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

[Paul dives in water]

I am looking for some YD wisdom....

I was at Stoney today, the water was 7deg and I froze my ..... Off.

I dive in a ND Cortex (great yellow membrane suit - always dry) with a 200g under-suit and was wondering what people think I should do, because a cold dive means I use more air and less time in the water.


(One of my Buddies has an 03-neo dry-suit and claims he was toasty warm....)

Baring in mind that I’m still on a student budget, what do you think my best option ? an extra layer under my 200g? any good value thermals you can recommend?

(There is an old Introduction in the forum somewhere, Summary: BSAC sports diver at Loughborough University)

[tom]

marks and spencer's merino wool thermals are cheap and effective

failing that, try one of the more technical base layers out there (e.g. xerotherm, 03, reed chillcheater). if you do choose a base layer, make sure anything you have next to your skin wicks moisture

or get a thicker 'big' undersuit for winter. is it the ND flectalon undersuit you have? If so I don't think they're the warmest thing out there.

also check your hood/gloves are thick enough - you lose lots of heat that way

[Mal Bridgeman]

I am currently wearing a 400 gm thinsulate, a Xerotherm copy and a thermal vest .... managed 70+ mins at 5degC last weekend......... 200gm is not warm enough at this time of year !!

HTH
Mal

[Paul dives in water]

The hood I’ve got is great, much better than the one the suit came with. £10er from the dive show. Seriously toasty head.

My under suit says Polar 200 on it, if that means anything.

My gloves are 5mm and OK. Was really my torso and legs that felt the cold on the dive.

[mala]

do you use the suit for bouyancy or your bcd/wing?

when its cold i tend to try and keep as much air in the suit as poss.
some people add weight so they can have a bit more air in the suit.

2p

[ratcliffe]

You want to try 100g Mal, maybe thats why I am always cold

[Paul dives in water]

I use my suit for bouyancy. Slightly over weighted for exactly that reason.

May go down to M&S and have a look at merino wool thermals. Technical undersuits seem very expensive.

[String]

Im ****ing freezing in my membrane drysuit, weezle, baselayer and fleece layer after 30 mins. Weezle is apparently 200g equivalent.

Im looking at either a 400g santi or possible one of the new subxero fourth element suits to solve it.

[alrhem]

I wear a weezle extreme plus and ive never been cold...
Other than that theres baselayers (helly hansen onse in pairs formo cotswolds for 25quid i think...).
Theres rugby gear pro armour, nike pro and dri-fit types that are good moisture wickers...

[sailorbuoy]

Decent thermals will help enormously.... merino wool if you can afford it - in my opinion go for the best long sleeve top you can afford and something less shiny for the legs.

Sports shops in the discount shopping centres can offer some good deals at the moment as they get rid of the skiing stock.

A cheap fleece sleeveless top might also help - and don't neglect your feet too!

I am diving in a membrane suit with thermals and a Xerotherm artic set and am warm....but it's not a cheap option.

Rich