Nat, you never want to spend megabucks. You also hate to reference the 
archives. You're one lazy SOB. I have a Harvey's neoprene drysuit. 
Drysuit is a misnomer, "dampsuit" would be more accurate. A certain 
amount of water seeps past the neoprene neck and wrist seals. It is 
annoying, but far, far warmer than you will ever be in a wetsuit, I'll 
guarantee you that. 

You have to have an undergarmet to handle the seepage and the sweating, 
and it can't be made of wool or cotton. The problem with shell-type 
undergarmets is that they tend to bunch up under all that rubber. The 
best undergarmet I have found for a neoprene is a polartec one piece, I 
highly recommend that you get one and account for the cost, or you will 
be miserable.

The thing that bothers me the most about neophrene is that you need 
weights. With a shell type and steel tanks you can go without weights and 
you can adjust the "bubble" in the suit without problems. With a weight 
belt, you have a hard time getting the bubble adjusted past the belt 
constriction.

Also all that weight is only needed to get you down past 20' or so, after 
that it's dead weight and you have to put air in your BC to compensate 
for it. This makes the ascent a pain in the ass because all that air must 
be exausted.

The only thing going for a neoprene drysuit is the low initial cost. This 
is a tempting siren to be sure, and I have had many good dives in this 
suit, and still have fun watching the poor wetsuit sons-of-bitches freeze 
their everloving asses off. But, once again, I should have listened to 
George and wish I had saved up to get a decent shell suit, Like a DUI. 
Your call, bub.

If you get a neoprene anyway, the best piece of advice I got on diving a 
neo drysuit is to avoid putting any air in it. Only add air when your 
balls start to ache. You put too much air in a neoprene you will find it 
extremely hard to control your attitude and buoyancy, and you will spend 
your whole dive fucking with your air controls.

   Jim

On 10/3/97 10:01 AM Nathaniel Fuster wrote:

>     I would like opinions on O'Neill's 7/5/3mm dry suit? Any other suits 
>     in this price range that are better? I am NOT looking to spend MEGA 
>     BUCKS, but something inexpensive (by dry suit standards) that is a 
>     quality and well functioning piece of gear. Any opinions on this would 
>     be appreciated. Also, just HOW DRY does one stay while using a 
>     NEOPRENE dry suit? I know it can't be as good as say a membrane 
>     suit???? Thanks for your help. 
>     
>     
>                                        -Nathan....
>
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