Can we talk about how dry suits aren't always the upgrade people claim?

I was dead set against buying a dry suit for 3 years until a buddy let me borrow his for a deep wreck dive off Key West in 55 degree water, and I'll admit the warmth was nice but the buoyancy control hassle nearly got me tangled in a line.

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2 Comments

kair652mo ago

Nope, I'm saying they're overrated for most everyday diving. The extra gear to buy, the hassle to don and doff, the risk of a zipper blowout or neck seal leak making your whole dive miserable isn't worth it unless you're hitting truly cold water regularly.

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wendy_wilson3mo ago

Are you seriously saying a dry suit isn't worth it? I mean, I've been using mine for years and it's literally saved my life on cold water dives. The buoyancy control thing is just practice, not a design flaw. Once you get used to the extra air you have to manage, it's no different than a wetsuit, just warmer and safer. Maybe it's just me but I'd rather deal with a little hassle than risk hypothermia on a deep dive. If you're getting tangled in lines, that sounds like a skill issue, not a gear problem. Honestly, dry suits are the best upgrade I ever made, and I don't get why people hate on them so much.

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