School a newbie on wetsuits please...

[TMHeimer]

I've only flew once to dive and used a body suit (rash guard they call it?). Don't think it mattered how I packed that. I probably wouldn't worry too much about getting my shorty creased by not rolling it. But I'm no expert. I would roll my 7 mil farmer john. I learned that while becoming an "Equipment Specialist" (I also have seen the inside of a tank)...…..

 

[Degenerate]

Some suits have "variable" thickness, if that makes sense.
I had a bare 4/5mm that was great, worked for both warmer and relatively colder waters.
My brother had the same suit and dove it in 15 degrees celsius water without too much trouble.
I only dive dry nowadays and this was like 4 years ago, but if I recall correctly it was 5mm over the chest/thighs and arms/legs was 4mm.
Loved that suit but went all dry because of Swedish climate.

 

[NAM001]

I use a 3/2 shorty and a skin for rash prevention. also wet suits you pretty well have to try them on..... one manufactures L may be anothers med or xL. belly and crotch to shoulder also varies greatly so all med suits are not the same.

 

[naui_bigfoot]

Just wanted to say - I love this thread. Thanks all who posted info for us newbies.

 

[JackD342]

Weighing in with one more bit of advice. Suits with added stretch can really help with getting a good conforming fit, especially when on a "non-standard" body type. (open to suggestion on how else to phrase that....)

But.... try to get the size and fit as close as possible to "right" in the first place. Stretching the material significantly makes it thinner, and therefore less warm. Also could be putting added stress on seams that may just be the first point of failure down the road.

My main brand is Henderson. If you check out the various brands, and versions of brands they sell, you will find that some have offerings in Short and Tall versions of the standard sizes, but not all brands and versions. Most can also have ankle and/or wrist cuffs shortened a few inches for a reasonable charge before shipping. Better to get a shorter suit that fits right than to stretch out a smaller size due to avoid extra length.

 

[purbeast]

I used my Henderson Thermaxx 2 weeks ago in Grand Cayman and it was fantastic. It fit perfect and I felt very comfortable in it. I only got to wear it one day though because I got sick and could not complete my OW and AOW but plan on doing it either next month or March when I go back there.

Thanks for all the input here that lead me that direction.

 

[D_Fresh]

I used my Henderson Thermaxx 2 weeks ago in Grand Cayman and it was fantastic. It fit perfect and I felt very comfortable in it. I only got to wear it one day though because I got sick and could not complete my OW and AOW but plan on doing it either next month or March when I go back there.

Thanks for all the input here that lead me that direction.

That's great! I'm happy (and I'm sure the others are as well) that you got your suit and you're happy with it so far. I've never dived a Henderson, but I hear great things about them. I hope it will serve you well for a long time.

Really sorry to hear that you weren't able to finish your OW/AOW though. These things happen though, just part of being a diver. I can't count how often it's happened to me, getting sick on a dive trip or before a scheduled class. But you likely made the right call. Nothing good comes from trying to dive if the body is not up to par.

Get well and go for it again. Good luck Purbeast!

 

[purbeast]

Yeah it was really a downer and basically ruined the trip but there's nothing I could really do about it. At least I got 2 good beach days which is better than the weather was back here in the DC area.

I made a thread about the whole ordeal if you are interested in a little bit more reading:

My OW certification checkout dives didn't go so well unfortunately.

 

[pf778c]

I recently received my OW certification and am interested in purchasing my own wetsuit and possibly, BCD next. Can anyone recommend any shops in the central NJ or NYC area with a really good selection to help me find a good fitting, comfortable suit?

Bechi

 

[rongoodman]

Buy scuba gear, scuba diving and snorkeling equipment, and everything underwater from LeisurePro.com