Is a drysuit worth it?
Drysuits: Trilame vs. For warmth and comfort during your dive, it’s hard to beat a drysuit. As all divers know, water is a heat-stealer. Unless you’re diving in water warmer than 98. F, your body starts losing heat as soon as you hit the water. But in a drysuit, water never touches your body, only air does. Drysuits can be considerably more expensive than wetsuits due to the precision and materials required to make them waterproof. The zippers used for drysuits were originally created by NASA to keep air inside an astronaut’s suit.Wetsuits are simpler, easier to move in, and suited to warmer water. Drysuits are best for cold water but need extra training and maintenance.But in situations that might put you in the water for a half an hour or more, a wetsuit is safer. Of course, a wetsuit under a dry suit can’t be beat as the dry suit is better at warding off the wind chill effect. I always wear polar fleece under my dry suit. Just my thoughts.One disadvantage of using a drysuit is the high cost compared to wetsuits. Drysuits also require proper training and technique to use effectively, making them less beginner-friendly than wetsuits. Drysuits restrict the wearers mobility more than wetsuits.Bottom line, it’s easy to get cold even when you wear a drysuit. But with a little attention to what you wear underneath, every dive can be like a tropical vacation.
What temperature is a dry suit good for?
The first choice when deciding on which exposure protection best fits your needs is to determine what water temperatures you plan to dive in. If they will be below 16 degrees Centigrade (60°F) a drysuit will almost certainly be best choice. Above that temperature a wetsuit would normally provide the best solution. Common dry suit material like Trilaminate, vulcanized rubber, coated fabric, and even crushed neoprene suits have little insulating properties. Dry suits made of these materials require the diver to use an undergarment and add air or argon to the suit to stay warm.Even though dry suits seal out water, it is possible to get wet from your perspiration or a leak; so as with other outdoor sports, the best types of clothing to wear under a dry suit are clothes made from materials that insulate even when wet. This includes polypropylene, pile fleece, wool, etc.Generally, drysuits are commonly used when the water temperature falls below approximately 60°F (15. C).Nylon. This material is basically the king of damage resistance. Nylon is often stronger and more durable than its counterparts. If you are rough on your drysuit this material might be a go to option for your cold weather outer layer.
Is a drysuit warmer than a wetsuit?
Temperature Range: Wetsuits are suitable for warmer waters that would still be too cold for swimming without a suit; drysuits are for colder environments where maintaining a dry layer is necessary for warmth. Drysuit diving adds a new component to buoyancy control and requires specialized training and certification. In the PADI Dry Suit Diver course, you learn how to use the drysuit to prevent suit squeeze and how buoyancy changes in a drysuit.For warmth and comfort during your dive, it’s hard to beat a drysuit. As all divers know, water is a heat-stealer. Unless you’re diving in water warmer than 98. F, your body starts losing heat as soon as you hit the water. But in a drysuit, water never touches your body, only air does.The first choice when deciding on which exposure protection best fits your needs is to determine what water temperatures you plan to dive in. If they will be below 16 degrees Centigrade (60°F) a drysuit will almost certainly be best choice. Above that temperature a wetsuit would normally provide the best solution.Drysuits let you dive more challenging dive sites and extend your dive season. Safely using dry suits, however, requires special training. That’s where the PADI Drysuit Diver specialty course comes in.While some people can manage to free dive in these suits, it’s not recommended for most. But if you want to attempt it, please keep in mind that moving around too much and at extreme angles increases the risk of water entering your dry suit through the neck seal.
Why are drysuits so expensive?
There’s a reason they’re expensive. It’s because they’re designed so that if you have a suit failure, they will stay lightweight and warm when soaked. Wetsuits are suitable cold water gear and will keep you warm. However, depending on water temperature, when dealing with extreme conditions, we suggest using a drysuit. Conversely, drysuits anticipate the wearer being dry, with their construction and materials engineered to be completely watertight.The main difference between a wetsuit and a drysuit is their suitability in warm or cold water. Depending on thickness and personal tolerance, wetsuits are popular across tropical and temperate destinations. However, chillier temperatures below 10ºC/50ºF demand the added protection and warmth of a dry suit.Even though dry suits seal out water, it is possible to get wet from your perspiration or a leak; so as with other outdoor sports, the best types of clothing to wear under a dry suit are clothes made from materials that insulate even when wet. This includes polypropylene, pile fleece, wool, etc.They are heavy and bulky, which may limit a diver’s mobility in the water and mean that the suit will take longer to dry. The weight and bulk of a neoprene dry suit can be difficult when traveling. In addition, like a wetsuit, materials compress with depth, losing insulation qualities and some buoyancy.Drysuits can be considerably more expensive than wetsuits due to the precision and materials required to make them waterproof. The zippers used for drysuits were originally created by NASA to keep air inside an astronaut’s suit.
What is the lifespan of a drysuit?
The lifespan of a drysuit can vary widely depending on several factors, including the quality of the suit, the materials used, how well it’s maintained, how frequently it’s used, and the conditions in which it’s used. On average, a well-maintained drysuit can last anywhere from 5 to 15 years or more. Of course, a quality drysuit can also last you 10 years or even much longer—if you treat it right. Take care of your drysuit is when you’re using it. A drysuit’s most critical components—seals and zipper–are most susceptible to damage when getting into and out of the suit.Drysuits require periodic servicing too, which is also pricey. Replacing a neck seal can set you back $100, a valve $125, a waterproof zipper $300 to $500. Of course, a quality drysuit can also last you 10 years or even much longer—if you treat it right. Take care of your drysuit is when you’re using it.Wetsuits are typically made of neoprene, a type of synthetic rubber that is waterproof and provides insulation. Drysuits are made of a variety of materials, including rubber, plastic, and Gore-Tex, and have a loose-fitting design to allow for layers of clothing to be worn underneath.Since dry suits don’t provide much inherent insulation (with the exception of some SCUBA diving suits), you’ll need to wear some clothes under them to stay warm. The colder the conditions, the more insulation you’ll want to wear.However, the price can vary depending on the quality of the neoprene and the thickness of the suit. Drysuits are typically more expensive due to the waterproof seals and complex materials used in their construction.
What is best to wear under a drysuit?
Even though dry suits seal out water, it is possible to get wet from your perspiration or a leak; so as with other outdoor sports, the best types of clothing to wear under a dry suit are clothes made from materials that insulate even when wet. This includes polypropylene, pile fleece, wool, etc. For best results, wash your gear with a cleaner designed for waterproof-breathable fabrics. After washing, it’s safe to put your gear in the dryer on low heat to help restore water repellency. Then apply a spray-on DWR when your garment starts to show signs of wetting out.