Dry, Wet or Semi?

[Daz217]

I can't disagree all i can say is 14mm Semi Dry neoprene= warm
2.5 Compressed neoprene Dry Suit full of pond water and sodden base layers = F**k*ng Freezing

[recurve]

People on this 'ere forum know me as a dyed in the wool 'semi' diver. Then again, they also think I am a complete loony (speedo's at the freeze yer bits off gig this year anyone?).

I dived Scapa in May last year in my trusty 7+7 two piece, but without Hazel's and Helen's (skipper and bitch) help I think (alright, I know) I would have got pretty miserable.

In defference to a big hole in my leg (which I intend to pass off as a shark bite) I am planning on going dry at least some of the time this year.

Phil

[DM Dick]

Beaver state that you can dive all year round in a 2pc 7mm semi dry. I have to agree, ive dived in 1 deg C in 2pc semi and i was fine for 20 min. The same day i was diving with people in dry suits and i was just as warm as them. It is when you end the dive or on a boat that a dry suit is great. You'll be a lot warmer out the water in a dry suit than a semi dry. You are also less mobile in a dry suit than you are in a wet suit or semi dry. If you are planing on doing a lot of dives in UK get a dry suit.

[String]

Why would you only want to dive for 20 mins when you can do 45 ? Drysuit it is for that.

As for the bulk thing,my drysuits are a lot less bulky than the 14mm+ of neoprene id have to wear for a wetsuit and a hell of a lot warmer.