I've noticed that when I d-off the drysuit after the second dive, I had several wet patches in my undergarments just where the inflator valve is located in my chest and also several wet patches in both shoulders, this is why I cannot blame the exhaust valve in my left shoulder. . . . What I'm concerned is related to the wet chest. Is all this normal with those using drysuits ?
As several posters have said, it does appear that there was a leak in or around the chest inflator valve. This is NOT normal. It is also not uncommon, but it can can be fixed. While the likely cause is the valve itself, it could also be a leak in the material immediately around the valve.
Drysuits should be dry, as others have also noted. One exception, of course, is when you use a suit in warm, humid air conditions, and descend to cold depths, causing some condensation of moisture inside the suit. That IS normal. And, yes, there can be some leaks around the seals (neck and wrist), where the fit is not snug, or where there may be small holes in the latex. These occur, and can (and should) be repaired.
Your descripiton of wetness in
both shoulders suggets that the neck seals may be leaking. Again, this is NOT normal, but may reflect the fact that it was a rental suit, and the neck seals were fit to a slightly different neck size.
When you own your own suit, you will become very sensitive to leaks, when they occur (and they will over time), and you WILL make every effort to have them fixed. It is not always easy, but I have generally found that, with persistence, I can ID the source of almost every leak, and repair it.
The issue of leaking is also, as noted, NOT a reflection of a particular brand as much as the condition and fit of the specific suit.
