Woman's wetsuit for COLD (46F) Diving

[drewh1]

Recommendations would be appreciated - Please don't say "drysuit"

I am reintroducing my girlfriend to diving in California. I wear an Oneill suit with the built in John and love it. I can't find anything similar in women's wetsuits. would rather not do a two piece.

would like a 12 mm core with 7mm arms and legs. Built in hood would be great. She is a small or maybe xsmall.

Thanks for your ideas!

 

[fisheater]

For that cold, she most likely need custom. A Farmer Jane should not be dismissed out of hand.


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[lucca brassi]

Do you realize how difficult it is to sink to such a suit, how much weight is needed ? Will be loaded as they wore doubles . Doubles to at least make it easier to empty 6kg but she still wore about 14-15 kg, not to mention if she will be used alu tanks

 

[tkdgodess]

Have you considered semi dry? I know bare makes a mens semi dry, it has most of the features you are describing. I dont see a womans cut on the website, but have a look at semi drys perhaps, if you want a thicker suit, hood attached.

 

[scwdive]

Aqualung's SolAfx works well for Monterey beach dives up to about 35min.

http://www.aqualung.com/us/content/view/543

Of course fit is everything...

Lining it with a Lavacore suit helps delay the chill a bit without adding too much buoyancy...

http://www.lavacoreinternational.com/products/

Down the line she could also add a neoprene vest or step in on top.

That being said, a suggestion for 'reintroducing' some one to Monterey diving might be a drysuit course. They can be rented and depending on how many days you actually dive in a year, renting the drysuit a couple times might entice her to go diving a bit more.... Because she's warm and actually enjoys it....

Just a thought.

 

[KD8NPB]

Used drysuit for $400? It really is the simplest option.

I don't think there is a more cost effective option out there. Semi-drys approach $500-$600 really quick. It really does not require much more training to use one, and best of all, you're absolutely comfortable at the end of the dive.

 

[willknock]

How about the Fourth Element proteus, they do a full 7mm suit with a 5/4mm short john suit you can wear underneath... Proteus 3mm/5mm/7mm Scuba Diving Wetsuits | Fourth Element

i knew a guy who used to use a scubapro Nova Scotia when we were all in dry suits, but ideally you'd want her to be able to try one out before spending the money I guess.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I'd also like to know what her normal tolerance for cold is. Dismissing a dry suit is likely to make sure she is not your dive buddy. And maybe not your GF either. I got my GF a drysuit. She resisted for a year or so and used her Harvey's custom 7 mil. I taught her a drysuit course and now I seriously doubt she'll be in a wetsuit again unless it's in a really warm pool. She took her drysuit to Turks and Caicos in August. And loved it. You don't need to spend an arm and leg on a drysuit. I can put someone in one for under a grand. And unless she is a stock size you may end up paying close to that for a really good quality wetsuit that will not be as warm and as versatile.

 

[Vegan Shark]

How about the Fourth Element proteus, they do a full 7mm suit with a 5/4mm short john suit you can wear underneath... Proteus 3mm/5mm/7mm Scuba Diving Wetsuits | Fourth Element

Amen. Fourth Element is famed mostly for their undergarments, and their wetsuits aren't well known since they're a UK company and not many US shops carry them, but their products are all of incredibly high quality.

I dive in Monterey too, and have tried out a lot of semi-drys. Aqualung Solafx, Hollis Neotek, Mares Isotherm, Bare's Velocity, etc. Fourth Element Proteus is hands down the warmest wetsuit I've tried, and keeps me cozy even on 2 hour dives. The ankle and wrist seals are excellent, and there's a panel behind the zipper that stops water from entering. The core neoprene is really compression resistant, and while in other suits I feel the cold as soon as I get past 60ft, in the Proteus even at 100 ft I don't feel much of a difference from the shallows.

The 5mm short john that goes underneath is really comfortable, and the combo doesn't limit mobility or make you feel like the Michelin man like a farmer john does.

Only downside is the cost of the fullsuit + john is about $650, which isn't much less than a cheap suit. If you do go for it, get the Fourth Element cold water hood too, works best with their neck seal.

 

[drewh1]

Thanks for all the replies, I am definitely thinking a semi-dry. I will also take a look at the fourth Element, new one to me.