Leaking Drysuit in Warm Water--Do You Notice?

[Vegan Shark]

For those that wear drysuits in warm water locations (70F+), do you ever notice if you have a small leak from a wrist seal or pin-sized hole etc.? For those that have experienced a flooded suit in those temps, was it uncomfortable or not a big deal?

Since no one wears drysuits here, there's not many options for servicing. Just wondering how big of a deal it will be when my suit starts to leak. Wearing 4th Element Xerotherm+Halo 3D at the moment.

 

[The Chairman]

It hasn't been a problem for me. I always get some niggling leak when I dive the springs (70F) and it's not uncomfortable at all, even when the air temps are low. The best part about a dry suit is that it stops the wind and the resultant evaporation causing coolness.

 

[FoxHound]

Just before i replaced my seals this fall, my left wrist seal leaked pretty bad lol

I would flood the arm and chest every dive I did......although i could feel the water in my sleeve, it was no bother.

Dives were 65°+

 

[Roman_66]

I had once small leak on the back. On this time I dove in 75+ water I mostly never feel it during a dive, but after dive was surprised how much I sweating.
Till once I found half boot with water. Not nice feeling was mostly after dive and not during. In 70 and low you will feel the leak immediately.

 

[Molecule]

I sometimes dive in drysuit here in Thailand just to get a hang of it, and used to have slight leak on my wrist seals and neck seal. Water temp is around 80-85 F (27-30 C). I could feel the leak when I was in the water, it didn't bother me (in the water). But on the surface, when I had repetitive dives that day, it started getting smelly. Mixture of sweat and water on undergarment that bother me.
I got seal kits from DRIS and replaced them myself, couldn't be happier by staying dry all dives.

 

[SeaHorse81]

I usually feel it pretty clearly, but not with any discomfort in warmer waters. It's just wet, not cold. As NetDoc implied, getting out of the water with a drysuit and damp undergarments beats the heck out of diving wet when it's less than warm and balmy topside.

 

[PfcAJ]

Depends on the dive time.

 

[Imla]

Well... Last summer I did a dive here in Norway. (We never have more than 18C/64F) I am usually never cold, so I was a bit puzzled that my last few dives had felt "not warm". Ie, not even chilly... However, my undergarment is made of fleece so I struggled to feel if there really was a leak... I just had a hunch. So.. I put on a solid colour tshirt and went diving.. Was warm an happy when I got up. No troubles at all...

My tshirt looked like this, and my boots had to be emptied by the time I got up.

 

[industrious95]

Many times I've noticed a trickle of water running down the back of my neck when I twist my head down. 70 degree water is definitely noticeable to me. On the other hand, my boots have a bit of dry rot (which have since been remedied by a 24 oz tube of Aquaseal) and I never felt the water trickling in, although my feet would be drenched at the end of a dive. I guess feet are less sensitive than necks to water.

You'll know how big a deal it is when it starts to leak. I've gotten wet in my dry suit quite a few times, both in warm and cold water. It's not the greatest sensation in the world, but I'd rather bring along a second set of underwear for my second dive than miss a month of diving while DUI fits it into their schedule and fixes it.

Of course, that depends upon the water temperature. A small leak in August (65 - 70 F) is no big deal. In December (45 - 50 F) it's a whole 'nother story.