Wetsuit Storage and Care

[Artur]

Fist of all I would like to say hello to everyone, as I did not post for couple of years nor I had time or opportunity to dive since 2009, sounds sad.

Well to get to the point, recently I was going through the gear for several reasons 1 because I miss using it and 2 to check the condition. My wetsuit, which was stored in diving bag for some time (unfortunately). As you might imagine such storage has caused compression set creases.

As a result I began thinking of ways to store it the most appropriately, to reduce further damage. I came to a strange idea, to stuff the suit like a "Christmas Turkey" with bubble wrap and supermarket plastic bags. Well it might sound strange and freaky but it might save the suit from further damage, but for this you need some space like a loft or a garage.

Well please express your thoughts and ideas on this subject.

 

[artiz]

Fist of all I would like to say hello to everyone, as I did not post for couple of years nor I had time or opportunity to dive since 2009, sounds sad.

I get the feeling that your post may have hit a raw nerve here Artur. I think most spearo's could not even contemplate not using their kit for 3 years - where have you been for goodness sake???
Regarding those creases try immersing (weigh down with weight belt etc) in a very hot bath over night and see how you get on, it kind of worked for me on an old open cell suit which someone gave me.
As for storage I keep all my wetsuits on chunky type hangers inside long suit bags in my wardrobe... touching/loving distance as it were!

Finally... welcome back to the real world!

Phwoar!!!!

 

[Artur]

I get the feeling that your post may have hit a raw nerve here Artur. I think most spearo's could not even contemplate not using their kit for 3 years - where have you been for goodness sake???
Regarding those creases try immersing (weigh down with weight belt etc) in a very hot bath over night and see how you get on, it kind of worked for me on an old open cell suit which someone gave me.
As for storage I keep all my wetsuits on chunky type hangers inside long suit bags in my wardrobe... touching/loving distance as it were!

Finally... welcome back to the real world!

Phwoar!!!!

=)) Probably you are right about the raw nerve, as no one could even comment, apart from you. Thanks for your reply, as I wasn't sure whether to post such thread or not,not to embarrass myself with my idea which might seem to be stupid. I began to lean on that thought as there were quite a bit of views but no one chipped in.

Well, to the question how did I managed not to dive for so many years, the answer might not be so straight forward. First of all I am ashamed to say that I have never done spearfishing in UK although I lived here for good 10 years or so. Most of spearfishing I have done in Greece, as in the past I had greater opportunity to travel. I live in London, until 2010 I did not own a car, so travelling was an issue, furthermore I was tied into studies in order to graduate with a decent degree.

Before my last holidays in Greece I purchased a lot of new gear, including new suit and speargun. Suit is only 3mm so I am not sure if it would suit British waters, and the speargun is seatec snake 100cm which might be a bit long as well I am not 100% sure, it is pretty nice bit of kit, but I managed to get the shaft between two big rocks and despite my efforts :martial to get it out I failed, so I would need to get a new one. I also own an Imersion 75 very basic speargun which might not be so accurate.

Coming back to the issue of the wetsuit, your method sound interesting definitely I will give it a go and see if it works for me. In regard to the hanging the suit, I have seen a lot of debates and it seem from what I
have seen the best way is to lay it flat, well I might only see it to benefit if it is filled with something to keep the shape and to avoid creases on the sides.

That Cressi suit is well nice although mine is cheaper it is a sporosub.

Happy to be back in real world ))))

Regards,

 

[Scoobaru]

Sorry I couldn't answer your question (hence not posting) as the longest I've not dived is 2months. I hang my suits on heavy duty coat hangers, after each trip I wash them inside and out with fresh water then hang them up inside out above a drip tray to dry in the shade.

Regarding your suit I have been using a 3mm RA lined suit since the very beginning of June and that is night dives included. I am hoping to wear mine until November : ) so I rekon you should be ok in yours. The guns you have are more than adequate for uk waters, I currently use a 70 for night dives and very bad Vis, an 80 for slightly better Vis and a double banded 90 for good Vis. A few of my mates who I dive with have been using 100/110cm guns recently. And some extreme mates who dive of Portland using a boat use anything from 120-160cm guns so looks like you have most situations covered with your guns. Most guns straight out the factory (standard setup) are plenty accurate for fishing in the uk, and are more than capable of shooting and landing fish. It is commonly accepted that 75cm is the norm for uk fishing

Hope this makes you feel a bit better

 

[artiz]

Well said Scoobaru!
There's also plenty of Cockney ((Londoner's) - I escaped!) spearo's having the biggest club in the country... I think?
As for that Seac I think Bluewatersports are pretty good/cheap etc for Seac bits.

The longer you leave it the more creases you'll get - crack on Artur

 

[Mr. X]

Like many, I started with an entirely inadequate 2mm shortie surf suit. I was able to stay in the water upto an 1.5 hours (in Cornwall) before I started getting signs of hypothermia. With that extra 1mm thickness, full length coverage, hood, gloves and socks - as Scoobaru already said - you'll probably be fine. If you are from a warmer climate though, you will likely feel the cold more than the locals. You could add a neoprene vest (various companies offer them, inc. Eliossub in Italy).

Old wetsuits are colder than new wetsuits though. I got mild heat exhaustion the first time I wore my 5mm wet suit in Dorset - on a warm November day. Over time wetsuits seem to loose some of their loft. Artiz's hot bath tip sounds interesting though - if it helps revive the neoprene's loft.

 

[Artur]

Sorry I couldn't answer your question (hence not posting) as the longest I've not dived is 2months. I hang my suits on heavy duty coat hangers, after each trip I wash them inside and out with fresh water then hang them up inside out above a drip tray to dry in the shade.

Regarding your suit I have been using a 3mm RA lined suit since the very beginning of June and that is night dives included. I am hoping to wear mine until November : ) so I rekon you should be ok in yours. The guns you have are more than adequate for uk waters, I currently use a 70 for night dives and very bad Vis, an 80 for slightly better Vis and a double banded 90 for good Vis. A few of my mates who I dive with have been using 100/110cm guns recently. And some extreme mates who dive of Portland using a boat use anything from 120-160cm guns so looks like you have most situations covered with your guns. Most guns straight out the factory (standard setup) are plenty accurate for fishing in the uk, and are more than capable of shooting and landing fish. It is commonly accepted that 75cm is the norm for uk fishing

Hope this makes you feel a bit better

Thank you for your reply certainly you did make me feel better about the suit and my guns. Now I just need to sort out both of my guns like: line change, bungy, need to buy decent shafts and dyneema set-up, and most importantly try to find someone to dive with.

Night dives sound very interesting, I just cant imagine how it is, as I never done it apart from once, long time ago when I was passing my PADI diploma.

Well said Scoobaru!
There's also plenty of Cockney ((Londoner's) - I escaped!) spearo's having the biggest club in the country... I think?
As for that Seac I think Bluewatersports are pretty good/cheap etc for Seac bits.

The longer you leave it the more creases you'll get - crack on Artur

As I understand you used to live in London as you say with Cockneys ? If I am not wrong you have to pay to be a member at that club, I might be wrong. I am afraid Seac stuff is too short, how is it in terms of quality?
Thank you for the courage, hopefully very soon I will start using it!

Like many, I started with an entirely inadequate 2mm shortie surf suit. I was able to stay in the water upto an 1.5 hours (in Cornwall) before I started getting signs of hypothermia. With that extra 1mm thickness, full length coverage, hood, gloves and socks - as Scoobaru already said - you'll probably be fine. If you are from a warmer climate though, you will likely feel the cold more than the locals. You could add a neoprene vest (various companies offer them, inc. Eliossub in Italy).

Old wetsuits are colder than new wetsuits though. I got mild heat exhaustion the first time I wore my 5mm wet suit in Dorset - on a warm November day. Over time wetsuits seem to loose some of their loft. Artiz's hot bath tip sounds interesting though - if it helps revive the neoprene's loft.

Hello MR. X. good to hear from you, I do remember that you have participated in giving good advice long time ago when I was purchasing my speargun.

With you entry suit was it in summer? I visited Cornwall only once all I remember the water was very clear almost like Mediterranean sea. As I believe the only way to know is just to try.

 

[artiz]

and most importantly try to find someone to dive with.

As regards a dive buddy Artur I noticed this bloke mevdog who lives in Brighton - which is probably the nearest place to London for a dive... and he sounds as if he may even come from/lived in Greece too - Luck & Light mate!

 

[Artur]

Thank you for your reply and for your kindness, willing to help and support. I shall try to come in contact with him in the near future after I sort out my gear. As for your suggestion to soak the suit in hot bath over night, unfortunately it did not remedy my suit suppose those creases are permanent now and greater care should of being taken much earlier.

 

[artiz]

Thank you for your reply and for your kindness, willing to help and support. I shall try to come in contact with him in the near future after I sort out my gear. As for your suggestion to soak the suit in hot bath over night, unfortunately it did not remedy my suit suppose those creases are permanent now and greater care should of being taken much earlier.

Artur, Thanks for your comments & sorry it didn't work for you!