Visiting the UK - would like help buying a drysuit.

[Norseman]

Okay... not really sure how to do this.

I'm visiting the UK in mid November. I'll be going the route Stansted - Southwest - Wales - Birmingham - Cambridge - Stansted in the course of 10 days.

My drysuit's ready for replacement (read: It's old and the zipper's fu*ked and I can't be bothered to fix a suit I'm not particularly happy about).

I'm getting a trilaminate - or similar - suit, and therefore I thought I should save the £200 price difference between Norway and the UK and spend it on a torch instead.

So where should buy my suit? I've also been thinking about pre-ordering an Otter-suit but I'm really not fussy about my equipment as long as it works so any fairly dry drysuit will do...

The reason for not mail-ordering it is that I can deduct the VAT when leaving the UK and then when coming back home I won't have to pay the 24% local VAT. See?

So anyone got any good pointers? I've been searching here and on the world wide web but I really haven't come up with a dandy solution.

Any help is appreciated,

Kyrre

[Finless]

If you add Scotland to the list I'd recommend Gates.

Unless you are lucky and get an "off the peg" to fit you, you will be hard pushed to get a MTM done before you return home!

[HelenM]

Kyrre,

Otter - in Bradford - is somewhat out of your way. They do make great suits though, and I'd really recommend them based off my experience (Otter Skin). If you want a MTM though I'd get the order in pronto though, as the dive show at the end of the month means that they will be inundated with new orders.

I don't know whereabouts in the South West you are headed, but if it helps you could pre-order the Otter, get it mailed to me (in Cheltenham) and then we could arrange to meet up and hand it over when you are in these parts if that helps.

Cheers
H

[Norseman]

Thanks, Fin

Unfortunately Scotland's not in it... We're visiting Kate's relatives in Wales and since we're bringing little Frid Scotland will be just a little bit over the top - or wall - if you like...
Getting my the suit made to measure can be dealt with beforehand. I was thinking about a particular shop where I could pick it up.
I know it's a fairly long shot but if the readers on this forum are like the ones at home there will always be a few ready to praise their local shop. Yes? Right?

TIA

Kyrre

[Norseman]

Originally Posted by HelenM

Kyrre,

Otter - in Bradford - is somewhat out of your way. They do make great suits though, and I'd really recommend them based off my experience (Otter Skin). If you want a MTM though I'd get the order in pronto though, as the dive show at the end of the month means that they will be inundated with new orders.

I don't know whereabouts in the South West you are headed, but if it helps you could pre-order the Otter, get it mailed to me (in Cheltenham) and then we could arrange to meet up and hand it over when you are in these parts if that helps.

Cheers
H

Thanks for the heads up, Helen... and the offer to participate in the great not-so-illegal smugglers scheme I'm planning to go through with here. I'm definitely looking into the Otters suits. A lot of local divers are getting these and although a few have complained about a few details most are very pleased with their mostly Hammerheads and Narviks. I've checked and found that getting a Hammerhead in the UK will save me around 140 quid. Not bad at all.

Kyrre

[ErikD]

By this picture you can understand that he needs a new suit! This is after yesterdays dive.

ErikD

[Adrian Kelland]

Hi Kyrre

I am willing to act as post office too. Don't ask me about laminate suits though. I have no idea. Otter does seem to come up in conversations time after time though.

Adrian

[PeteM]

Originally Posted by Norseman

Thanks, Fin

Unfortunately Scotland's not in it... We're visiting Kate's relatives in Wales and since we're bringing little Frid Scotland will be just a little bit over the top - or wall - if you like...
Getting my the suit made to measure can be dealt with beforehand. I was thinking about a particular shop where I could pick it up.
I know it's a fairly long shot but if the readers on this forum are like the ones at home there will always be a few ready to praise their local shop. Yes? Right?

TIA

Kyrre

If you want an O3 there is a dealer about 20 miles from Stansted, Aqualand Divers in Chelmsford

[Juz]

Personally I think my Otter skin is fantastic, with excellent service too.

I doubt you'd go wrong by pre-ordering and having it delivered to one of the hotels/places on your trip.

Juz

[Norseman]

Thanks Juz and PeteM. I'm leaning towards the Otter. O3? I've never actually heard of it before I scanned through the equipmentpages here on YD yesterday. Expencive and very good? Who makes them?

K