Need a Wet Suit

[Rocko Diver]

Your advice would be welcome.

I am looking for a wet suit and dont know which type/make to buy. I want it for something that I can use both in egypt and UK (Summer), is a combination system better. Whats worked for you and what has not. What makes seem best value. I would prefer zip to front as I am not that subtle to get to the back.

Thanks

David

[Arfie]

I can't imagine using a system that works in both UK and Egypt.

I dive in a wetsuit in the UK and have been fine down to 4C with a Beaver Icelandic Ultra which has a 7mm full suit and a 7mm jacket on top. But in Egypt I wear a 2mm shortie (Sept, Nov and Jan) if I was there in the summer I would just wear shorts and a t-shirt to stop the bcd chaffing.

I certainly wouldn't be using a 7mm in Egypt but I wouldn't want much thinner in the UK, so I personally think a one for all approach doesn't work.

If you are gonna dive in a wetsuit in the UK (and you can despite what all the others will say), then make sure it's a good one and it fits properly otherwise it will be cold and horrible. I was lucky that Beaver make one for fat people off the peg

Arfie

[John63]

I would echo Arfie comments in that you are unlikely to get one suit to cover all.

Uk water can be say 4 - 12 c for which you will need a 7mm semidry / 2 piece.

The Red sea can be 20-30 C, depending on the time of year and where you are. So for repetitive dives (eg 3 or 4 per day on a liveaboard) in the winter in the Red Sea you would be okay in a 7mm 1 piece, but in the summer when the water is close to 30 C you would cook.

I would suggest that you buy a good quality well fitting thick suit for the UK and later buy a thinner suit / shortee for Egypt.

Costs would be approx 180-300 pounds for 7mm semidry/2piece, 35-70 pounds for a thinner suit or shortee.

Fit is more important than brand. the suit should be snug without being too tight as to severely restrict movement or breathing. If the wrist / ankle seals are too loose them water will flush through the suit and you will be cold.

For the thick UK suit, the main zip should ideally be a dry zip, or at least have a large flap to prevent/minimise water ingress. If the suit is a 2 piece, one zip is best at the back and another at the front.

Hood should be snug, but try it with a reg in place. One of my hoods was great untilI trieed to use the reg and it then became very uncomfortable on the jaw.

Ankle zip should shoud be offset from the zip on the boots - this is just for comfort.

Hope this helps.

Cheers, John

[Kalahari Diver]

I think Lidl have really cheap 3mm suits from Thursday, it might be worth checking and that might sort out Egypt but a cold water semidry really has to fit well and only trial and error will sort that out.

David

[Little Naughty]

I dived twice in Egypt last year. In May I had a 5mm Scubapro thjat I bought off ebay for about £50 and I did day boats. In Setember I did a liveaboard and had a 3mm (not sure what make but it wasn't a big name brand) again from ebay and cost about £30. On both holidays I never got cold once.

I wouldn't get in the water at any time of the year in a wetsuit in this country! But my friend dives in a 7mm semi dry here in the summer and a couple of guys from our club dived in wetsuits with a shortie over the top on Tues in 10degrees and they said they weren't cold.

Basically if money is a bit tight, I would spend the most on a descent suit for this county to keep out the cold!

[Rocko Diver]

Thanks for the advice, the liveaboard is in September on Cyclone, northern red sea. Sounds like a shortie would do the trick (not going to look to good around my girth though).

HAs anybody got any video of the cyclone on you tube etc. If so would like to see the links.

Thanks

[sailorbuoy]

Shortie in Sep should be fine - take a look at the LIDL ones, at £20 it might not matter if it falls apart after a few weeks use!

Watch out for the temperature getting to you after repeat diving for a week - last August i was diving in a t-shirt and shorts in the S Red Sea but after a 5 days went for the shortie on the late afternoon and night dives. Don't worry about the zip being on the back - the liveaboard crew will zip you up as soon as you've got your arms in - they're very good like that!

Can't offer comment on the UK though... brrr to cold for me to get wet. Why not also look out for a cheap drysuit instead - I bought one from a local dive school for £150 that had only been used for 10 dives

[Treerat]

Mistral Pro Semi-Drysuit - DIVE Suits

I use a version of this once the water hits 14 degrees. I find it fine from about there on. Shorties and thinner wetsuits can be bought cheep at present from large ASDA and Tesco stores. They will be fine for the period you are planning to be there.

ANdy

[Lew21]

http://www.deepbluedive.com/product.aspx?id=13482
I dived in 7degrees on Easter saturday in this semi-dry, I was ok in the water but a bit cold in the surface interval.