How to stay warm
Some just aren’t bothered by the cold. Sub 10 degrees in a wetsuit? “Yes please! In fact I’m too warm”. Others, like myself, are troubled by the prospect. My hands are nippy, my knees weak, my arms heavy and shivers down my spine.
So how can we, the cool people defend ourselves against the chill?
Invest in a drysuit.
Unlike a wetsuit, in a drysuit air and thermal undersuit layers provide insulation. Air conducts heat away from you about 20 times slower than the water in a wetsuit. Means you’ll manage colder water and/or longer dives.
I didn’t go in dry for about two years after I started diving but I wished I’d done it sooner. I remember lasting an hour and not feeling even slightly cold. Now I rarely dive a wetsuit below 20C.
They do cost more than a wet or semi-dry, you will have to do a training course too, but can you put a price tag on comfort?
Drysuits come in a few flavours; neoprene, compressed neoprene, and trilaminate are the most common.
Neoprene suits are like a wetsuit with built-in boots, seals all around and valves.
The material adds some insulation of its own so you may remove an undersuit layer. You will need a good bit of lead on the belt with these in general, and the material will compress with depth reducing the thermal properties. These are usually the lowest priced models, the O’three Port 10 starts at just over £800 with custom options available.
O’three Port 10
Compressed neoprene starts out as above but has its gas bubbled removed by pressure and heat. The result is a material that keeps some of its thermal properties, is lighter, and does not compress as much at depth, meaning buoyancy control is simplified. Cons are slightly less durability and a jump in cost. The Fourth Element Hydra is a great example, 4mm thick neoprene compressed from 7mm. This is a nice light suit that doesn’t feel much different to wear than a wetsuit. And with a price tag of just £905.00 is great value too though there are no custom options available. For a limited time, you can get free xerotherm thermals with the Hydra, saving £120!
The O’three Ri2/100 is compressed even more to just 2mm increasing flexibility and buoyancy consistency but raising the price from £1260 however, this is fully customisable.
O’three Ri2/100
Fourth Element Hydra
Trilaminate material is very thin and lightweight, it is usually three fabrics formed together. The material has almost no thermal properties of its own so you will need more undersuit layers versus neoprene. The big advantage is how light they are making trilaminate perfect for travel. You will often see trilaminate suits with quick-change silicone seals and dry glove systems. With fancy fabrics and options come top-end price points. The O’three 90 Ninety starts at £1600.00 and the Fourth Element Argonaut 2.0 from £1500.00.
O’three 90 Ninety
Fourth Element Argonaut 2.0
So which should you get?
I’ve had one of each type over the years, plain neoprene to start, compressed neoprene later for more comfort, trilaminate for lightness then back to a compressed for durability. Compressed neoprene is a nice midpoint for warmth, weight, durability and price.
Toyah’s suit: Fourth Element Hydra + Xerotherm + J2 base layer
Adam’s suit: Othree Ri2/100 + Arctic one piece + J2 base layer (+xerotherm if it’s below 8C)
Fourth element has their free thermals offer at the moment. If you fit an off-the-peg size then this is a great buy. Contact us to buy before it’s over!
O’three suits are all fully customisable and can even be made to measure.
O’three runs a referral program where you can be measured in the dive shop and see samples. Then you order through their website and they will deliver the suit straight to your home address.
Be sure to say that you’ve been referred by us.
Thanks for reading by Adam West