Undersuits?

[Mark Chase]

These threads make me believe i am a freak or something. I have dived in a 400Gram DUI (reportedly the best) under suit and forth element base layer and frozen my arse off in well under under two hours in 6c water. My hands in 5mm semi dry gloves went totally numb as did my face in my 7mm hood. My body was cold but thats not the big problem. My hands feet and face are the big problem.

I presently dive a semi compressed 03 Neoprene suit 200g Thinsulate Santi under suit and a Forth element Arctic top with forth element arctic socks and standard leggings. 7mm hood and 5mm semi dry gloves on a CCR

I still struggle to do 90mins in 6c water.

ATB

Mark

[ardhill]

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

I still struggle to do 90mins in 6c water.

Mark,

What are you wearing to do these long 2-3hr run time you do? And what is the water temperature?

I was talking about this to another YDer at the wekend, we can't understand how poeple can hang in the water for a couple of hours or more and still be comforable. Even in the summer water (14oC) I don't like going beyond 70mins due to the cold.

[Ferg3333]

Ok, now a few people have mentioned santi time to go abuse google and I have been toying with the idea of putting an artic underneath the undersuit. But then Mark, I think your a little leaner than the average uk diver..........

[MarkP]

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

These threads make me believe i am a freak or something.

And your point is?









{Sorry, couldn't resist...}

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by ardhill

Mark,

What are you wearing to do these long 2-3hr run time you do? And what is the water temperature?

I was talking about this to another YDer at the wekend, we can't understand how poeple can hang in the water for a couple of hours or more and still be comforable. Even in the summer water (14oC) I don't like going beyond 70mins due to the cold.

2-3 hours water temp is usualy 12-16c I use a 200g Santi Thinsulate and a forth element base layer + the CCR helps a lot to keep you warm. Keep warm before the dive but avoid swetting inside the dry suit. Swim arround on deco dont just hang.


10-12c I am adding the Forth Element Arctic top


> 10c i am back to 90min run times


This was the longest run time this year. 190mins 10c on the bottom 15c on deco. The red line is temp.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...s/Justicia.jpg

ATB

Mark

[ardhill]

So, the moral of the story...

Add more/thicker layers and fin on the stops.

I keep forgetting to fin about and then only realise I should be doing it when start shivering, then fin about for the last 10 mins

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by ardhill

Add more/thicker layers and fin on the stops.

Oh no.
Not another one.
Vanishing buddy syndrome.

Normally it's caused by them being badly trimmed so the kick to stay level but now you're suggesting it to make up for being underdressed?

I followed some guy right through under the pontoons at Chepstow after some 50m drills. Those little feet just wouldn't stop paddling.

[ardhill]

Originally Posted by nigelH

Oh no.
Not another one.
Vanishing buddy syndrome.

Normally it's caused by them being badly trimmed so the kick to stay level but now you're suggesting it to make up for being underdressed?

I followed some guy right through under the pontoons at Chepstow after some 50m drills. Those little feet just wouldn't stop paddling.

I was thinking more of fining round the shot or smb line, or against the current when running - not fining away from my buddy

I am slim build, so don't have much natural insulation to keep me warm. Though I have been looking at some of the heated vests or belts. The Icebreaker looks all round the best, but it is a lot of money. The belt is cheaper but will I work ok, and will the battery keep snagging on my waist band?

TBH, I also don't like loosing too much mobility by having so many layers. Yes, I dive inverts, so shutdowns are not an issue when restricted, but some movement is rather useful at times

[Scuby]

Used to have a Weezle Extreme, but swapped to Xerotherm Arctics. Generally pretty similar in warmth, but the Arctics are thinner and less bulky (for the same warmth - you can squash a Weezle but then it's cold).

I only use them on their own in the summer. The rest of the year I stick a proper wicking base layer underneath. However, I only use very thin base layers - I found using other thick (more than a couple of mm, or any kind of fleece material) base layers just made the whole lot bulky and horrible to wear.

However, if the suit is leaking then that's going to make so much more difference fixing that than swapping undersuits.

Oh, and all this is under a membrane suit in the sea around UK and Norway - not done any winter quarries for a long time so you might need to add an additional base layer for that?

David

[String]

Im really beginning to think im unique in that i get cold so easily.

Tropical end of scale, 28c water, 3mm full length suit, shaking after an hour.

20c water, 5mm semi dry with hood. Shaking after 45 mins.

Drysuit. Weezle extreme, northern face wicking base layer. northern face fleece layer on top of that, 2 pairs of hiking socks, weezle booties, 5mm hood, 5mm gloves.

Very cold after 30 mins in 14c, shaking like hell after 30 mins in 10c.

Tomorrow im going for the weezle, base layer, fleece layer, socks, booties, hood, dry gloves and maybe thermal vest too to see if it helps.

If not, i really need to consider an extreme+ or alternative.