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beau · 15-02-2011, 22:54

I have the opportunity to purchase a new, semi dry wet suit for a similiar price as a normal wet suit.
What do you suggest.
I am not a serious diver (hookah system ) but I dive and spearfish quite a bit.

Minggat · 15-02-2011, 23:09

If the water is cold, they're way nice. If the water is warm, you don't have to wear it. Your air will last longer if you're comfortable. You're not on tanks now so that doesn't matter. But if you ever do, you'll be set.

delmarrey · 15-02-2011, 23:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by beau

I have the opportunity to purchase a new, semi dry wet suit for a similiar price as a normal wet suit.
What do you suggest.
I am not a serious diver (hookah system ) but I dive and spearfish quite a bit.

And you'll need a good weight belt to keep you down and a BC to get you back up. Once you get below a certain depth the air in the suit collapses and the weight belt will pull you down. Then you'll need to add air to fill the BC to equalize buoyancy and so on.......... Who's to say how deep you'll go chasing a fish.

It's a catch 22!

You really shouldn't wear a wet/dry suit unless you have diving certs. IMHO

downunder · 16-02-2011, 00:09

I cold water such as in Canada a dry suit is great for SCUBA diving.

For spearfishing which in Australia illegal to use SCUBA for spearfishing wetsuit is only way to go when freediving.

Dry suit can trap air inside which is not good for freediving.

Artif · 16-02-2011, 00:18

Semi dry suits are wet suits that have better seals on the wrists and ankles and neck.
They are still a wetsuit and function the same way, by trapping water and allowing your body to warm the water.
The difference between a regular wetsuit and a semi dry is that a semi dry, if correctly fitted, will flush through a lot less than a regular wet suit, keeping you warmer.
The main thing with any wetsuit, semi dry or not, is getting the correct fit, this is much easier now with modern ultra flexible neoprenes.

The semi dry is a better option.

In reply to delmarrey, you become negatively buoyant below 30' even if your not wearing a wetsuit, and you certainly do not wear a buoyancy compensator for breath hold diving, diving certs are definitely not required.

I think the title may be confusing people as you state wet or dry rather than semi dry suit

**boatman61** · 16-02-2011, 02:36

Go for the semi dry... the warmth factor gives you that bit more time before your oxygen burns out and forces you to surface.... at least thats what I find...
I can stay down longer in the Carib than I can in the Med....

delmarrey · 16-02-2011, 09:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artif

In reply to delmarrey, you become negatively buoyant below 30' even if your not wearing a wetsuit, and you certainly do not wear a buoyancy compensator for breath hold diving, diving certs are definitely not required.

My question to you Sir. Are you a certified diver?

If one wears a wet/dry suit, one has to wear weights to get below the surface!!!

If one wears weights to get down, and the air collapses, how would you suggest one getting back up w/o a BC? Dumping the weight belt?

That 30' you talk about is not a line drawn, but is progressive. Even at 10' the air will collapse a little.

In the good ole days I did one free dive to 50'. In 1985 even found a gold ring in the crater of Malokini @ 35'. The fun part is once below 33' you don't have to hold your breath anymore, it's collapsed enough that your lungs feel normal.

Free diving is dangerous enough, but when on adds gear, it complicates the procedure.

.

Artif · 16-02-2011, 13:53

I've been diving for over 30 years, I did my first scuba dive when I was 7 on a twin hose reg and no B.C.
Certified for extended range air diving and O2 up to 100%
Regular diving in U.K. waters i.e low viz, 2m viz is a good dive, cold and strong currents.

You may not need weights to get below the surface with a wetsuit, very much depends on the thickness of the wetsuit and more importantly technique. I free dive with a 5mm semi dry and no weights. The first 30' are the hardest to get past.

If you can't get back up from depth without a B.C. then you have too much lead on you, quite a common mistake.

Don't take my word for it though check out this guy
124m in the constant weight category i.e no B.C allowed
Herbert Nitsch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**boatman61** · 16-02-2011, 14:26

Or you could do it native style... jump in with a rock in your hands to speed you down... beats the swimmer every time....

Artif · 16-02-2011, 14:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by boatman61

Or you could do it native style... jump in with a rock in your hands to speed you down... beats the swimmer every time....

Used to do that when I was kid

**boatman61** · 16-02-2011, 14:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artif

Used to do that when I was kid

Great fun innit.... gathering the right size is the pain...

Artif · 16-02-2011, 14:53

With my extra buoyancy

I need a larger stone now.

lannen · 16-02-2011, 15:00

I need a free flowing wet suit, keeps the pee stains down.

Dune · 16-02-2011, 15:04

Semi dry...that's wet

Dry suit in cold water no doubt...with a full face mask.
Other than that, its whatever cold your body can take in the tropics. Less is better. Yes, I support DIVE NAKED.

Buoyancy is not the same for every diver. I sink like a stone without weight even with a light wet suit. Others need all the lead they can carry to descend.

Free diving is not as dangerous as SCUBA or Hookah. The only real danger is getting into something that you can't get out of before you run out of O2 and pass out. Embolism is not a factor. I have been underwater (above 30') on Hookah for hours on end with no ill affects.

The rock will work, but how do you get it to the dive site? I found a 40# anchor and 30 feet of 3/8 chain off of Kehei while I was free diving for supper. Played hell getting that thing to the beach. You don't float with that much weight, I don't care what your BMI is.