W0X0F
Registered
I just got the Atlantis Polartec skin/wetsuit from Wetwear and used it on four dives on the Vandenberg last weekend. I thought a review might be useful for others, so here goes...
I dive mostly warm, tropical waters and love diving with just trunks and a rash guard, but I wanted more protection from scrapes and jellies. I recently came across the Lavacore brand of suits which seemed to fit the bill. I liked the idea of a tough, neutrally buoyant suit, but I couldn't get past the Made in China label.
In researching their material and other suits like it, it became obvious that Polartec was the standard-bearer material for such a wetsuit/skin. Then I discovered that Wetwear made a custom Polartec suit called the Atlantis, and they make it out of real Polartec, not a Polartec-like material. I had spoken to Connie at Wetwear at local dive shows and wanted to some day justify a custom-fitted wetsuit but just hadn't made the leap. When I realized that their custom-fit Atlantis Polartec was just $25 more than the off-the-rack competition, I had to do it!
When I went for the measurements, I couldn't believe how many measurements they took! It started becoming obvious why they do so many measurements when I went in for the trail fitting. The wetsuit felt like a second skin -- like something an action movie super hero would wear! Even at that, they marked it up for some final adjustments. I opted to have them install forearm zippers and a thigh pocket, both optional items. My only concern was that it seemed very warm as I tried it on at the shop.
On the boat, the heat issue didn't seem to be a factor at all. i donned the top half just before the dive. In the water, I hardly noticed that I had the suit on -- just what I wanted. On the boat between dives, the suit drained well and I unzipped the front zipper. I unzipped the forearm zippers and folded the material back for a little extra cooling. In 85 degree temps i was perfectly comfortable. For even more cooling, I could have pulled the entire top down, but it wasn't necessary.
After the dive, I inverted the suit as I removed it, which really helped it drain. After a fresh-water rinse, I hung it overnight inside out. It was mostly dry by evening and completely dry by the morning.
I didn't get a chance (that I know of) to test its abrasion resistance on the four dives, but on the last dive we did have to ascend through a field of moon jellies and one managed to wrap itself around my forearm. I helped it on its way and brushed off the suit with my (gloved) hand. Not even a tingle of a sting! Of course, that was pretty much what I expected.
All in all I am thrilled with the suit! It's lighter that my 3/2 neoprene wetsuit and neutrally buoyant. That means about four to six pounds less weight that I have to wear. I'll be taking it with me to Bonaire in February -- that should give its abrasion resistance a good testing! I'll try to remember to post a follow-up.
-Mike
P.S. -- I have absolutely no affiliation with any wetsuit manufacturers, including Wetwear, except as a customer.
I dive mostly warm, tropical waters and love diving with just trunks and a rash guard, but I wanted more protection from scrapes and jellies. I recently came across the Lavacore brand of suits which seemed to fit the bill. I liked the idea of a tough, neutrally buoyant suit, but I couldn't get past the Made in China label.
In researching their material and other suits like it, it became obvious that Polartec was the standard-bearer material for such a wetsuit/skin. Then I discovered that Wetwear made a custom Polartec suit called the Atlantis, and they make it out of real Polartec, not a Polartec-like material. I had spoken to Connie at Wetwear at local dive shows and wanted to some day justify a custom-fitted wetsuit but just hadn't made the leap. When I realized that their custom-fit Atlantis Polartec was just $25 more than the off-the-rack competition, I had to do it!
When I went for the measurements, I couldn't believe how many measurements they took! It started becoming obvious why they do so many measurements when I went in for the trail fitting. The wetsuit felt like a second skin -- like something an action movie super hero would wear! Even at that, they marked it up for some final adjustments. I opted to have them install forearm zippers and a thigh pocket, both optional items. My only concern was that it seemed very warm as I tried it on at the shop.
On the boat, the heat issue didn't seem to be a factor at all. i donned the top half just before the dive. In the water, I hardly noticed that I had the suit on -- just what I wanted. On the boat between dives, the suit drained well and I unzipped the front zipper. I unzipped the forearm zippers and folded the material back for a little extra cooling. In 85 degree temps i was perfectly comfortable. For even more cooling, I could have pulled the entire top down, but it wasn't necessary.
After the dive, I inverted the suit as I removed it, which really helped it drain. After a fresh-water rinse, I hung it overnight inside out. It was mostly dry by evening and completely dry by the morning.
I didn't get a chance (that I know of) to test its abrasion resistance on the four dives, but on the last dive we did have to ascend through a field of moon jellies and one managed to wrap itself around my forearm. I helped it on its way and brushed off the suit with my (gloved) hand. Not even a tingle of a sting! Of course, that was pretty much what I expected.
All in all I am thrilled with the suit! It's lighter that my 3/2 neoprene wetsuit and neutrally buoyant. That means about four to six pounds less weight that I have to wear. I'll be taking it with me to Bonaire in February -- that should give its abrasion resistance a good testing! I'll try to remember to post a follow-up.
-Mike
P.S. -- I have absolutely no affiliation with any wetsuit manufacturers, including Wetwear, except as a customer.
