Advice needed on Dry Suits!

[pibbleb]

I'm doing a weekend course in November that requires me to obtain a dry suit! The trouble is they are so expensive.

Having considered making one from Nettle Cordage, I am joking, I've been bobbing around on evil bay but with no joy yet. Anyway, Does anyone know of any reasonable second hand suppliers?

I'm not diving so it doesn't need to meet any diving reg's but it does need to keep me dry and therefore, hopefully warm.

Cheers

Pib

 

[John Fenna]

I use a DAM Watersports dry suit for winter canoeing and it is brill!
Mine is non-breathable and cost me very little .
Try them - unfortunately I have no web address but their phone no is 01234 267 314.
Great service, great kit made to measure - little prices!

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Maybe a good idea to post over on www.songofthepaddle.co.uk

Nick

 

[Tengu]

This is useful, I need one too.

 

[Tadpole]

I'm doing a weekend course in November that requires me to obtain a dry suit! The trouble is they are so expensive.

Having considered making one from Nettle Cordage, I am joking, I've been bobbing around on evil bay but with no joy yet. Anyway, Does anyone know of any reasonable second hand suppliers?

I'm not diving so it doesn't need to meet any diving reg's but it does need to keep me dry and therefore, hopefully warm.

Cheers

Pib

what do you call expensive? £300, £400, £175? less more, have you thought about contacting your local dive shop, what about joining a dive club, like here they have group buys I've seen a dry suit on Robin Hood Watersports, for £200
on ebay people are selling semi-dry suits for under £100
what do you need it for?

 

[pibbleb]

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys.

Tadpole, I'm doing a Marine Mammal medics course. Once I've past I'll be romping around beach's mud flats etc assisting with the rescue of our water born friends!

As a result of likely damage, I'd rather spend less, hence my looking at second hand stuff. The DAM Watersports items seemed a good idea, but they would be my last resort money wise. (From what I've seen they are around £150.00)

Pib

 

[FGYT]

I have a Oceanic Flex 2000 its a bit battered about and the seals are sticky but still good just ( well when last i looked a year or so ago )
Its my old one i now Dive a Custom Predator for the past couple of years

im 5' 10 and its got size 9/ 10 boots tight on the tens

for diving it really needs new Seals

ATB

Duncan

 

[pibbleb]

Hi FGYT

I'd solely be doing beech resuce, they use a specialist dive team for,well, the diving!

If you'd be interested in parting with it let me know what you were thinking of money wise.

Cheers

Pib

 

[FGYT]

Hi FGYT

I'd solely be doing beech resuce, they use a specialist dive team for,well, the diving!

If you'd be interested in parting with it let me know what you were thinking of money wise.

Cheers

Pib

I have been thinking of doing the course myself they run one at Calshot beach on occasion nr Southampton

probably £50ish dunno how much to post it though its not small

atb

Duncan

 

[FGYT]

just got it out still as i remembered it

seals still stick on the edge but a bit of talc and maybe a careful trim should help a little longer


ATB

Duncan

 

[pibbleb]

That seems pretty fair plus, obviously, I'd sort out Postage.

Look I don't get paid until next week so if I can speak again next week. Plus if you decide to give the course ago yourself, you'll probably want the suit yourself rather than risk any decent gear.

Hope that this is OK, I'm not waisting your time though, I'm seriously interested, I'd just expected some pointers not to possibly find anything.

Cheers.

Paul

 

[FGYT]

That seems pretty fair plus, obviously, I'd sort out Postage.

Look I don't get paid until next week so if I can speak again next week. Plus if you decide to give the course ago yourself, you'll probably want the suit yourself rather than risk any decent gear.

Hope that this is OK, I'm not waisting your time though, I'm seriously interested, I'd just expected some pointers not to possibly find anything.

Cheers.

Paul

No worries its been doing nothing for seveal years now and will be there for many more otherwise

I wreck dive and teach diving so my best suit gets a kicking luckly the guy who makes them is only down the road so repairs are cheap n easy hand made in UK is always best :swordfigh


i will even chuck in some Hexi n burners if you use them
ATB

Duncan

 

[pibbleb]

Top man Duncan, That looks exactly what I'm after, plus I wouldn't say no to the burners, they'll most certainly get used.

Can you replace the seals once they go?

Cheers

Paul

 

[FGYT]

Top man Duncan, That looks exactly what I'm after, plus I wouldn't say no to the burners, they'll most certainly get used.

Can you replace the seals once they go?

Cheers

Paul

yes seals and boots etc can be replaced done by most dive shops or they send it off or you can have a go your self seals are avalible easily and im sure theres tutorials about as a non diver your probably not abosolutly worried about a small leak etc so have a go.

repair kits are about to for punctures tears or leaky seams etc and keep a roll of Black n Nasty in the car for on the Beach repairs .

atb

Duncan

 

[Scally]

if all else fails why not try and hire one from a dive club / shop they may have one for hire ?
cant remember if you need the qualification to hire but give it a go usually very cheap to hire if my memory serves me correctly..

 

[FGYT]

if all else fails why not try and hire one from a dive club / shop they may have one for hire ?
cant remember if you need the qualification to hire but give it a go usually very cheap to hire if my memory serves me correctly..

most dive shops will need to see a qualification to Hire covers themselves if you dive one and dont know what your doing
they will however happily sell you one with no qualifications but offer you a discount on a course or a free pool dive orientation


BTW Pibbleb
this is a Trilaminate Drysuit so basically a plastic bag and has no inherant insulation properties you add this by what you wear underneath sweatshirt n jogging bottoms maybe thermals as well if its colder should suffice most times
Dont ever ever be tempted to just use shorts n a t shirt its a plastic bag so you will sweat and if you get into any depth as you dont have inflation you could end up with bruises etc as the bag squeeses the clothes stop this or at least help a lot even if its beating down and red hot

ATB

Duncan

 

[pibbleb]

Scally I'd given that some thought, but the reality is that once I've passed the course, I'll be on call. It's mainly Seal rescues, around here it would seem but I'm going to need the gear.

I'd seen the thermal suits on evilbay so assumed I'd need something similar or at least something that does the same job. Thanks for the advice though I'd not thought of sweats.

If it's OK Duncan, I'll say I'm your man to part with the cash, but I'll PM you once I've been paid, maybe at the weekend and we can sort out the details.

Hope this is OK with you.

Cheers for your help.

Paul

 

[pibbleb]

FGYT you have PM

Regards

Pib