Dry Suit recommendations

[Irish Rover]

I'm thinking of buying a dry suit in order to be able to regularly clean my propellers and bottom during the winter. I've never worn either a dry suit or a wet suit before and I'm more inclined towards a dry suit for a number of reasons but mainly because I reckon it will be easier for a chap of my years to get on and off without dislocating something. There's a convenient shelved beach nearby where I take the boat for cleaning but it's necessary to get fully submersed to get at the props. The water temp here in mid winter is around 15/16C so not extreme but I'd rather stay dry as I find I get cold easily because of blood thinners I'm taking for my ticker.
So can anyone recommend a value for money dry suit bearing in mind it will probably only get used 3 or 4 times a year for an hour or so each time or where best to look online in the UK or Ireland.

 

[Praxinoscope]

Problem you might find with a dry suit is that it tends to act as boyancy with air thats trapped inside it, so you may find it difficult to stay down under the water.

 

[MarcJ]

I've got a Palm Drysuit which is very good, but pricey. Crewsaver drysuits are often recommended as good value for money - my partner has one, as do many of my mates. https://www.wetsuitoutlet.co.uk/crewsaver-drysuits-lp-244.html
Get one with the zip at the front rather than across the back, as it'll be easier to get on & off!

 

[bikedaft]

Anyone with a zip at the front
A weight belt means you can go down
Wear a manual inflatable lifejacket - in case you turn upside down, air trapped in the legs...

 

[moomba]

Anyone with a zip at the front
A weight belt means you can go down
Wear a manual inflatable lifejacket - in case you turn upside down, air trapped in the legs...

As listed above this is very important , if you are planning to go full underwater with your suit, you will need to understand how the valves work to release the air and you will need a weight belt or you will never get under the water ,
And probably OTT but some training in Dry suits may help , local dive club can help,
as BD stated you have the potential on inverting with the air rushing to you ankles and forcing you upside down , this is ok with scuba gear on and the right training to get back to level ,but part of our diving training in Dry suits was to invert upside down with no air , not a pleasant experience
as for good cheap dry suits , go cheap if its just for what your asking it to do, as the more technical suits are not needed. no more than 300 pounds

 

[Benny257]

I'd always try putting it on before you buy one. I tried four front zip models and couldn't get in to any of them without the help of the shop assistant. I should say I am a not unreasonable 70kg and 5ft 8. The issue for me being getting my second arm in to the sleeve. Certainly more difficult than even a 5mm wetsuit. I ended up buying a Gul Code Zero with a horshoe zip around the back of the neck which sounds awkward but is actually much easier for me.

To avoid air trapping giving you unwanted buoyancy do up the zip in a deep squat. This expels all the air. When you stand up the suit shrinks to fit. Whatever you get, wash it down after immersion in saltwater use ziplube and be sure to use some footwear to protect the boot section. French talc on the boot section can make getting footwear on and off much easier.

 

[mickywillis]

Don't think he's looking for a diving drysuit with valves, cuff dump, etc? Possibly a dinghy sailing type would fit the bill.
Drysuits are fairly safe as long as others have said, you let air escape. BSAC training suggested that when donning a drysuit, as you walked into water, you pull the neck seal out slightly so as to allow water pressure on legs, lower body, chest, etc to let the air escape as you slowly immerse. If lowering from a swim platform or bathing ladder this isn't so easy, but still possible, needs to be done slowly and carefully allowing as much air to escape from the neck seal as possible to minimise risk of inversion.

 

[Daverw]

The Palm Drysuit for Kayaking is very good, easy to get in and out, not too thick and just wear fluffy romper suit underneath to keep warm

 

[Irish Rover]

Thanks for all the information and advice. I’ll be working in around 1.5m depth with my feet on the ground but I need to get in under the hull to get at the props with a scraper or wire brush. In summer I use a long snorkel so I can stay down longer so I imagine I’ll be doing the same in winter. The Crewsaver suits look good value for what I want.

 

[Andibs]

I've got a Typhoon dry suit that's been great. There's also a company called Dam X that makes them to measure for about the same price.

 

[duncan99210]

Don’t do cold water diving anymore but when I did I used an Aquatek suit from these guys http://www.aquatekdrysuits.co.uk/drysuits.htm.

However, I’d recommend looking at a decent wetsuit rather than a dry suit. Properly sized, it shouldn’t be a struggle to get on and off and a 5mm one will cope with the winter water temperatures in Turkey for the sort length of immersion you’re thinking of (I used to do hour long dives mid winter in Turkey using exactly that sort of suit). A dry suit is an awkward beastie to use at or near the surface, as it relies on the air trapped in the clothing warn under the suit for its insulation. You’ll either have to dump most of that air as the water compresses the suit or wear a weight belt to enable you to submerge at all. A wetsuit is simply easier to manage and will provide enough insulation for the job you’re intending to do and will do it at a lower cost (you may still need a weight belt to get down).

Which ever you decide to go for, a hood is an essential addition. You can trigger cold water immersion shock by not using one.

 

[LadyInBed]

With water that temperature, if you've never used a wet/dry suit, I would use a wind surfer wetsuit. It's a lot cheaper, doesn't need much/any TLC and a lot easier to handle. If you don't like the cool water ingress, you can tip a jug of warm water down your neck just before entering the water.

 

[Caer Urfa]

First of all 'don't' buy a dry or wet suit 'on line' you really need to try it on before buying,
Dry and wet suits vary in sizes from make to make and agree get a front zip fastening one.

Also bear in mind with a dry suit in winter you can layer up underneath it within reason so you need to pick the right size, suggest you also get some external socks for it
this will protect the foot part when wearing boots or Finns.

Average price for a descent one about £200

Once you have your dry suit on 'crouch down a few times' and put your arms across your chest while holding the neck open slightly so internal trapped air can escape.

 

[Iain C]

Some good advice on here...some bad...

I'm a dinghy sailor and I wear both. I can't comment on any specific diving gear, only dinghy gear. You'll find a wetsuit generally easier to get in than a drysuit. A wetsuit will give more bouyancy than a drysuit that has had the air expelled. The post above about walking into the water pulling your neck seal is correct, and you can also get rid of most of the air by essentially slowly adopting the "French toilet" position whilst holding your neck seal open.

Personally, unless you plan on diving in seriously cold water, I'd be going down the 5mm steamer wetsuit route. I find drysuits a bit "snaggy", and they also need a lot more care on the seals/zips etc, and obviously a nick/tear in them is a disaster (although contrary to popular belief, no you won't sink like a stone!). Put it like this, when helming a Fireball in winter, I'll go for the drysuit, as capsizing is highly unlikely, however when helming the 49er when a swim is more likely, I'll go for a steamer.

If you go down the wetsuit route get a dinghy one that has much more abrasion resistance than a surfing wetsuit.

 

[ean_p]

Some good advice on here...some bad...

I'm a dinghy sailor and I wear both. I can't comment on any specific diving gear, only dinghy gear. You'll find a wetsuit generally easier to get in than a drysuit. A wetsuit will give more bouyancy than a drysuit that has had the air expelled. The post above about walking into the water pulling your neck seal is correct, and you can also get rid of most of the air by essentially slowly adopting the "French toilet" position whilst holding your neck seal open.

Personally, unless you plan on diving in seriously cold water, I'd be going down the 5mm steamer wetsuit route. I find drysuits a bit "snaggy", and they also need a lot more care on the seals/zips etc, and obviously a nick/tear in them is a disaster (although contrary to popular belief, no you won't sink like a stone!). Put it like this, when helming a Fireball in winter, I'll go for the drysuit, as capsizing is highly unlikely, however when helming the 49er when a swim is more likely, I'll go for a steamer.

If you go down the wetsuit route get a dinghy one that has much more abrasion resistance than a surfing wetsuit.

wise words.....!

I'd go for something like this which is 'adjustable' for all seasons and pretty much indestructible.
https://www.ndiver.com/semi-tech-delta-flex-style-semi-dry-wetsuit

You will need a weight belt which ever way you go to be able to get submersed and have hands free to work.

 

[lw395]

You need a suit that fits.
I'd recommend fabric feet and neoprene seals, to avoid the usual issues with latex.
I'm on my second typhoon they are good, but fit may matter more than brand.
A wetsuit might be just as good.

The pro's often dive on yachts without a weight belt. As I do myself.
The reason being, a) it's easier and b) neutral buoyancy is all very nice in free water, but what happens when you try and scrub something is that the brush stays still and the diver moves from side to side.
So you either need one hand on a rope or other hand hold, or use your buoyancy to hold you against the hull.

There are risks. Personally, I'm reasonably happy under a boat with scuba, but with just a snorkel, entrapment might be a fear.

 

[LadyInBed]

Once you have your dry suit on 'crouch down a few times' and put your arms across your chest while holding the neck open slightly so internal trapped air can escape.

. . . and resist the urge to fart!

 

[Matwill]

are you a diver?

 

[moomba]

Remember that you can pee in wetsuit to keep it warm , cant do that in a drysuit

 

[Irish Rover]

You'll find a wetsuit generally easier to get in than a drysuit.

Do others agree with this? The main reason I was attracted to a dry suit rather than a wet suit was because I thought it would be easier to get on and off. Although I'm reasonably fit I'm 64, I've had back surgery twice and my hips are a bit iffy so I was worried about doing myself a mischief getting in/out of a wetsuit. If I thought I could manage it that would be my preference.