Custom suits
Amelia
I'm 2/3rds of the way through my o/w, and am really enjoying it. I think
the first big thing I'm going to buy is a dry suit (after doing a course),
but I need some advice. Would I need a wetsuit too for the summer (I'll
dive in South of England, hopefully all year round) as well as a dry suit?
Also, is it worth getting a custom made suit, and if so where can get one?
amelia
Jason
<ame...@english-cockers.com> wrote:
>
> I'm 2/3rds of the way through my o/w, and am really enjoying it. I
> think the first big thing I'm going to buy is a dry suit (after doing a
> course), but I need some advice. Would I need a wetsuit too for the
> summer (I'll dive in South of England, hopefully all year round) as well
> as a dry suit?
No, a drysuit is just fine all year round. If you go for a membrane or a
compressed neoprene, which you should, you can always wear less underclothes
if you think you're going to be too hot.
>Also, is it worth getting a custom made suit, and if so
> where can get one?
Depends if you're an odd shape. Drysuits don't have to fit that well.
They're meant to be a bit baggy, so one off the shelf might be fine. You
don't want it too well fitting because it's a well known fact that drysuits
always shrink over the winter.
I've got an Otter suit and thoroughly recommend them. Have a look
at www.drysuits.co.uk
Jason
--
See http://www.volnay.freeserve.co.uk/ for trip reports about Australia,
the Caribbean, Gran Canaria, the Maldives, Bali and England.
Gerrard Singleton
also intend to do most of my diving in the South. However, I think the first
large expenditure I will undertake is my own regulator and BCD - I would
consider these to be more critical than a dry-suit.
--
Gerrard Singleton
gerrard@*nospam*singleton.net
(remove *nospam* to reply)
"Amelia" <ame...@english-cockers.com> wrote in message
news:39a3b...@nnrp1.news.uk.psi.net...
>
> I'm 2/3rds of the way through my o/w, and am really enjoying it. I think
> the first big thing I'm going to buy is a dry suit (after doing a course),
> but I need some advice. Would I need a wetsuit too for the summer (I'll
> dive in South of England, hopefully all year round) as well as a dry suit?
> Also, is it worth getting a custom made suit, and if so where can get
one?
>
> amelia
>
>
pald...@my-deja.com
passing OW and the rented drysuits were the biggest problems (no matter
where we rented from)
I would highly recommend getting drysuits ASAP and Otter make superb
custom suits .. the Otter "bliss" is also very comfortable.
The other point about the regs is that you should try as many different
types as possible (rent, borrow etc) before choosing (they were the
last thing that we bought .. apart from tanks)
Finally .. I would recommend trying "Wings" before buying your BCDs but
that statement will probably cause a debate of it's own :-)
Good luck.
In article <8o5ahq$22o$1...@supernews.com>,
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Gerrard Singleton
One of the DM's on our course was of the opinion you could dive most UK
sites, most of the year in just a Semi- any thoughts? and sorry to show my
ignorance, but what are "wings"
<pald...@my-deja.com> wrote in message news:8o5h1c$4ra$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
Jonathan King
with no bouyancy around the waist. Not used one so don't know how good they
are but they are supposed to be more comfortable if you're on the portly
side. I think they are also supposed to be more streamlined.
Jonathan
Gerrard Singleton wrote in message <8o5out$6gh$1...@supernews.com>...
pald...@my-deja.com
if you want to be able to dive all year (and especially if you haven't
bought a dry or semi yet) then it's well worth spending the extra on a
good dry suit which you can use all year (wear less undies)
A colleague of mine who has ice dived in a home made wetsuit! says that
he would never dive in the UK in anything but a drysuit now.
Another reason for the dry is that if you normally dive in a semi and
then want to dive when it's cold by (for example) renting a drysuit ..
you won't have had the practice that it takes to be safe in one (they
can be tricky!)
Finally .. just because you don't know something .. doesn't mean you're
ignorant :-)
Wings are a BCD that use a bladder on each side of your tank which has
the advantage of holding you in a more natural horizontal position in
the water.
Some people are nervous of them because they think that they can tip
you onto your face at the surface .. not a problem that we've found.
Most of the "Techie" divers use them but although we're not Techies ..
we like the way they work (although we did learn originally with the
normal jacket type BCD)
Cheers
In article <8o5out$6gh$1...@supernews.com>,
Nigel Hewitt
> fair comment.
> One of the DM's on our course was of the opinion you could dive most UK
> sites, most of the year in just a Semi- any thoughts?
I will not dive in the UK in a semi. It nearly put
me off for life while the dry suit makes diving fun.
Regarding custom dry suits. My son never stayed dry
in a dry suit till he had his own. He has a small
neck. We both have Hydroteck customs and they work
well for us and are an excellent fit.
--
nigelH
Keith S.
> fair comment.
> One of the DM's on our course was of the opinion you could dive most UK
> sites, most of the year in just a Semi- any thoughts? and sorry to show my
> ignorance, but what are "wings"
Depends whether you feel the cold or not.
Personally, I dive a drysuit all year round. Today (26C in Dover) it was not
_too_
warm. In January it wasn't _too_ cold either...
Of course the other benefit is redundant buoyancy.
- Keith
Cliff Coggin
Amelia <ame...@english-cockers.com> wrote in message
news:39a3b...@nnrp1.news.uk.psi.net...
>
> I'm 2/3rds of the way through my o/w, and am really enjoying it. I think
> the first big thing I'm going to buy is a dry suit (after doing a course),
> but I need some advice. Would I need a wetsuit too for the summer (I'll
> dive in South of England, hopefully all year round) as well as a dry suit?
> Also, is it worth getting a custom made suit, and if so where can get
one?
Well you could use a semi all year if you don't feel the cold, as indeed I
did for four years, but I'm damned if I would ever go back to one now, even
in the summer. If you want to buy just one suit get a dry suit. As others
have pointed out you wear more clothing underneath in winter and less in
summer to compensate for the different temperature of the water.
Disadvantages are that they are more expensive, extra training is needed to
cope with buoyancy, and the seals & valves need maintenance.
Cliff.
Mike Souter
one for holidays abroad - but you wouldn't use that here...
> Also, is it worth getting a custom made suit, and if so where can get
> one?
Well, I tried a lot of suits on before getting mine made to measure, and
had problems getting one I am comfortable in, but I'm quite tall, and
although I have a long back, most ready made suits for tall people have
all the length in the trunk, with the result that your crotch is around
your knees... at least that was my experience...
So if you are not 6ft 5, then give the full range of ready made's a try -
you've already had recommendations... If you want a made to measure,
because you are 'individually shaped' then I would have only one
recommendation - try O'Three.. that's who I went to, and I love my suit..
They also provide very good service, a wide range of materials and
customisations, and are generally good guys. They'll send you a
video/samples if you ask. They are not the cheapest, but are real
quality, and are miles better than some of their more expensive
counterparts .
I like their wetsuits as well actually...
(I have no connections beyond being a very satisfied customer)
Mike Souter
Victor Harris
O'Three and the quality of their drysuits. Yes, they are a little more
expensive, but I guess if they last longer the cost will even itself out in
time. Mark me down as another satisfied customer. I am in no way connected
with the company.
Vic
"Mike Souter" <mso...@cix.co.uk> wrote in message
news:memo.20000826...@msouter.compulink.co.uk...
terence.tysoe
not drop any lower than about 10C, but it is essential to get warmed up
again between dives !.
Tez.
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Gerrard Singleton <gerrard@*nospam*singleton.net> wrote in message
news:8o5out$6gh$1...@supernews.com...
> fair comment.
> One of the DM's on our course was of the opinion you could dive most UK
> sites, most of the year in just a Semi- any thoughts? and sorry to show my
> ignorance, but what are "wings"
> > > "Amelia" <ame...@english-cockers.com> wrote in message
> > > news:39a3b...@nnrp1.news.uk.psi.net...
> > > >
> > > > I'm 2/3rds of the way through my o/w, and am really enjoying it. I
> > think
> > > > the first big thing I'm going to buy is a dry suit (after doing a
> > course),
> > > > but I need some advice. Would I need a wetsuit too for the summer
> > (I'll
> > > > dive in South of England, hopefully all year round) as well as a
> > dry suit?
> > > > Also, is it worth getting a custom made suit, and if so where can
> > get
> > > one?
> > > >
terence.tysoe
use them,
they are relatively simple technology, no valves, nothing to service,
nothing to go wrong,
you can use them for other water sports, sailing, windsurfing etc,
when I dived in Florida I was comfortable in and out of the water by just
not wearing the jacket.
Numerous accounts of "incidents" I have read, appear to be due to some kind
of problem related to the dry suit.
Tez
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Mike Souter <mso...@cix.co.uk> wrote in message
news:memo.20000826...@msouter.compulink.co.uk...
Andrew Horwood
>fair comment.
>One of the DM's on our course was of the opinion you could dive most UK
>sites, most of the year in just a Semi- any thoughts? and sorry to show my
>ignorance, but what are "wings"
I finished the OW in May this year and have happily been using a semi
and have never felt cold apart from the lower thermocline at Stoney
which was 8C at the time... and this was after 5 mins of inactivity. I
have ordered a dry-suit as I want to dive all year around and have been
advised that November to March are a bit chilly !!
One question that I have that leads on from this is temperatures in the
sea.... are these as noticeable around the seasons and do these vary a
lot dependant on depth ??
--
Andrew Horwood
Bardo
msf500/2 from O'three - check out their website at www.othree.co.uk
"Amelia" <ame...@english-cockers.com> wrote in message
news:39a3b...@nnrp1.news.uk.psi.net...
>
> I'm 2/3rds of the way through my o/w, and am really enjoying it. I think
> the first big thing I'm going to buy is a dry suit (after doing a course),
> but I need some advice. Would I need a wetsuit too for the summer (I'll
> dive in South of England, hopefully all year round) as well as a dry suit?
> Also, is it worth getting a custom made suit, and if so where can get
one?
>
> amelia
>
>
Cliff Coggin
Andrew Horwood <an...@ouzo.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:Zq9fvAAb...@ouzo.demon.co.uk...
>
> One question that I have that leads on from this is temperatures in the
> sea.... are these as noticeable around the seasons and do these vary a
> lot dependant on depth ??
The English Channel varies from 18 degrees in September to 10 degrees in
March. The strong tides ensure good mixing of the water from all depths so
there is negligible difference between surface and bottom temperatures.
Cliff.
pet...@my-deja.com
> I'm quite tall, and
> although I have a long back, most ready made suits for tall people
have
> all the length in the trunk, with the result that your crotch is
around
> your knees... at least that was my experience...
> So if you are not 6ft 5, then give the full range of ready made's a
try -
I had the opposite problem, I'm quite short 5' 5" but have a long trunk
all the made to measures had me talking in a very high voice :-)
I got an Otter flexible membrane and have been very happy with it.
Pete
alcordia
JRE
> Hello friends, I am alcordia..i need custom suits in greys and blues for a party because this is the party theme. I need a perfect look, so kindly suggest me the best custom made tailors. Anyhow i got a tailors name : jjstailors. Is this true that he is a one of the best tailor.
>
puppets to spam Usenet!
joe
Their details are at : http://www.jjstailors.com/