Options on a new SeaSkin

[PapaBear]

Okay I've decided after another wet dive yesterday that its time to get a new drysuit. Yes I could get it fixed and have pockets added but dont really want to spend further money on a suit that doesnt fit properly.

So....I'm going to order a SeaSkin membrane mid to the end of January (want to check I dont start going down the gym for sizing too ) certain options Im going to do like having pockets fitted, but the one Im not sure about is having extra SiTech docking option Seaskin Custom Dry Suits (Aqualand Ltd)

Ive never used drygloves before because Ive heard how fiddly they are, has anybody used these to give some feedback on? Also I know the picutre shows it but how easy is it to change from the gloves to seals and use some neo gloves?

Oh and does anyone know where I can get a SiTech dump from as Im pretty sure my apeks low profile one leaks a bit and I've heard good things about these but that they are hard to find?

[Moz]

Originally Posted by PapaBear

Okay I've decided after another wet dive yesterday that its time to get a new drysuit. Yes I could get it fixed and have pockets added but dont really want to spend further money on a suit that doesnt fit properly.

So....I'm going to order a SeaSkin membrane mid to the end of January (want to check I dont start going down the gym for sizing too ) certain options Im going to do like having pockets fitted, but the one Im not sure about is having extra SiTech docking option Seaskin Custom Dry Suits (Aqualand Ltd)

Ive never used drygloves before because Ive heard how fiddly they are, has anybody used these to give some feedback on? Also I know the picutre shows it but how easy is it to change from the gloves to seals and use some neo gloves?

Personally don't like rings, the normal drygloves with seal are perfectly OK and are not difficult to put on after being shown/practicing

Originally Posted by PapaBear

Oh and does anyone know where I can get a SiTech dump from as Im pretty sure my apeks low profile one leaks a bit and I've heard good things about these but that they are hard to find?

Not hard to find, Seaskin will supply them

[String]

Just got my seaskin membrane with options and early days yet but im pleased with it so far.
They do a sitech dry glove option but maybe cheaper to buy the ND ones mentioned here as they are easy to put on and lock (i found the latex seal dry gloves possibly the most cumbersome and irritating things to don and doff yet invented and went back to wet).

They will change to sitech or other valves if you ask them as well.

[Ian@1904]

My Seaskin suit is almost two years old, and doing very well indeed.
I have a basic suit, with apex valves, which work fine. For dry gloves I use a very basic set of gloves where the glove seals sit on top of the suit seals-well it works for me.
I tend to vary my kit setup bcd; single/wing and twins/wing and twins and stage(s) so I opted for a bag that clips on to the waist band for spare mask.

So you may want to ask about custom made weight pouches for the waistband of your wing You may not find them on the web site.

Your best bet is to give Richard the MD a call early in Jan to discuss what is best for your current and future needs.

[PapaBear]

Thanks for the info guys. Im still not sure about these drygloves. I was thinking of going to the factory to get measured up as at most is is 45mins away from me. Thought it would be a good excuse to have a look at the gloves in person and make my mind up a bit more on the spot.

[String]

I'd definitely recommend going to the factory, very helpful, talked through all the options got to see/touch/play with and so on. Some things i thought i wanted or didn't want before going there were changed after i went there after some more discussion.

As someone else said though, contact by phone to book in, dont bother with email (as they dont bother!)

[Richard Mason]

Well there's not much chance I'll be visiting them in person for a measure up any time soon.

Having said that, I'm fairly certain that I'll be mail ordering one over the next few months.

One thing I did notice was that the parent company (Aqualand) do drysuits for emergency services in a variety of colours and I'm keen to go with some yellow on a future suit, as everyone I dive with comments on it's visibility underwater - although this has the unfortunate effect that I frequently lose sight of my black-clad buddy, while he/she still reckons I'm standing out like dogs-nuts, leaving me thinking potential separation, while they are quite relaxed that everything is hunky-dory.

I'm thinking black torso/legs with yellow arms for the future, does anyone know if they are willing to do this with their membranes, as I note that the standard colour scheme for diving d/s on ther website is combinations of black/blue/red, neither of which are particularly good underwater.

[KeyLimePie]

I had si-tech rings fitted to my suit. They leaked so often that I've had the rings removed. Rolocks seem to be more reliable, but as Moz said there's nothing wrong with ordinary dry gloves.

[String]

Originally Posted by Richard Mason

if they are willing to do this with their membranes, as I note that the standard colour scheme for diving d/s on ther website is combinations of black/blue/red, neither of which are particularly good underwater.

When i went up there and discussed colours basically they can do it in lots of different, yellow and red were an option.
HOWEVER, the point was made that bright colours will fade fairly quickly in the sun/salt and become pale. The result is a suit that looks a bit tattier and not as effective as you'd hope visibility wise in the medium term.
But yes they seem to make all the fire and rescue surface drysuits etc in yellow and red.

Used my ND drygloves on first all day/sea test and great. 10 seconds to don/doff and warmish hands to boot. Far better than the 10 minutes per latex seal dry glove and always one wet hand due to getting it wrong

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by String

When i went up there and discussed colours basically they can do it in lots of different, yellow and red were an option.
HOWEVER, the point was made that bright colours will fade fairly quickly in the sun/salt and become pale. The result is a suit that looks a bit tattier and not as effective as you'd hope visibility wise in the medium term.
But yes they seem to make all the fire and rescue surface drysuits etc in yellow and red.

Yeah, mine has done the same but it's still very high vis u/w even after 8 years, I'm not to worried about cosmetic appearance, as long as it does the job.

Originally Posted by String

Used my ND drygloves on first all day/sea test and great. 10 seconds to don/doff and warmish hands to boot. Far better than the 10 minutes per latex seal dry glove and always one wet hand due to getting it wrong

I couldn't be doing with water that's that cold.