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Eileen: I would stay away from regular neoprene if you can afford it, shell suits (including crushed neoprene) are really superior for a whole list of reasons. They don't change in buoyancy (and insulating value) as much at depth due to compression and you have a wider range of undergarments available. Plus, everyone I know who dives with neoprene drysuits ends up getting leaks (although that's perhaps a problem with neoprene seals than the suit itself). For warmth, the way to go is the DUI 400 wt thinsulite underwear as it will not compress at depth. You can layer polypro under it for more warmth. I'm not sure you can squeeze this underwear under a neoprene suit though. I dive in low 30s water this way and stay plenty warm with the DUI underwear, although most of my really cold water dives are high activity and without much deco (if any). My gloves are really my weak link and I'm looking at switching to dry gloves for the warmth. If you really want to stay warm, get yourself an argon bottle. Anyway, I use a DUI CF200 (crushed neoprene) suit with latex seals. My frequent dive partners have DUI CF200, Viking, DUI TLS, Typhoon Ranger, and Harvey's neoprene suits so I have seen all of them in action. As far as the CF200 goes, I am basically happy with it. It's a warm and rugged suit. However, if I were to buy another suit based on what I now know, I would either buy a DUI TLS suit or perhaps a Typhoon trilaminate suit. My main criticism of the crushed neoprene suit is that it takes forever to dry which means that you have a heavy sopping wet mess to get in and out of when you are doing multiple dives, especially multiple day dives. Up here in SE Alaska, the damn thing seems to take 3-4 days to dry, especially on a cold wet research boat. My friends in the trilaminate and Viking suits are practically dry when they get out of the water. This is a special consideration if you travel a lot to dive. I make frequent trips to Seattle for work and I usually bring the dive gear along for a couple dips in Puget Sound. Lugging that heavy damp CF200 back on the plane is never much fun. Regards, Kent Lind Juneau, Alaska <e.hecht1@ge*.co*> Wrote: | | I am about to purchase a new drysuit which will be used for diving in the | Northeast. I currently use a Poseidon Jetsuit which has lasted many years. | Everyone seems to be buying the DUI lately. Warmth is very important to me | because I am always cold (I use a space heater at work in the summer). | | Does anyone have thoughts on which drysuit is warmer -thick neoprene with | sweats or crushed neoprene with underwear. Also has anyone heard of | Northern Diver brand of drysuit from England. It looks just like DUI. | | Thanks. | | Eileen | | -- | Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. | Send list subscription requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'. | -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send list subscription requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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