NEED ADVICE buying a drysuit

[Edward3c]

Thanks both, already part of a club at the moment, and they are VERY active (trips to the south/east coast nearly every weekend, weather permitting, since April time). We've got a lot of loan kit apart from drysuits, which at the moment is all I need lol. Currently 4 OD trainees at the moment as well as a couple SD and one DL I believe, so pretty active I think...

About to finish up my final pool session tomorrow and will probably be at Stoney late sept, the only issue I have is finding somewhere to rent a drysuit for pool use before going into open water. Looking more likely that I will just have to buy one, and probably resell/replace it soon after I've finished. Also @Edward3c , I am in no rush really to get qualified - i think November was a bit of a stretch.

Clubs hiring drysuits is a hygiene nightmare, which why few clubs don’t have them. Don’t discount a second hand suit for longer use, especially if it was bought recently by a newly quitting diver. Most measurements can be changed.

Anyway, welcome to our fantastic underwater world.

Edit: added ‘don’t’.

 

[Wibble]

Thanks both, already part of a club at the moment, and they are VERY active (trips to the south/east coast nearly every weekend, weather permitting, since April time). We've got a lot of loan kit apart from drysuits, which at the moment is all I need lol. Currently 4 OD trainees at the moment as well as a couple SD and one DL I believe, so pretty active I think...

About to finish up my final pool session tomorrow and will probably be at Stoney late sept, the only issue I have is finding somewhere to rent a drysuit for pool use before going into open water. Looking more likely that I will just have to buy one, and probably resell/replace it soon after I've finished. Also @Edward3c , I am in no rush really to get qualified - i think November was a bit of a stretch.

Great news

As one dive-addled addict (who's just loaded the car for a 1000 mile round-trip to Scotland for a week of diving), it's a great sport. So much to see and do.

However, there's a cost in terms of the time and effort you need to put in. OK, and some money too.

A drysuit -- with accompanying undersuit -- makes diving pleasant. Whilst it's possible to dive in the UK in a wetsuit from July to September, a drysuit is just normal for virtually all diving.

@Edward3c has just noted the hygiene nightmare of wetsuits -- hadn't thought of that! Drysuits are normally dry so aren't the problem of wet. If you're older, then the second most important technology in diving is a pee valve (the first being able to breathe!).


Have fun and do enjoy the course, even if it can be hard work in the beginning.

 

[Edward3c]

@Edward3c has just noted the hygiene nightmare of wetsuits -- hadn't thought of that! Drysuits are normally dry so aren't the problem of wet. If you're older, then the second most important technology in diving is a pee valve (the first being able to breathe!).

Drysuits still have hygiene issues as body fluids (including sweat) don’t regularly get cleaned out. The liability on a club isn’t worth the risk.

 

[BlueTrin]

Stoney has apparently drysuit for hire for people with a certs

Like @Wibble said, give them a call to know if they have a few sizes and if they’d rent you one for a club class (they may not let people hire for people doing classes not with their instructors)

 

[FJUK1]

LATEST UPDATE:

Visiting the shop tomorrow. After a chat with club members they believe I will be able to buy a used but good condition drysuit from the shop owner for between 250-300 quid. I am willing to spend this money, and will likely sell the drysuit after my training and then buy a custom fitted one for many multitudes above this price.

I don't think a rental/bought wetsuit is the way to go as BSAC would not be able to provide me drysuit certification if I went down this route. On top of this, my main concern is being freezing during my checkout dives so really prefer diving in a drysuit.

My next question is whether it's viable to dive in a drysuit (PURELY for my checkout dives) that maybe is not an exact fit, maybe there are some areas that are "baggy" etc. I do not mind this I am just wondering whether it is viable. Thanks a lot for everyone that's contributed so far!

Edit: maybe this is the case or maybe it isn't.... but is a drysuit with 0 thermal protection underneath better than any thickness of wetsuit?

 

[Gandalf-the-Diver]

I'm on the west coast of Canada, water 7C-11C in summer. OW classes here, students use dry suits. I ordered one when I started. After trying on rentals for sizing, I determined that a stock size I could use. I did customize mine a bit, adding colour, P-valve, dry glove rings, extra large expandable pocket., In hind sight, I should've custom sized it as well, and had user replaceable neck seals, and a 2nd pocket added. 360 dives on the suit, and the zipper was replaced a yr ago. Suit is currently at shop for a new neck seal. This is the 3rd one, pain in the butt and not cheap to replace. If you order a suit, get the neck seals you can replace yourself. Dry glove rings include user replaceable wrist seals so that is handy. My suit is only 3 yrs old. Bare Trilam Tech Dry.

 

[L13]

LATEST UPDATE:

Visiting the shop tomorrow. After a chat with club members they believe I will be able to buy a used but good condition drysuit from the shop owner for between 250-300 quid. I am willing to spend this money, and will likely sell the drysuit after my training and then buy a custom fitted one for many multitudes above this price.

I don't think a rental/bought wetsuit is the way to go as BSAC would not be able to provide me drysuit certification if I went down this route. On top of this, my main concern is being freezing during my checkout dives so really prefer diving in a drysuit.

My next question is whether it's viable to dive in a drysuit (PURELY for my checkout dives) that maybe is not an exact fit, maybe there are some areas that are "baggy" etc. I do not mind this I am just wondering whether it is viable. Thanks a lot for everyone that's contributed so far!

Edit: maybe this is the case or maybe it isn't.... but is a drysuit with 0 thermal protection underneath better than any thickness of wetsuit?

I went down this exact route. I bought a drysuit +undies, gloves, hood, hose etc. for $500 USD (pretty close to 300 quid) that I did my training on. Not a perfect fit, but good enough. 150 dives later, my plan is still to replace it with a SeaSkin when it finally doesn't get the job done. Who knows when that will happen.

to your edit: on the surface, it can be a lot hotter than a 3mil. on a dive with no garments, ~3mil but less comfortable.

My suit's born on date: April 2002, I've owned it just under 3 years.

 

[Edward3c]

LATEST UPDATE:

I don't think a rental/bought wetsuit is the way to go as BSAC would not be able to provide me drysuit certification if I went down this route. On top of this, my main concern is being freezing during my checkout dives so really prefer diving in a drysuit.

I’ve highlighted text that is incorrect. If you did OD in a wetsuit then bought a drysuit your club would put you through a drysuit course.

 

[Sebs]

Next question is whether it's viable to dive in a drysuit (PURELY for my checkout dives) that maybe is not an exact fit, maybe there are some areas that are "baggy" etc. I do not mind this I am just wondering whether it is viable. Thanks a lot for everyone that's contributed so far!

It absolutely is possible. I did my course in a not great fitting suit and it was fine. Just make sure the neck and wrist seals actually make a watertight seal and you're good to go.

Just dive the suit and upgrade when you need to. Buying a second hand suit for the course to then immediately offload it to buy a new one seems like wasted money/effort to me.

 

[FJUK1]

Probably final update on this thread, thanks again for advice everyone.

Just tried on and purchased a used drysuit for 175quid, only thing that needs changing are the boots (too small). New neck seal, zip and recently pressure tested so think I got a pretty decent deal! Might even keep it after my checkout dives assuming they go well...