which wetsuit?

[spaddywaddy]

Hi there,

i'm going to be new to diving. i plan to get some lessons before i dive deep with a tank and all that. im looking at buying a wetsuit from here because they offer free delivery to eu countries http://www.wetsuitcentre.co.uk/
are the wetsuit they sell ok for diving?
http://www.wetsuitcentre.co.uk/advice

 

[spaddywaddy]

Anybody help with this? Cheers

 

[podge]

Looks to me as if though they only sell surf suits?
If you’re after a freedive wetsuit off the shelf better to stick to the known makes, Cressi or Omer, both do some good stuff.
As for tank diving, sorry wouldn’t have a clue.
Hope this helps

 

[spaddywaddy]

It looks like i have posted in the wrong forum. I dont want to free dive, just scuba. I cant hold my breath for that long hence the tank.

Is there a difference between diving wetsuits and surfing wetsuits. I like the look of the surfing wetsuits.

but they do sell dive wetsuits here Diving Wetsuits never heard of the brand excel though?

Thanks for the reply

 

[Massin]

Hi mate,
Generally in England people who use scuba are in drysuits or semi dry at least, not surf suits.
You get a lot colder diving because you arent exerting so much energy as surfing and it gets colder at depth.
I agree the surf suits do look better, but image usually matters more to a surfer than a diver. A surf suit isnt ideal for freediving but is less ideal for scuba.
Your best bet is to either hit up a dive exhibition when there is one, you can pick up some good deals on brand new gear there. Or alternatively find a good dive shop that stocks used goods. Drysuits (and virtually every piece of SCUBA gear for that matter!) are usually quite pricey so second hand isnt a bad idea at all.
To be honest, since starting freediving my drysuit seems rather redundant, so might be for sale soon! For the limited scuba Ill be doing I am just going to wear my spearfishing suit, basically the same as a semi dry scuba suit, if not warmer anyway!
In short, dont bother getting a surf suit for scuba (unless youre in warm water i suppose), youll only get cold and miserable and wish you had bought the right thing first. If free diving interests you at all as well, get a free dive suit, then at least you can do both. Only downsides to the open cell freedive suit are that they take a little skill (or lube) to get on, and they are less durable than other suits generally, but in all honesty I would say a spearfishing suit gets more abuse than a scuba suit and some spearos suits last multiple seasons! And they are MUCH more comfortable! just make sure its a nylon outer not smooth or slick.
Dont think Ive overlooked any obvious points but any pro's feel free to point them out if I have

Hope this helps,

Peace

 

[Mr. X]

A PADI instructor friend used to get his dry suits from a place on Portland, Dorset - I'm sure other forum members can provide details (I think they might have a new-ish place on the causeway now?). They were also handy for repairs. I think he used to wear a sweatshirt & sweatpants inside it - not exactly sleek but quite versatile. Probably not cheap but good quality and, for him, a deductible business expense.

Spearo wetsuits are much warmer than most cheap surf suits because:
1. For the UK folk normally get 5mm suits (surf suits are often thinner)
2. Spearo suit normally include a hood.
3. Spearo suit usually don't leak much - usually no zip and the open-cell suits stick to your skin.

 

[Scoobaru]

A PADI instructor friend used to get his dry suits from a place on Portland, Dorset - I'm sure other forum members can provide details (I think they might have a new-ish place on the causeway now?). They were also handy for repairs. I think he used to wear a sweatshirt & sweatpants inside it - not exactly sleek but quite versatile. Probably not cheap but good quality and, for him, a deductible business expense.

Spearo wetsuits are much warmer than most cheap surf suits because:
1. For the UK folk normally get 5mm suits (surf suits are often thinner)
2. Spearo suit normally include a hood.
3. Spearo suit usually don't leak much - usually no zip and the open-cell suits stick to your skin.

There used to be parrys dive shop many moons ago, then there was Portland oceaneering. Both have since closed. Now there's Othree.....Diving Dry Suit | Scuba Drysuits | Drysuit UK | Technical Diving Equipment | Deep Diving

The owner is a local man who has been Involved with scuba diving and spearfishing for many many years. His dry suits are some of the best worldwide and he has a large selection of wetsuits for many different water activities. All of the staff there are highly skilled and many spearfish, freedive or scuba them selfs so they will be able to listen to your requirements/diving style and advise a suitable suit for you. Contact them and I'm sure they will point you in the right direction.

 

[spearo nobby]

There used to be parrys dive shop many moons ago, then there was Portland oceaneering. Both have since closed. Now there's Othree.....Diving Dry Suit | Scuba Drysuits | Drysuit UK | Technical Diving Equipment | Deep Diving

The owner is a local man who has been Involved with scuba diving and spearfishing for many many years. His dry suits are some of the best worldwide and he has a large selection of wetsuits for many different water activities. All of the staff there are highly skilled and many spearfish, freedive or scuba them selfs so they will be able to listen to your requirements/diving style and advise a suitable suit for you. Contact them and I'm sure they will point you in the right direction.

i couldt hav said it better myself.
i use to work for othree as a wetsuit &drysuit builder . they can cater for all your diving needs with best poss advise. they all dive in some way or another. sean & marcus the 2 MD's both dive and sean has over 25 years of expeariance building suits he use to work for parrys. othree suply the navy with specilest suits and also appear on prettymuch any diving program on tv through there suits. the bbc camera men use othreesuits wen diving. but most inportantly they have costomer care 2nd to non, if u do go for a dry suit rather than a wetsuit they offer free reseam on the neck & wristseals for the life of the seals. they make made to mesure wetsuits for diving with a tougher material than srearo suits. this is because of compression wen diving. wen i was working there i often did minor repairs on old othree suit some of witch was 20+ years old. they are defo worth a look as if u treat the suit right you could never need another suit as there suits are built to last. this is no promo it is just advise from some1 who use to b in the industry. hope u find wot your looking for mate