Drysuits?

[OceansElwell]

What is it with diving in Drysuits in the UK? I mean... I used to spend hours out snorkeling in a 3mm surfing suit before i realised my toes were going to freeze. But no. Health and safety takes over. I dont see any logic though. ok, you may feel abit warmer in the winter months, however, i dive with a 6mm semi dry and occaisionally a shorty on top. and im perfectly warm. i actually did 3 dives in one day, (2 in 13 degrees of water and 1 at night) the only down side was the wind chill when getting out of the water but seriously, despite costing around 4X more than a wetsuit, costing and being harder to repair, not being as durable and not being as comfotable (my personal opinion), people need to man up abit and actually give the semi dry (wetsuit to be honest) another chance.. :naughty

 

[superdude171]

For summer a drysuit is overkill, but i dive in my 8mm northern diver subworx during the winter when the water is around 3 degrees and air temperature damn near zero. ive done commercial scuba diving course while at uni and we tend to spend the whole day sitting around waiting for other divers to come up or sitting as standby diver. on the whole i would not bother diving with a wetsuit in the uk as the feeling of being dry and warm under my suit is unbeatable if the rain is pelting down as it usually is. but i only have a drysuit because i dive in the winter, so i use it in the summer because i already own it. if you only dive in the summer like most recreational divers then wetsuits are much cheaper and easier to use with no need for another hose to put in air. all comes down to personal preference and where and when you will be diving.

 

[OceansElwell]

I suppose.. However ive used mine up until a few weeks ago and it was ok.. however 3 degrees in pretty freezing but its only for a short period.. all in all, im trying to persuade my mate to get a semi dry and take PADI instead of BSAC.. it was pure misery watching Kate Humble snorkel, in the Isles of Man in summer(USING A DRYSUIT!!!???) with Basking sharks on "Coast"..

 

[superdude171]

You're not wrong about the freezing 3 degrees, not the best day out but getting in is good no matter what. i would agree with you about the semi-dry for summer autumn use. i did an HSE qualification so have little idea about PADI and BSAC differences. im going to have to find the footage of snorkelling in a dry-suit for some laughs. im doing some research dives in plymouth on thursday so im gona see how the vis and the temp are looking right now.