Dry suits (yet again)

[parahandy]

All my last 3 Drysuits were Northern Diver, neoprene.
The last suit I purchased was a Divemaster model, whilst the suit was o.k. I sussed out I had paid over the odds for it in comparison to an equivalent Otter model.
My experience was that after sales was increasingly poor and I found routine repairs expensive.

I consider any of the Otter Range are better and what's really tipped it for me was their excellent aftersales, the prices for routine repairs are far more competative then ND.

On the subject of weird sizes, Otter managed to sort me out with a stock size even with size 10feet.

[Reeve]

<font color='#000F22'>Save your money &amp; buy a crushed neoprene drysuit either a DUI or O3. I got fed up of getting wet &amp; feeling like a michelin man in my membrane, so bought a DUI CF200 crushed neoprene, the best decision I've made, never had a wet dive, movement is so much easier, don't bother with low profile dump. My only regret is not getting the piss valve. (not that you'll be needing that.)

gareth

[Justin Owen]

Azdry Cordura Pro available from SDS Watersports... Best dry suit i've ever owned, very tough - but alot heavier than a typical tri-lam membrane... Never had a wet dive, and I think it's got HD seals, they give the wrists a squeeze on cold days!

(OK it's the only dry suit i've ever owned, but I like it!)

Couple of divers at our place have the DUI crushed neo, everyone looks on enviously, they are 'sposed to be the mutts, will probably consider one myself when/if I ever need to replace mine...

[String]

A few more thoughts then.

As for a DUI or more expensive suit, its not an option, i need a suit ASAP (pretty much stopped diving as i can now empty several buckets of water out of my current suit) and i dont have anything like the funds for one of those.

£550ish is about my maximum price.

From the comments it seens ND vs Otter is about a draw, some love them some hate them. &nbsp;Guess im going to need to take a gamble

[Justin Owen]

PS - I found the Azdry alot more comfy and free moving than the Otter &quot;skin&quot; suit. But that was most likely to the weezle i tried with the azdry, as opposed the thinsulate I tried with the otter. Azdry is £490 from SDS. I'll shut up now.

[Reeve]

<font color='#000F22'>My only thoughts on the ND is that 5 club members got a group deal while on a w/end away &amp; all have had problems. So much so for custom manufacture, 2 we're sent back for good and the rest leak on a regular basis. Julian has sent his back a few times &amp; a couple of weeks ago he had to turn it inside out to dry after jumping in with the zip open, (classic) and it was like a patchwork quilt. This however maybe a limited view.

gareth

[lizardfish]

<font color='#810541'>Can I jump on this thread and ask about dry suits too? Seems you all know what you are talking about and I could do with some basic advice. I have never worn a dry suit and I am coming to the UK this winter and hopefully will be shopping for one. I have been reading some stuff on YD that I found, inc. this thread. What's a crushed neoprene/ DUI suit? I know basic differences btwn neoprene and membrane suits.... which type is better and why? Do you need more weight for the neoprene ones? If anyone can provide any basic advice and reccommend any shops in the London area, please do so.

My limit is about 600 squid.

Cheers

Lisa

[peter k]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]What's a crushed neoprene/ DUI suit?

Crushed neoprene is as it sounds. Because it's crushed there's less air trapped in the neoprene so it doesn't affect your buoancy as much. DUI is just a manufaturer of suit.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]I know basic differences btwn neoprene and membrane suits.... which type is better and why?

Personal preference really!

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Do you need more weight for the neoprene ones?

I &quot;think&quot; it's about the same.

Dunno about the London bit. For what it's worth I spent £300 on a Typhoon Pro. 300-odd dives and many sharp bits of metal later it's still bone dry. So just because it's dear, doesn't make it good.

Peter

[String]

An old thread but a final update on it.

I finally got around to getting a suit and its a Northern Diver Cortex. &nbsp;I know a few people with them without problems and it didnt cost a lot (for a suit!).

All i need to work out now is how to use the auto dump thing (previously suit had a cuff dump).

Its dry-suit in the pool time again (and associated heat stroke)