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Sean-

The consensus on this list is that your buoyancy changes drastically at 
depth as your neoprene compresses. You wind up having to pump up your BC 
to compensate for all the lead that you needed to sink in the first 
place. This could cause problems with your trim or in the event of a BC 
failure. In addition the insulating properties which the neoprene offers 
at the surface is severely reduced as it compresses. As a result you have 
to wear more insulation to compensate, which may cause you to overheat at 
the shallower (and longer) decom stops. Most if not all strong opinions 
on this list are based on deep-ass diving and may not apply to sport 
depths where a neoprene drysuit might be usable. There are crushed 
neoprene suits available which minimize the above problems, shell suits 
do not have these problems.

   Jim

>I have read many posts on this list stating that neoprene drysuits are
>unsafe pieces of equipment, and would like to know why this is the
>case.  Here in BC, they seem to be the most common type of suit in use.
> I own a neoprene drysuit, which I had custom tailored, and have not
>noticed any significant reduction in mobility from my last suit, a
>Viking vulcanized rubber.  Even when wearing my warmest set of
>insulation, I have encountered no difficulties reaching any of my
>valves, nor with manipulating any of my other equipment.  The bouyancy
>change was significant, but easily dealt with by changing my weight
>configuration.  The only disadvantage immediately apparent to me is its
>unsuitability to contaminated water environments, but I don't have any
>insupressable urge to dive in settling tanks.  :)  Can someone please
>shed some light on this question?  Considering the importance of the
>other things I've changed due to contributors from this list, I'm a bit
>reluctant to dive with that suit now for fear of killing myself...

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