Wetsuit pockets... in a hurry

[Fraser]

Hi guys,

I am off on holiday shortly, last time I dived in a wetsuit was a couple of years ago and I wanted to get things sorted before I went.

My preference would be for X shorts or something similar, but I go away in 2 weeks and don't have time to order them. Likewise I don't think I will be able to send my suit away. Has anyone managed to fit their own pockets to a wetsuit? What type/glue did you use?

I am on a liveaboard, doing recreational (30m and less) dives so figured I could maybe get away with stowing my DSMB in the Storage Pak and doing without pockets...

Thoughts?

Cheers,

Fraser.

[And]

I had pockets put on my wetsuit by OThree but I don't know what their leadtime would be.

After doing a red sea liveaboard DIR stylee then I would say all you really need is an SMB and a spool. The SMB can, like you said, be stored in the backplate, which is what I did. The spool either from the hip or butt DRing. Check on it every now an again during the dive as they can start to spill line depending on how well they are wound.

Andy

[Juz]

I did it recently for a deep wreck trip to the South China Seas (Sorry Howie).

Bought a pocket from the LDS and some black witch.

Liberally smeared blackwitch on both the suit and the pocket, left them for 15 mins to get tacky, then used another tube on them and held it in place with my weight belt.

Left it for 48 hours and hey presto.

Did the same 2 years ago with my dry suit ans the pocket is still attached.

It's easy, but not pretty, with a little care and attention it'd be neat and tidy too!

Juz

[Andy Kerslake]

and somewhere to put wetnotes etc - its a real PITA not having the pockets - you could get away with one cargo pocket on the left just glued on with two part adhesive.

You clean the area with suitable solvent, and then glue the pocket on, amd use a nice large weight to make sure it sticks well - this can easily be done at home.

You just need suitable pockets and I just happen to know someone who might just have some

Andy

[Fraser]

Thanks guys I tried pretty much what Juz did with my TLS and the pockets (Halcyon) are continually peeling away... so wasn't sure I trust myself to glue pockets on the wetsuit too! Would putting a few stitches in do more harm than good?

Might well be interested in the pockets then Andy... will e-mail you if that's ok.

Fraser.

[Bob Cooper]

Fraser

I put pockets on both my wetsuits. As long as the pocket is neoprene (or the backing to the pocket is neoprene) you can use "black witch" or "seal cement", to glue them on. I made quite a tidy job of mine.

Sticking neoprene to neoprene is what this cement is meant for. It's a bit more complicated when sticking neoprene to TLS material.

Believe me, thay wont peel off if you use this stuff to stick neoprene to neoprene.

Bob

[Conor]

You could just try the clip on thigh pockets from beaver, clip around your leg and to your waistband. Cost about £10

Have a look at divers warehouse as they have the clip ons and the glue ons

Conor

[Mark Powell]

I glued my pocket on and have had no problems.

Make sure the area is clean and dry, make sure you know exectly where you want to place the pocket, mark it so that there is no confusion. Apply one tube of black witch to the area of the suit, apply one tube to the pocket. Make sure you get the black witch into all the corners of the pocket so that it doesn't peel off fgrom a corner. Wait until it is tacky then place the pocket onto the suit. Put a large book, e.g. a phone book, on top to press down evenly and then add some additional weights. Leave overnight.

I glued a pocket on to my suit and have done about 200 dives with it so far and it is still in place with no problems at any of the corners.

I'm not sure if they are 100% DIR (must be close) but take a look at the pockets towards the bottom of this link

http://www.dive-tech.co.uk/narked%20at%2060.htm

[DJL]

Fraser.

Alternatively - dont take one!!!

This will ensure that you get to practice your navigation skills on every dive - i.e. I must get back to the anchor line or I could loose me head!!

:-)

Send me an e-mail with your address and I'll get that stuff posted off to ya.

Dave.

[Ian Murray]

Originally Posted by Fraser

My preference would be for X shorts or something similar, but I go away in 2 weeks and don't have time to order them. Likewise I don't think I will be able to send my suit away. Has anyone managed to fit their own pockets to a wetsuit? What type/glue did you use?

Fraser.

Fraser,

I had cargo type pockets put on a wetsuit not so long ago.
The company that did them was Aqualeisure (Make Aquatek drysuits)
They turned them around in three days door to door. Cost about £12 each. Glued and stitched.

Their tel no is 01745815476 Speak to Andy.

Regards, Ian.