Question about using a drysuit vs hot water suit for deep dives in the North Sea

I always swore by hot water suits because I thought drysuits couldn't handle the cold at 60 meters, but after a buddy lent me his for a job off Aberdeen last month and I stayed warm the whole time, now I'm wondering if I've been overcomplicating things has anyone else made the switch and regretted it or not?

3 comments

3 Comments

oscar74323d ago

Made the switch about 2 years ago for North Sea work. My first drysuit dive at 50m I was sweating, no joke. The trick is getting the undergarment layering right. I use a 200g thinsulate top and 100g bottom, keeps me warm without getting too bulky. Biggest thing I noticed was way better mobility than a hot water suit, especially when you're working on a pipe. Never looked back.

oscar74323d ago

The 200/100 split is what I settled on too after a lot of trial and error. Do you find the thinsulate compresses much after a few dives?

the_nathan23d ago

You used to think differently but this changed your mind. "Better mobility than a hot water suit" is what got me. I was dead set on hot water for anything past 30m. Thought drysuits were for cold water puddle diving. Did a trial run with a 200/100 setup and it was night and day. That extra range of motion when you're twisted up on a pipe really sold me. You still wearing the same thinsulate brand or did you swap around?