Necks and Neck Seals

[divertim]

Once again I've done a weekend away in UK waters, and once again come back looking I've been garotted. I'm dreading my Scillies trip with the prospect of 20 consecutive UK sea dives in a dry suit.

Who out there can give some good advice on how to avoid a sore neck and also how to treat one?

And before you say it.... No, I won't stop diving.

[Lou]

A combination of....

Take the neckseal off whenever you can
Rinse seal and neck with fresh water between dives to remove salt
Use "grazed knee cream" on neck each evening to speed up healing

[Lazlo]

Change it for a neoprene seal.

More expensive option, but soooo much nicer.

[Naomi S]

I think my neck seal has actually scarred me for life from a weekend in weymouth when i just didnt use anything!
I can recommend ky jelly which i've used since and not gone to work on monday looking like i've tried to hang myself.

[Naomi S]

Originally Posted by divertim

I'm dreading my Scillies trip with the prospect of 20 consecutive UK sea dives.....

[Greened eyed monster mode on]

I'm sorry i just read your post again and take back all helpful advice because ive decided i dont like you very much

[Green eyed monster mode off]

[PeeBee]

Hangmans neck seems to be caused by the salt crystals rubbing on your neck (trapped by the latex seal. Best cure I have found is dermashield, cheap and very effective barrier cream, delivered my last order in 2 days. Derma Shield - Derma Shield; the ultimate skin protectant™

[neilh]

Originally Posted by divertim

Once again I've done a weekend away in UK waters, and once again come back looking I've been garotted. I'm dreading my Scillies trip with the prospect of 20 consecutive UK sea dives in a dry suit.

Who out there can give some good advice on how to avoid a sore neck and also how to treat one?

I have a little experience in this area

First up check whether your neck seal is too tight. I had a new one fitted in Scapa and thought it was ok on the boat, after the first dive it was clearly too tight but the damage was done.

Up until then I'd been doing fine with Dermashield applied before putting my suit on. I used to get a bit of a mark with the previous seal, but this stuff seemed to do the trick.

As for recovery - I can definitely recommend Sudocrem.

[Dave Abraham]

Swap the latex neck seal for a neoprene one cost is probably less than £50
I ordered my lastest drysuit with neo neck seal and have never had a problem since,where as with latex I always had the hangman's mark after a weekend diving.
I keep my drysuit on all day in winter now. It's also much more comfortable between dives as you hardly know you are wearing it.
It was one of the best decisions I have ever made after all you are doing this for fun, where is the fun in dreading putting your kit on.

Bite the bullet, spend the cash and I promise you will never go back to latex.

[TerryH]

Deb barrier cream rules ok.
As long as you put it on and rub it in til dry, then it does what it says.

Doesnt work when the skin is already wet though.

[Naomi S]

Originally Posted by TerryH

Doesnt work when the skin is already wet though.

Do you see a prob with this at all