Buying a O'three drysuit + thoughts on a semi

[whitenoise]

I have eventually admitted that (comfortable) UK diving needs a drysuit.

While a year or two ago (mostly) everyone in my club has been trying to convince me that I would be much happier in a drysuit, I rejected their suggestions and went for a 7mm Waterproof semi-dry with Fourth element thermocline long-sleeved top instead. This has served me quite well in quarries and the sea, and is 'ok' underwater for about 30 mins down to about 12 degrees.

After a few recent uses however I started to sway towards a drysuit. While I was informed that the local quarry a few weeks ago was 12 degrees (possibly the highest it's been when I've used it) the cold wind, fresh air temp and general depressing day didn't really get me in a positive mindset. During our quite brief dive (cut short for other reasons), I was fine, but emerging from the water was, shall we say cold. Standing around in my wet semi, after a time decided a second dive was off, with the comments of other YD's about cancelled second divers echoing in my head. Usually a second dive was not a problem, however those other days it had been quite a nice day with the sun shining and with little wind. This day was completely different.

So my excuses made to myself that drysuits were more faff, more could go wrong, they were much more expensive, while still true, where no longer the reason not to buy a drysuit. So, I have now concluded to buy a new drysuit and after much decision regarding membrane vs neoprene, I have decided to go for a new Ri O'Three, after going when looking at the price of course. I've had lots of recommendations from o'three and this suit, and while it may be overkill, I don't want to go down the route of buying a second hand, or cheap suit that might not last. Hopefully by buying a decent (but expensive!) suit now, will be a good move? I'm hoping to go down to O'three tomorrow and get measured up, hopefully I will be able to fit one of their stock sizes with some adjustments.

I should add that there are people in my club who dive in semis, as I did. They may be made of much more harder stuff than me, but while diving in a semi wasn't a problem, I would never describe it as 'comfortable'. So IMVHO if I had my time again, I wouldn't have gone the semi-dry route and would have heeded the advice of people at my club, and on YD and gone drysuit straight away.

Feel free to say I told you so now

[Chucker]

you've made the right choice mate, othree make great suits.
i have a RI 2.1 and am over the moon with it

[DAFFY]

I have eventually admitted that (comfortable) UK diving needs a drysuit.

While a year or two ago (mostly) everyone in my club has been trying to convince me that I would be much happier in a drysuit, I rejected their suggestions and went for a 7mm Waterproof semi-dry with Fourth element thermocline long-sleeved top instead. This has served me quite well in quarries and the sea, and is 'ok' underwater for about 30 mins down to about 12 degrees.

After a few recent uses however I started to sway towards a drysuit. While I was informed that the local quarry a few weeks ago was 12 degrees (possibly the highest it's been when I've used it) the cold wind, fresh air temp and general depressing day didn't really get me in a positive mindset. During our quite brief dive (cut short for other reasons), I was fine, but emerging from the water was, shall we say cold. Standing around in my wet semi, after a time decided a second dive was off, with the comments of other YD's about cancelled second divers echoing in my head. Usually a second dive was not a problem, however those other days it had been quite a nice day with the sun shining and with little wind. This day was completely different.

So my excuses made to myself that drysuits were more faff, more could go wrong, they were much more expensive, while still true, where no longer the reason not to buy a drysuit. So, I have now concluded to buy a new drysuit and after much decision regarding membrane vs neoprene, I have decided to go for a new Ri O'Three, after going when looking at the price of course. I've had lots of recommendations from o'three and this suit, and while it may be overkill, I don't want to go down the route of buying a second hand, or cheap suit that might not last. Hopefully by buying a decent (but expensive!) suit now, will be a good move? I'm hoping to go down to O'three tomorrow and get measured up, hopefully I will be able to fit one of their stock sizes with some adjustments.

I should add that there are people in my club who dive in semis, as I did. They may be made of much more harder stuff than me, but while diving in a semi wasn't a problem, I would never describe it as 'comfortable'. So IMVHO if I had my time again, I wouldn't have gone the semi-dry route and would have heeded the advice of people at my club, and on YD and gone drysuit straight away.

Feel free to say I told you so now

I don't think it's a case of "i told you so", much of diving is trial and error. You find out over time and with experience what is good for you. So good luck with the drysuit