Cold in a Dry Suit....what to do?

[endoman]

Was at Stoney today, Hi Lesley( SDB) and Broady who we had a quick chat with.

Was amazed at how many people had cotton t shirts / rugby shirts on under their undersuits. Surely this defeats the whole object of a wicking undersuit?

Even though it was 6 degrees managed 2, 40 minute dives with my arctics and membrane with a merino base layer and was fine. Went back to the 3mm waterproof gloves and managed to zip the my self. Not as warm as the scubapros, but bearable and so much more dexterity.

The Arfmonster of course was in his semidry as usual.

Bill

[spikeysnake]

I have just swapped my trusty membrane and 300g polar undersuit for a o3
neoprene and am looking to add a decent undersuit, Dived at voby yesterday and while bearable at the end of a 40 min dive I was just starting to get a bit chilly so was thinking of going for a set of megatherms does anyone have a set and what do you think of them.

[Alex85]

I'd also be interested to hear what people have to say about the megatherms as could do with a little more insulation.

[EdHornby]

I know this is a really silly thing to say but there is an ounce of sensible as well..... do shorter dives!!!!!
you'll be more motivated to go in for the second dive if you don't try and do everything in the first dive

Also be aware of wind chill - it happens when you stand around in your drysuit during the surface interval in the carpark or beachside, it's not just wetsuit wearers - get under cover in the warm where possible

also, look at sock choices as well, it's an extremity that gets forgotten about

ninja style mitts (the ones with the little finger, ring and middle finger enclosed) are great

I have Reed chilll cheaters and I don't think they're as good as Xerotherms (although I've not tried xero's yet)

hope this helps....

[BigHairyAl]

Field tested over 80+ dives in Shetland and a couple off the side of an FPSO in the North Sea:

As many thin layers as possible! Thermal leggings/tops, thin old jumpers, t-shirts etc etc.

I don't think it's a coincidence that we commercial divers generally dive much more than purely recreational ones, and that the vast majority (in my experience) stick to the above wisdom.

No need for your fancy space age kit imo.

[wreckweasel]

Commies work, scoobies float like plankton (mostly). I'd suggest thats more your answer

I stay a lot warmer diving caves than doing wrecks, probably more down to swimming almost constantly in caves.

[Sandman]

The opinions of another working diver.

This time of year I'm doing 2 or 3 hours a day in the water. Suit is usually a northern diver divemaster, not my preferred choice but its work and i'm not wrecking my good Predator suit for work. The Northern Diver suit is absolute crap and if it wasn't free I would not be using it.

Thermal type stuff is always a thin wicking base layer top, trespass I think. If I'm moving about a lot I use a full set of fourth element arctics and if I'm not then its a thin set of chill cheater stuff with a weezle extreme on top and the fourth element socks. Gloves are whatever is lying about without holes in them or the rubber coated builders gloves.

Sport diving you need a good hood and gloves and keep out of the wind if you can, cheap rubber type waterproofs and get plenty of hot food or soup into you pre and post dive.

Cheers

Simon