diving question

[DERF]

Ok done my PADI open water few years ago and have done about 30 dives in total. Last time was a quick dip in Mallorca about 7 months ago... so did a refresher course.

I went to a couple of dive shops to enquire about a wet suit recently.

I don't really have any intention of diving seriously in the UK and just want something I can use if I want to drop under the boat or to do a litle shallow diving with buddy.

So I explain my experience and seeks advice...


I've been told..

Definitely need a dry suit!
I can dive with a 3mm suit easily in UK waters
I def need a 5mm suit.

Now I originally was going to buy a 7mm suit but am not sure..

Any advice from you expert divers out there please?

 

[Vagabond]

Hi Derf,

A dry suit .... no .. over kill really. I use my 5mm steamer I use for windsurfing. Works well for scrubbing the bottom and cleaning up the props plus a bit of shallow diving.

All the best,

Clive.

 

[scuby]

The seas around the UK are classified as cold water. It is very unusual to see anyone apart from the odd novice or enthusiast using a wet suit. A few hardy individuals use a semi dry, that is a wet suit with wrist, ankle and neck seas which stop the cold water sloshing around. Having said that, jumping into the warm suface layers in mid summer should be OK. Just bear in mind you will chill down quickly, if anything goes wrong are you confident you can get out of the water.

 

[ccscott49]

3mm should be ok for most meddy waters in the summer, as long as you dont want to go to deep! 5 mm might be a better bet, if you intend to go down to 20 meters. I am having difficulty getting a made to measure wet suit, I dont want a back entry/zip surfing type. I need made to measure, strange shape!!

 

[ashanta]

I use a 5 mm wetsuit (full size) and it's very good. Although I have not been in the sea in winter. I do use it when dinghy sailing at Rothervalley in the winter and it does a great job but that's only surface of the water.

Regards.

peter

 

[DazedConfused]

Derf,
I have a 3mm for use when wakeboarding and when looking at the water, have on the odd occassion, bypassed the boarding and headed straight to the pub! I don't really feel the cold and still have age on my side but i'm currently in the market for purchasing something 'warmer'! You will for sure need more than a 3mm for anything outside of the summer months in the UK.
David

 

[DERF]

Ah a semi dry suit.... now theres another in the pot to contend with.

Ok looks like some conflicting advice so far..so I'm still not too clear on this.

I have been told by the experts that unless I have extra lessons that I should be very careful of diving with a dry suit.

I really don't wnat to go through the whole program of more lessons etc.

If I go for dry suit then must I have more tuition?

And should I look for a membrane suit or neoprere....

But then agaion what about the semi-dry suit how warm is that in UK waters?

 

[backstay]

Been diving in the UK waters for more than 35 years - started out with a home made wet suit ¼" thick (6mm to you young uns) NO ONE had dry bags in those days let alone single hose regulators - gawd, how we have produced a generation or two of wimps.

Back to your question I would go for either a 5~6mm wet suit or a semi dry suit but for what you say you intend to do a wet suit will be sufficient.

Use of a dry bag does take a little more care unless you like floating on the surface inverted, that is with your feet sticking out of the water and your head down, also control of buoyancy needs a bit of care else one can do a good imitation of a Polaris missile. If you do go for a dry bag I would recommend a membrane type and a woolie bear or a "T" shirt and jeans if shallow in the summer

 

[DERF]

Thanx Backstay for the info. 5- 7mm suit or Semi dry it'll be then.

Does make one laugh though... I remember jumping around on the back seat and laying on the rear parcel shelf of parents car in the 60's whilst they drove @ 70mph.. never a seat belt or baby chair in sight...or thought for that matter.

Now my own kids... well never without clunk-click first etc etc... what have we done indeed!

 

[Gordonmc]

For what its worth I use a 6mm semi-dry for diving both in the med and in Scotland. Its a bit of a bind in the med (Malta generally but also Majorca and Cyprus) when waiting in the heat for everyone else to get kitted up, but its remarkable how chilly it can get below the usual thermocline - even in high summer.
At home I just use a neoprene vest underneath. The most uncomfortable part is de-kitting in wind. Brrr...
I have used a drysuit but didn't find it that much warmer than the semi. Probably not worth the faff of an extra low pressure line.
I'll leave you with the thought of a one-time buddy from Leipzig whose normal diving was under the ice in the Baltic in a 5mm wetsuit.

 

[fireball]

just to chuck in my 2 pence worth! ...
I used my full dinghy wetsuit - 3mm when I was trying to retrieve a lost anchor last year (may time) - with a rash vest underneath and full sleeves it was fine - wouldn't want to be down too long though or in the spring when the water is colder!
I was only swimming down 4m though - but this should be enough to clear a prop or scrub the bottom!

 

[blueglass]

Im with backstay on this one. Also am greybearded boatie/diver who is old enough to know better. Never had a drysuit in my life and never had a problem in UK water with an 8mm wetsuit. For the shallow dives and dipping under the boat you are contemplating a 5mm wetsuit will be fine.

 

[DERF]

Thanx to all for the help guys Bought a 5mm wet suit .

 

[longjohnsilver]

Good choice, didn't join in cos it had all been said.