Drysuit advice requested

[ajduplessis]

So I'm tired of freezing my :shock: off every dive and have decided to surrender and go dry... now I have to choose the right suit.

On the neoprene side I am looking at the Apollo Bio Pro 4.0 and the Scubapro Everett.

On the shell side I am looking at the DUI CF200 and the USIA Techniflex.

I am 6'1" and 185 lbs so I fit a Large, Large-tall, or Extra Large depending on the brand so at least I don't need a custom cut.

Does anyone have any first hand experience with these suits? If so I would love to hear the positives and negatives you found with the suits.

Thanks!

The Scubapro EverTec tri-laminate and EverDry neoprene are also very good suit. I prefer tri-lam suite to neoprene. Don't know why.

[Ferradinho]

I'm also in the PNW. I dive a TLS350 and my father dives a CLX450. Both of them have been great suits so far. I have never used any other brand suits but will definitely vouch for DUI suits. As another user stated quality undergarments are a must in the Pacific Northwest.
Also, you can find some used suits for a great price if you look around and are patient. I got lucky and picked up mine in great condition for $200 and upgraded my inflator valve, dry gloves, and replaced the seals (myself) for about another $150.


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[Ulfhedinn]

What is your budget? New or used? Can you perform simple repairs like seal replacement?

There are many good suit manufacturers. You can get great deals on used suits if you know what to look for, from forums like this one, and places like Ebay.

Having owned quit a few different wetsuits, I still lean towards a trilam like a DUI TLS350. Of course Bare, Whites, Santi, and others build totally usable suits too. I have been diving a Whites Fusion for a while now and at this point would like to switch back to a trilam, or I might just switch back to my worn out CF200.

Don't forget you will need undergarments. For where you dive I wouldn't consider anything less than a 400g. There is some great new technology recently released on the market.

You are also going to need a new hood to go with your drysuit. The Otter Bay hoods are some of the warmest on the market and are made to your head for a reasonable price. Wetsuits

Why are you thinking of going back to the Tri lam suit?

[Peter_C]

Why are you thinking of going back to the Tri lam suit?

Because I prefer them. I am not a big fan of the Fusion which is my current suit, and as much as I like the CF200 it is heavy as heck when wet, and never dries out. Which brings me back to the tested tough Trilam. They can fit well, and last for lots of dives over many years. They are light and flexible, and DUI offers new materials for even better flexibility and of course more money. You get to pick the pockets you want. Easy maintenance, and dries quickly. The list goes on and on.

BTW I am not wreck diving, or I might think differentely.

[ddmattos]

Please go with a Trilam or bilam route and make sure it's properly cut. You will need less weight than a crushed neoprene.

I dive my Santi Elite (trilam) always. If it calls for a wetsuit i wear the Santi. Get proper undergarments like Fourth Element. They require less weight. When i dive 80F water all i wear is the santi with the Fourth Element DryBase. Single tank with a 6lb steel plate and 6lb STA. If the water is 42F, I wear the Arctic and zerotherm layered with 6lb ss plate, 6lb STA and 4lb's in the lower cam pockets(2lb's in each).

If doubles, just the 6lb ss plate.

Once you go dry with a properly fitted suit, you will dive more and more often. Like I said, I take mine everywhere.

Use your BCD for buoyancy and put just enough air in the suit to relieve squeeze or chill. The shoulder dump should be all the open.

Oh and get a front entry with suspenders and a p-valve. You don't always have to hook up the p-valve but it good to have. Stay hydrated.

Update: I own a Fusion Bullet...don't like it.

[Ulfhedinn]

Because I prefer them. I am not a big fan of the Fusion which is my current suit, and as much as I like the CF200 it is heavy as heck when wet, and never dries out. Which brings me back to the tested tough Trilam. They can fit well, and last for lots of dives over many years. They are light and flexible, and DUI offers new materials for even better flexibility and of course more money. You get to pick the pockets you want. Easy maintenance, and dries quickly. The list goes on and on.

BTW I am not wreck diving, or I might think differentely.

Peter you don't feel the TriLam would be optimal if you were more a wreck diver? I was really in the White Fusion camp after all the reviews but 2 nights ago I wore a well fitting DUI Trilam and I was impressed. Nows its got me unsure. Im getting more and more into wrecks as I dive plus going deeper more often.

[ddmattos]

Most of the wreck divers I know wear trilam suits. Go with DUI or Santi. I choose Santi based construction and pocket size.