying to counter-balance the added buoyancy by adding some more weight (does it make sense?). Eventually after several attempts I was able to reach a balance with an 80 aluminum tank (the only kind of tanks available for rent in a shop in Victoria, BC). Now I have to start all over again with a 72 steel tank (the kind of cylinder that I can rent from my local dive shop)...

Santa pazienza! (Holy patience!)

 

[hobodiver]

I noticed that that at 84 feet (my deepest dive so far) it got worse. My feet and hands always get cold no matter the depth, especially the feet. I tried to wear thick merino wool socks but they do not work, I am thinking about buying some neoprene socks to see if they can help me to keep my feet warmer. I can handle to dive around 60 feet for about 40 minutes (my maximum time so far) and probably 30/20 minutes further down. I have to put up with the cold until I have enough money to buy a dry suit. In the meantime I am going to experiment and add the top of a farmer's John wet suit to see if it makes a difference...Wish me good luck!

How cold is the water @ 84 feet?

Also, your wetsuit/semidry won't help much to keep your hands and feet warm. Have you tried using thicker gloves/booties?

 

[Soakedlontra]

How cold is the water @ 84 feet?

Also, your wetsuit/semidry won't help much to keep your hands and feet warm. Have you tried using thicker gloves/booties?

My buddy's computer recorded a bottom temperature of 50F at 81 Ft. We spent about 4 minutes around 80Ft. I felt the drop of temperature well before reaching that depth.

I have tried several kind of gloves and the ones the fit me better have the disadvantage of not keeping my hands that warm after all. I can handle my hands being cold for the time being until I find something better.

Regarding my feet, I would like to try thin neoprene socks to wear inside the boots. If I get thicker boots I won't be able to wear the fins that I like to use (force fins that I did not have to buy).