orangesarebetter
New
Hi everyone,
Due to the cold waters where we dive (Northern CA) in the winter, we want to go the trilam drysuit route (in our case DUI TLS series). We are both recreational shore divers, but I would also like the option to occasionally do boat dives (maybe even a live aboard once every other year). I am, however, faced with the seemingly endless choices of add-on options for the drysuits and am seeking advice from experienced divers as to what is worth the added price or not in my situation.
1) butt pads: are these meant for a special sort of activity? Do people tend to ruin their suits in their buttocks area when they sit down on a bench in-between dives or on a boat? In fact, should you avoid sitting down in a drysuit in general unless you have butt pads?
2) knee pads: I am not planning on crawling on the ocean floor, maybe only occasionally gently kneeling on the ocean floor if I have adjustments to make on my equipment. Have people noticed that knees wear out quickly on a drysuit?
3) pockets: they are expensive to add on. I know most tech divers and instructors need them, but I am just recreational. Do non-tech divers regret not having in-built pockets down the line? (my BCD already has two pockets) Would pocket shorts fit over drysuits and get the job done?
Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you!
Due to the cold waters where we dive (Northern CA) in the winter, we want to go the trilam drysuit route (in our case DUI TLS series). We are both recreational shore divers, but I would also like the option to occasionally do boat dives (maybe even a live aboard once every other year). I am, however, faced with the seemingly endless choices of add-on options for the drysuits and am seeking advice from experienced divers as to what is worth the added price or not in my situation.
1) butt pads: are these meant for a special sort of activity? Do people tend to ruin their suits in their buttocks area when they sit down on a bench in-between dives or on a boat? In fact, should you avoid sitting down in a drysuit in general unless you have butt pads?
2) knee pads: I am not planning on crawling on the ocean floor, maybe only occasionally gently kneeling on the ocean floor if I have adjustments to make on my equipment. Have people noticed that knees wear out quickly on a drysuit?
3) pockets: they are expensive to add on. I know most tech divers and instructors need them, but I am just recreational. Do non-tech divers regret not having in-built pockets down the line? (my BCD already has two pockets) Would pocket shorts fit over drysuits and get the job done?
Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you!
Very handy.
