Protec Explorer & Santi Undersuit...

[Justin Owen]

As I reported here earlier, after a couple of cold dives with my protec explorer and weezle undersuit, i decided to get myself a santi undersuit for those nippy dives/long run times...

Finally got round to taking the combo out up in vivian this morning to test them out and do a weight check before plymouth next weekend...

Have to say i'm a bit gutted at the moment - in my old drysuit/weezle with a backplate weight, i'm perfectly weighted for diving in the sea. Today in vivian I needed an extra 4kg to get under the surface in the new suit/santi - so i reckon 5-6kg extra for when i'm diving in the sea... I was expecting a couple of kg but not 6.

Where I'm going to put an extra 6kg of lead I have no idea...

I think I'll be old suit/weezle for next weekend!

[Mark Powell]

Not much help for next weekend but it would interesting to see the comparison between;

Old suit & Santi
Protec & Weazle

[Martin Burnard]

That Sounds like shed full of lead!!

[Al_Star]

I've just got a Santi 400 and was using a DUI 400gram before and found very little difference in the two, maybe 0.5kg and I reckon that is just because the DUI's done a load of dives.

I need 5kg in fresh on top of the twinset and stainless steel plate. I ended up putting in a large v-weight and tail weight.

Cheers
Al

[wilbo]

that surprises me..
My understanding:
I thought the weezle works using air to loft the material so as creating the insulation.
The Santi (and DUI 400g undersuit) does not use loft to form its insulation - the material being more dense - fibre based(?)

With my Protec - I use a set of artics and a zerotherm base layer. I take 8 kilos in for the sea and 5 for fresh water (I do have a decent layer of bioprene though..)

watching with interest..

[Martin Burnard]

Just a thought BUT

The Weezle may compress well to allow the descent. but thne needs lots of air to keep warm.

So hence on like for like on the warm stakes the weezle may become more bouyant.

Or I may be talking bollocks!

[daz]

Originally Posted by Al_Star

I need 5kg in fresh on top of the twinset and stainless steel plate.

+ torch?

Sounds like too much bioprene you lardy git

Daz

[Phoenix]

I'm still wondering why this fine drysuit is having to be discussed in the DIR forum, I've used mine a few times now and still don't feel drawn to "retro diving" :-)

Ian

[Clare Gledhill]

Originally Posted by daz

+ torch?
Sounds like too much bioprene you lardy git

He's got one of those wimpy little torches though

[Justin Owen]

Originally Posted by Mark Powell

Not much help for next weekend but it would interesting to see the comparison between;

Old suit & Santi
Protec & Weazle

The dry suits don't make much difference Mark, its the undersuit thats the issue. The weezle compresses to nothing but then you need the air to keep warm. The Santi is quite thick and doesn't compress as much due to the thickness of the thinsulate layer.