I know a diver who found the standard neck seal claustrophobic and anxiety-inducing when she tried diving with a properly-adjusted neck seal and standard (wet) hood in PNW waters.
I'm investigating whether a dry hood setup (e.g. a full latex hood) is a viable option to get around the neck seal problem. The suit I have available is an AL Fusion with the Sitech removable neck system, so it could be the test platform. The other consideration is of course head warmth.
I've gotten some ideas from fully sealed suits like Viking's that have several dry hood options ranging from latex to neoprene. Many of the options like neoprene dry hoods appear to be directly attached to their dry suits unfortunately.
One idea I've been thinking about is using a standard latex hood with either no internal neck seal, or one that is trimmed down significantly. My question would be if the additional neck seal inside the hood is required, or if the suit be dived fine without the seal. Obviously with the understanding that any leaks past the face will get through unhindered into the suit if there is no neck seal as a backup. I'm hoping that with a good, soft face seal, any water getting through will be minimal. An extra neoprene hood over top of the latex hood would complete the warmth, plus the usual beanie under the latex hood.
Are there any other ideas or potential solutions that anybody else has tried or are on the market? I'm thinking about things like a bibbed neoprene hood with an enlarged neck seal (like a wetsuit setup), directly gluing a neoprene hood onto latex neck seals to create a single-piece item, a beanie + latex hood + outer neoprene hood, etc.
A wetsuit is obviously an option that I have as a last resort.
I'm investigating whether a dry hood setup (e.g. a full latex hood) is a viable option to get around the neck seal problem. The suit I have available is an AL Fusion with the Sitech removable neck system, so it could be the test platform. The other consideration is of course head warmth.
I've gotten some ideas from fully sealed suits like Viking's that have several dry hood options ranging from latex to neoprene. Many of the options like neoprene dry hoods appear to be directly attached to their dry suits unfortunately.
One idea I've been thinking about is using a standard latex hood with either no internal neck seal, or one that is trimmed down significantly. My question would be if the additional neck seal inside the hood is required, or if the suit be dived fine without the seal. Obviously with the understanding that any leaks past the face will get through unhindered into the suit if there is no neck seal as a backup. I'm hoping that with a good, soft face seal, any water getting through will be minimal. An extra neoprene hood over top of the latex hood would complete the warmth, plus the usual beanie under the latex hood.
Are there any other ideas or potential solutions that anybody else has tried or are on the market? I'm thinking about things like a bibbed neoprene hood with an enlarged neck seal (like a wetsuit setup), directly gluing a neoprene hood onto latex neck seals to create a single-piece item, a beanie + latex hood + outer neoprene hood, etc.
A wetsuit is obviously an option that I have as a last resort.