What I love about the Otterflex

I’ve got a full range of Cressi exposure protection now, from shorties to the powerhouse Medas. The Otterflex fits perfectly into my wetsuit closet as the most versatile suit of all. A well-fitting, well-made 5 mm wetsuit is a must in any diver’s closet, offering both just enough warmth in cooler waters while still being cool enough for those of us who chill easily no matter the water temperature.

Often, 5 mm suits are bulky or hard to travel with — it can be a pain to bring a 5 mm when your 3 mm packs up so nicely. Not so with the Otterflex. Though of course it’s heavier than a 3 mm, it packed down nicely into my gear bag without taking too much room.

Getting into and out of Cressi wetsuits is a snap, thanks to the smooth, double-lined neoprene, and the Otterflex is no exception. The suit slid on with no issues, wet or dry. I also loved the watertight seals on the wrists, a nice touch when it comes to keeping the water next to your body warmer.

Finally, the ergonomic cut fit my form perfectly. Wearing a suit that’s made for a woman is a game changer, and one of the reasons I always bring my own. Now if only they came in petite (hint, hint, Cressi).

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On a recent trip to the Sea of Cortez and Guadalupe Island to dive with great whites, I tested out some new Cressi gear. Of everything I tested, I was most anxious to try out the Bahia Lady, Cressi’s new 2.5mm wetsuit. While it wasn’t warm enough for Guadalupe Island, where water temperatures topped out at 67 degrees F (19 C), it was absolutely suitable for the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez — and I run very, very cold when I dive. After a few days in the Bahia, my only wish is that it also came in a 5mm so I would never have to wear another wetsuit.

What I love about the Bahia

The first thing you’ll notice about the Bahia is the front zip. Back zips tend to be longer and thus are meant to make the suit easier to get into and out of because they’re longer. And while this is true, the front-zip on the Bahia was my favorite feature of the suit. I was able to easily and quickly put the suit on and take it off between dives, and the zipper did not interfere with any of my other gear.

The neoprene itself was another highlight of the Bahia. I can’t remember if I’ve ever had a suit with such a soft, flexible feel, but the double-lined neoprene here made the wetsuit fit snugly yet comfortably, and it slid on with no red-faced struggling yanking or fingernail breaking. The light, breathable neoprene also dried quite a bit between dives, making it far more pleasant to put on a damp suit for the second dive of the day. The suit fit perfectly, other than being a tad long, sliding on like a glove. 

Finally, the wrist and ankle ‘Aquastop’ cuffs kept the water exchange inside the suit to a minimum. My biggest concern with the Bahia was the thickness — at only 2.5mm it’s only half as thick as my usual 5mmm, which I wear even in warm water. I credit the wrist and ankle seals for keeping me plenty warm though, along with the double-lined neoprene. The only time I was chilled at all in the Bahia is when we remained stationary underwater for a lengthy time — when finning along, I was perfectly toasty.

Wrap-up

9ScubaDiverLife score

Cressi Bahia Wetsuit

• I love the front-zip on this suit. It does not interfere with your BCD and you won’t even notice it when diving. The front-zip also makes it incredibly easy to don and doff.
• The wrist and ankle seals really do work to keep water exchange to a minimum. I credit these seals for keeping me much warmer than I’d usually be in a 2.5 mm wetsuit.
• The anatomical cut of the women’s suit means that it fit me perfectly, aside from being a little long. It was so easy to glide in and out of the Bahia that I didn’t even dread putting on the damp suit for dive No. 2.
• The double-lined neoprene was soft against my skin and, again, made the suit very easy to put on.
• Finally, the lightweight Bahia packs up easily and is great for travel.

• My only real complaint with this suit is that it doesn’t also (yet?) come in a 5mm version. The Bahia only 2.5mm. I chill very easily and, unless the water is bathtub warm, I’ll get cold just wearing the Bahia. It’s almost worth it though in terms of suit flexibility and comfort.

• I’d also love if women’s wetsuit manufacturers began producing suits in different lengths. I’m quite petite and this suit — and every other wetsuit — I’ve ever worn tends to bunch up behind my knees.

In short, if you usually dive in a 3mm or are looking for a light wetsuit for warm water, you can’t go wrong with the Bahia. The comfort, ease of donning and doffing, and great packability make it an exceptional choice for this winter’s tropical vacation.

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A few companies will create a custom suit for you; one of the newer ones on the scene is 7till8. They have different types (surf or dive), different styles (full, spring, hooded, front-zip), different thicknesses, zipper options, and two different types of neoprene. I’m not going to go into all of the possible options, I’m just going to talk mostly about the one I have. But please check out their site to see all that they offer.

My 7till8 suit is a 3mm fullsuit with the Yamamoto neoprene. Never heard of Yamamoto? Neither had I.  It’s Japanese neoprene made from 100% limestone, which makes it slightly more eco-friendly than petroleum-based neoprene.  But more to the point, this neoprene is more flexible, softer, lighter, and warmer. Oh, and durable too, which is important for an active diver.

See the Yamamoto neoprene flexibility in action in the video below:

The verdict

After I got my suit, I did have to send it back for some alterations, something they politely worked with me on and quickly completed. Once I got it back, I could see they’d made the changes I requested, and it was perfect. Next step was trying it out.

In the water, there’s very little water exchange to the point that when I emerge I actually have to pull out the ankles to let out the water that’s trapped in the suit.  While teaching a class recently I had to stand around in the water for a couple hours and I honestly never even felt it. In the ocean off the North Carolina coast I was so toasty that I actually had to open the neck to allow some water in. (Bear in mind that I run warmer than most people). But my point is — I kid you not — this is the warmest suit I’ve ever had on. It could easily take the place of a 5mm. And as a bonus it’s quite thin. Most people who saw it thought I was wearing a 1mm. 

For a little extra, they’ll customize the color and style and even add a logo. You can check out their customization gallery for some of the more unusual options, including one that looks like a business suit.

Wrap-up

9ScubaDiverLife score

7till8 Comfort and Warmth

• Handcrafted
• Full warranty
• Free alterations until you’re happy – note: they will even make alterations if you lose/gain weight later
• Very flexible
• Very warm with minimal water exchange

• May be more expensive than off-the-rack suits
• Takes about three weeks to get
• Alterations will take time (shipping there, altering, and shipping back)

In short, if you could benefit from a custom suit, definitely check out 7till8. Custom suits are always more expensive than off-the-rack, but in this case, I think the price is reasonable and you get amazing quality workmanship, materials, and customer service.

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As a completely cold-averse diver, it may seem strange that I acquired my new Cressi drysuit for a trip to Norway last January to snorkel with orcas (watch for a forthcoming story on that). The Desert arrived at my house straight from Italy. It’s made of pre-pressed neoprene, ranging from 7 to 4 mm and packs up easily. The undergarments are similarly compact, and the entire kit fit well into my Cressi Moby 5. Confession: Although I’m drysuit certified, I haven’t used one for almost 20 years. Taking the Desert to Norway to snorkel seemed the perfect way to (not) get my feet wet after all this time, and test out whether wearing a drysuit was for me.

Wrap-up

8ScubaDiverLife score

Cressi Desert Drysuit

• These easily packable suits are great for travel.
• The suit is easy to understand and putting on the farmer John underneath was intuitive and simple.
• Suits fit perfectly to size – which is a pro, but can be a con if you need to wear thicker undergarments.

• While we absolutely loved the fit and feel of the suits, they weren’t quite warm enough for the near-freezing waters of the Arctic Circle. If I were to order again, I’d probably order a larger size to accommodate larger, thicker undergarments, which would make the suit more useable in a variety of cold-water environments.
• The undergarments that came with the suit were not warm enough for the Arctic Circle, although I expect they’ll work perfectly well in the Great Lakes this fall.
• The suit is (as yet) only available in Italy. Although this could be a pro: maybe it’s time to go to Italy on vacation to pick one up.

On our first day out, both my dive buddy and I were well-kitted out in our drysuits. We headed out to look for orcas just off Andenes, Norway. And here our story turns sad: although we saw plenty of orcas topside, we didn’t see them underwater. Although I jumped in a few times, the pod was long gone before I got a peep.

While our drysuits kept us both dry (as promised), we both felt that they just weren’t quite warm enough for riding around in an open boat for three hours in the Arctic Circle, although the suits are hardly to blame. With the wind and the spray, and especially once I’d jumped in, it was difficult to stay warm. In hindsight, we both wished we’d ordered larger sizes so we could fit thicker, warmer undergarments underneath the drysuits. The suits also have soft encasements for your feet, so although we both had boots to wear over-top, we’d ordered those too small as well. In short, make sure your suit can accommodate all the undergarments you might need, and double-check what size boot you’ll want in advance.

That said, the Desert will absolutely provide sufficient warmth for diving the Great Lakes this fall, with average water temperatures in the mid-40s at depth. It’s easy to don and doff and not overly complicated. Now if only I can convince myself that the cold is all in my head.

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I’ve never ended a dive because I was too warm, but I’ve sure called some prematurely because I was freezing. Not anymore. Enter the Cressi Medas Lady, the answer to all my underwater shivering problems.

A recent trip to the Azores meant water temperatures in the low 60s F (around 16 C). I was sure I’d chatter the regulator right out of my mouth. The warmest suit I had was a 5 mm fullsuit, and after one toe-dip in the water, I knew it wouldn’t be sufficient. Luckily, the dive shop had the Cressi Medas Lady on hand for guests. My weather woes were solved.

After a week of diving in the Medas, I was completely sold. The tailored look, the great fit, and the overall warmth and comfort of the suit made it a winner, even in temperatures I consider bone-chilling (I’m no ice diver). And best of all, the suit offers flexibility. In warmer water, divers will be comfortable with just the farmer john portion of the suit and a rash guard. In chilly waters, the whole suit does the job. I knew I had to have one for myself. My only real complaint about the suit has to do with its availability. Luckily, I was able to obtain a Medas for review. But others in the United States aren’t so lucky, as the wetsuit isn’t available here. But our loss is Europe and Asia’s gain — divers looking for warmth, flexibility and style won’t go wrong with the Cressi Medas Lady.

Wrap-up

Cressi Medas Lady

• Flexibility — dive in just the farmer john in warm water and throw on the jacket for colder temps. You’ll never need another wetsuit again.
• Comfort — the pre-shaped arms and legs mean the suit stays comfortable underwater and moves with you as you move.
• Durability — the tough 5 mm neoprene is designed to last. The knee and shin areas also feature anti-wear inserts.

• You must step into the women’s over-suit, like a bodysuit. I’d prefer the toggle-fastening at the groin, like the men’s suit.
• It would be ideal if the two pieces were sold as separates so that someone with a bigger chest (ahem) and a smaller bottom could mix-and-match.
• I’d like to see the suit for sale in the United States. Our worldwide readers get to have it, so it’s only fair.

After a week of diving in the Medas, I was completely sold. The tailored look, the great fit, and the overall warmth and comfort of the suit made it a winner, even in temperatures I consider bone-chilling (I’m no ice diver). And best of all, the suit offers flexibility. In warmer water, divers will be comfortable with just the farmer john portion of the suit and a rash guard. In chilly waters, the whole suit does the job. I knew I had to have one for myself. My only real complaint about the suit has to do with its availability. Luckily, I was able to obtain a Medas for review, but others in the United States aren’t so lucky, as the wetsuit isn’t available here. But our loss is Europe and Asia’s gain — divers looking for warmth, flexibility and style won’t go wrong with the Cressi Medas Lady.

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I put the garment on under the farmer John, and then put the bodysuit over the top, effectively giving myself another 2 mm of thermal protection. With a stretchy fleece lining, the shirt helped keep me warm at the surface, too. It’s warm without being too bulky, and I was able to easily pull on the full wetsuit top over it. The thumb loops in particular came in handy here. You can also tighten the shirt at the bottom with a drawstring loop pull.

The shirt’s got three layers: the outer layer is made of flexible, neutrally buoyant, water-repellent, hypo-allergenic neoprene. It’s stretchy, too, so you shouldn’t have any problem putting it on. Word to the wise, however: the shirt runs a bit small, so order a size up if you’ve got anything larger than an A-cup. The middle layer is windproof but breathable, which means it’ll help protect you against the wind and will also wick moisture away from the body, an essential feature in a scuba undergarment. The inner, fleecy layer shares the wicking properties. It’s also antibacterial so it won’t get stinky. It’s also machine washable, which will take care of any lingering odors that may occur after a week’s diving.

Wrap-up

8ScubaDiverLife score

Lavacore Women’s Long-Sleeved Shirt

• Neutrally buoyant
• Extra protection from the cold, both over and underwater
• Thumb loop for easy donning (and it stays in place under a full wetsuit)
• Soft fleece lining makes it more comfortable

• Although it’s water-repellent, the same fleece lining takes a while to dry out
• Runs small. Order one size bigger than you think you need, especially if you’ve got a large chest.

Overall, I thought the shirt was great — it added a layer of warmth underwater and at the surface. It didn’t dry out as quickly as I’d like at the surface, but it was perfect under heavier thermal protection, and would also be great alone under the farmer John in warmer water.

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One of their unique product features is their use of ArmorTex material, which is extremely light but also highly durable. In fact, Akona ArmorTex is, pound-for-pound, a full 10 times stronger than steel. This makes it well suited for bonding onto typical stress points on clothing that experiences extensive wear, such as scuba gear.

Akona’s ArmorTex glove is lightweight and comfortable, utilizing ArmorTex on stress points like the palm and fingertips. By adding ArmorTex to these areas, rather than to the entire glove as with their All-ArmorTex Glove, they can create a lighter glove with better fit and an increased touch sensitivity, while maintaining material strength where it matters most.

The glove is made with a 4-way stretch type of neoprene, which allows for a much tighter fit. This, in turn, ensures better touch sensitivity, making it easier to operate line reels, computer buttons or other equipment. It also reduces water movement inside the glove, a key element when it comes to staying warm in any wetsuit material. The gloves come in a 3.5 mm version for temperate waters and a 5 mm for colder waters.

Both the stretch and the sensitivity is most apparent in the 3.5 mm version, but even in the 5 mm, you’ll get a much snugger fit than you would in most gloves without them being hard to put on or remove, a problem I’ve had with numerous gloves that aim for a similar snug fit. The combination of the fit and the tear-resistance makes these gloves an ideal choice for wreck dives, where even the sharpest bit of exposed metal would have a hard time penetrating the palm (do watch where you put your hand, of course). The gloves would be too warm, strictly speaking, for tropical waters, but you could still use the 3.5 mm gloves for a Caribbean wreck dive. All in all, these gloves live up to their promise, and at the price, they’re a good option for your next pair, regardless of whether you choose them for the fit or the protection.

Available: Now

Price: $58 for 3.5 mm; $64 for 5 mm.

Wrap-up

8ScubaDiverLife score

Akona ArmorTex Gloves

Snug fit without being restrictive or hard to put on

ArmorTex protection on stress points

Low water-exchange rate

Sizes seem to run a bit small, so make sure you either try them on before purchasing, or, if ordering online, can return them if they’re too small.

The combination of the fit and the tear-resistance makes these gloves an ideal choice for wreck dives, where even the sharpest bit of exposed metal would have a hard time penetrating the palm (do watch where you put your hand, of course). The gloves would be too warm, strictly speaking, for tropical waters, but you could still use the 3.5 mm gloves for a Caribbean wreck dive. All in all, these gloves live up to their promise, and at the price, they’re a good option for your next pair, regardless of whether you choose them for the fit or the protection.

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Whereas the suit itself is made from either a compressed neoprene or a laminated rubber — both of which are quite durable — the cuffs must be made from a fairly soft, stretchy material. And soft, stretchy materials, all other things being equal, are weaker. Traditionally, the cuffs have been glued onto the suit to ensure that they’re waterproof. This has made them somewhat cumbersome to change, requiring some use of tools.

Because of this, replacing a drysuit cuff is not something you can easily do at the dive site or on the dive boat, especially not if the neck cuff is leaking. It’s best to take a workshop or course to learn how to change a broken cuff, but unfortunately, they do tend to break at dive sites. A distressed cuff may seem fine based on all but the most meticulous inspection, but when you try to push your head or hands through it — however gingerly — a hidden weak spot becomes an all-too-visible hole. And, unless you have a backup drysuit with you, that probably spells the end of that dive day before it has even begun.

Swedish dive gear producer SiTech is looking to fix this problem. With their quickly interchangeable systems for both wrist and neck cuffs, changing one could take a matter of minutes, and you could do so without any gear aside from a spare cuff.

The wrist cuffs are essentially the same as those they use for their Quick Dry Glove system, wherein mounts are placed on the drysuit sleeve and the dry glove or cuff, respectively. Changing the wrist cuff becomes simply a matter of removing the cuff mount from the broken cuff and placing it on a new one, or on a drysuit glove, if that is available.

The real novelty appears with the Neck Tite system for the neck cuffs. Unlike the Dry Glove system, this must be mounted in a shop, where a mounting ring is glued onto the the suit. After that, the diver can mount and interchange the cuff itself using a locking ring, similar to the Dry Glove system. The cuff is adjusted into place using a supplied tool that looks very much like a pizza cutter. This allows the diver to quickly switch a cuff, if it breaks, or to switch between silicone and latex cuffs. It even allows divers to switch cuffs on rental drysuits to accommodate various neck and wrist sizes.

Wrap-up

9ScubaDiverLife score

Siliflex Drysuit Cuffs

No costly repairs or visit to a dive shop

Switching cuffs can be done on the dive site

Mounting systems can be a bit cumbersome; practice definitely helps

Must be purchased as optional extras

Neck Tite system must be mounted by a technician

The system is easy to use, but can feel a bit cumbersome the first few times you use it. I’d recommend doing a practice run — dare I say a dry run? — so you don’t find yourself changing a cuff for the first time on a rocking dive boat in the middle of the ocean. All in all, the systems deliver what they promise, enabling divers to change broken drysuit cuffs without going to a dive shop or calling the day’s diving.

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But this is hardly an ideal solution. Often, even the smallest sizes don’t fit, and even if they do, the cut is not made with the female form in mind, meaning that the suits are merely too big in some sections and much too large in others. And while there are plenty of wetsuits, BCDs, and even regulators made specifically for women, the industry assumption seems to be that women only dive in tropical waters, so they have no need for drysuits. This is inaccurate, of course, and now there’s an option aside from custom-made drysuits.

Whites Manufacturing, a producer based in Canada, and part of the Aqua Lung family, has created the Fusion Essence, a drysuit created specifically for women. Ultimately, what sets this drysuit apart is the fit; the Fusion series has always been known for quite a snug fit and adding a number of industry firsts to their range in an attempt to make a drysuit that is warm, flexible and streamlined. Featuring all the benefits of the Fusion series, such as the multi-layer DryCORE design, but tailored with the female form in mind, this drysuit also features increased stretch compared to other drysuits, allowing for a much snugger fit without sacrificing mobility. This body hugging fit also means less air trapped inside the suit, which decreases the buoyancy that a drysuit typically ads. This, in turn, means less additional weight is needed for the dive.

The other features of the Fusion Essence are fairly standard for drysuit designs. The suit has a back zip, leaving the front uncluttered. It has a basic suspender system, allowing the diver to peel the suit’s top off before and after dives. All valves are Apeks Twilight. Less standard, but Fusion staples, are the zippers in the neoprene covers that runs along the wrists, making it easier to don gloves and secure them between the waterproof cuff and neoprene cover. This in turn ensures less water flow in the gloves (if you’re using a wetsuit glove), which will keep your hands warmer.

The features of the drysuit, the quality of the material, and the design all combine with a very reasonable price to make this a strong addition to the drysuit market.

Of course the human body is not uniform, so while a number of adjustments have been made to gear this suit towards women, there’s no guarantee that it will fit every woman out there. I’ve known female divers who have been able to find drysuits made for male divers that fit perfectly, just as I’m sure there’ll be female divers for whom the Fusion Essence is just not the right fit. But, if you are one of the many female divers who struggle to find a properly fitting drysuit, the Whites Fusion Essence is definitely a good place to start looking.

Wrap-up

8ScubaDiverLife score

Wrap Up

• Made for women
• Have small sizes
• Fit
• Flexibility

• Hard to get in and out of at first
• Buoyancy is different than a wetsuit

The ESSENCE Skin is designed with 1mm neoprene with added abrasion resistant knee pads. Lycra panels are placed in areas that require more stretch for superior mobility. The ESSENCE Skin attaches and removes easily from the DryCore via hook and loop fasteners at the wrists, ankles and zipper.

SIZES: XS, S, M, ML, L
MSRP: $999.99 USD

 

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Because of the increased stretch, ankle and wrist zippers are unnecessary, which also means a warmer wetsuit — more zippers mean an increased risk of water exchange. The double-duty zipper in the back also has a 3-way seal that includes a spine pad.  The seal helps reduce water exchange and keep you warmer, while the pad increases your comfort when wearing a tank.

Necks are another common problem area. If the seal is tight enough to restrict water exchange, it’s often uncomfortable; if it’s comfortable, it’s letting in too much water. Aqua Lung’s neck seal has more give, so you won’t feel choked, yet it’s tight enough to keep warm water in and cold water out. The kidneys are another high-heat loss area, so Aqua Lung added extra insulation there too.

The tighter weave on the outside is resistant to abrasions, which gives the suit a longer life, meaning more bang for your buck. And perhaps best of all, the neoprene is not petroleum based, which makes it easier on the environment, as well as easier on you.  The suits come in 3mm, 5mm, and 7mm; note that this is a base thickness, before any nylon layers are added.

High points:

Comfort

• Smoother, softer inner fabric
• Pre-bent elbows and knees
• 4-way stretch that has 3 times the stretch of standard neoprene
• Neck, wrist and ankles have more give

Warmth

• No ankle or wrist zippers
• 3-way back-zipper seal
• Additional insulation over kidney area
• Snug but flexible neck seal

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The technical stuff first: According to the Australian manufacturer, the Sharkskin Chillproof is a 3-layer composite. A micro-fleece layer on the inside next to the skin, a stretchy nylon/lycra layer on the outside that resists abrasion and helps shed water, and sandwiched between the two is a breathable, yet windproof, layer. But here are the two really big selling points: It’s machine washable and neutrally buoyant.

Next, let’s go through the usual key features of exposure protection and examine how the Sharkskin held up.

Warmth

I used the Sharkskin by itself and under my 7mm wetsuit in waters ranging from 54 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. With that experience, I likened its warmth capabilities to that of a 3mm wetsuit, minus the additional positive buoyancy. In waters in the upper 60s and up, I was comfortable in the two-piece suit by itself, both snorkeling and on hour-long dives. For temperatures in the lower 50s, the suit added an additional, toasty layer underneath my 7mm wetsuit, making the cold-water experience much more enjoyable. I will be using this instead of my old dive skin from now on, and in place of my 3mm. It will also be a welcome addition under my wetsuit for those cold winter dives at the quarry.

Comfort

The inner micro-fleece layer is extremely comfortable and soft, and the lycra/nylon exterior makes for great flexibility. There’s a soft neoprene collar around the neck of the long-sleeved top, adding additional comfort and protection. Personally, I have issues with things around my neck, both with itchiness and tightness, but I never noticed the neck of the Sharkskin top at all. Normally I can’t wait to get my wetsuit off once I’m out of the water, but that wasn’t the case with the Sharkskin. I was quite comfortable in it, both in and out of the water. The shoulders don’t pinch or bunch; it doesn’t gather around the knees; and I have full range of unrestricted movement while wearing it. It’s thin enough not to feel bulky as a layer under a wetsuit, and while I don’t have personal experience with drysuits, it seems as though it would be a great layer under those as well.

My only complaint is that when I was snorkeling, the top wanted to ride up on me. This didn’t happen while diving, since the BCD helped to hold it in place. But, I think I’ll be buying a full-suit style to use on those occasions that it might be more suitable.

Durability

During my last trip I brushed up against, and knelt on, a fair share of barnacles and rocks. I’ll admit I was completely shocked to see that the legs didn’t have a single mark, snag, or tear on them. My dive skin wouldn’t have held up to that abuse, and it wouldn’t have offered my skin the protection from those very things like the Sharkskin

Entry/Exit

It’s difficult to get a wetsuit on and off, with all the tugging and pulling, squirming, and jumping up and down. That’s not a concern at all with the Sharkskin. It slips on easily, and if you’re wearing it under a wetsuit, it provides a slick surface for the wetsuit to easily slide over. I always wear a dive skin under my wetsuits simply because they make it easier to get them on; the Sharkskin offers that same assistance. There are stirrups for the feet and thumb loops for the arms, just as with dive skins.

Care

I’ve often wished I could throw my wetsuit in the washer, so it’s an added bonus that the Sharkskin is machine washable. Even though it’s anti-microbial, mildew-resistant and odor-resistant, it’s still nice to be able to throw it in the wash. Make sure to line-dry only, though. However, it dries very quickly, much faster than neoprene.

I’ll be recommending the Sharkskin to just about everyone, for both scuba and whitewater. If you want the same warmth as a 3mm wetsuit without adding weight, or you want something to layer under wetsuits or other exposure gear, this is a perfect solution.

To recap the advantages of the suit:

• Extremely easy to get on by itself
• Slick surface to slide a wetsuit over
• Neutrally buoyant
• Same warmth as a 3mm wetsuit
• Thin enough to layer easily without bulkiness
• Multiple options make suits customizable to suit your specific needs
• Dries much faster than neoprene
• Lighter than neoprene for travel
• Highly durable
• Suitable for wind, water, or sun protection in multiple watersports

Wrap-up

10 ScubaDiverLife score

Wrap Up

Sharkskin Chillproof is an aquatic specific, windproof 3-layer composite material that has been developed for water sports athletes.

n/a

The post Review – Sharkskin appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

The most significant change in this suit is the method of entry. Abandoning the traditional back zip, this suit instead features a wide neck opening, which rotates open and closed. The diver pulls a neck cover over his or her head, which then zips closed across the chest. The design makes the suit much lighter than traditional wetsuits, as the zipper is often a large portion of a wetsuit’s total weight, especially in warm-water suits such as this one.

With a design inspired by surfing wetsuits, Scubapro says this suit will keep a diver warmer than a suit of equal insulation with a back zip, and allow for greater maneuverability. Other features include Glideskin cuffs on ankles and wrists for easier donning and doffing, and I-Safe straps on both wrists, allowing divers to secure watches, computers or compasses.

My Test

The first thing I noticed was the suit’s lightweight nature. When I checked my gear at the airport it was six pounds below the limit, which was at least a few pounds lighter than usual.

I spent a week diving the Red Sea in this suit, with water temperatures in the low 80s, though the night dives were cooler and one early morning dive was only 70 degrees. Never did the suit seem too cold, which is impressive considering its thickness. Whether this insulation is due to the C-Zip opening or the wetsuit’s material I don’t know, but overall the wetsuit kept me warm.

The novel opening takes a bit of getting used to, but once I got the hang of it, getting in and out of it was far easier than other wetsuits I’ve had. Whether it allows for more maneuverability is hard for me to say, as I always dive with a back plate and wing setup, and the aluminum plate means that my torso is somewhat fixed.

The suit’s thin material also means that a diver will need fewer weights. In fact, in spite of the Red Sea’s high salinity, I dove without any additional weight. The weight of my tank was more than enough to allow me to descend.

All in all, this is a very promising design, and the new C-Zip opening works quite well. The thin material on the arms and legs, where the suit is only 2mm (compared to 3mm on the torso), means that you’ll need to be somewhat careful when putting it on to avoid tearing it. Unless you’re completely enamored with traditional back-zip wetsuits, this new design is well worth considering as a warm-water wetsuit.

The post Review: Scubapro Everflex C-Zip 3/2mm appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

The standard choice has been a one-piece suit made with a synthetic-fiber lining. These work well, but have a few drawbacks, including losing a lot of their insulating capacity when they become wet. The one-piece design can also limit maneuverability, as well requiring that wearers remove it all at once, leaving you in your undies in the cold air when it’s time to put your street clothes on.

Enter Fourth Element, a British producer of dive clothes, including wetsuits, travel bags and undergarments for wearing beneath drysuits. Most of the drysuit underwear consists of individual sweatshirts, pants and socks, meaning the total cost is about the same as a one-piece suit, but with a lot of advantages.

The fabric is made of a fleece-type material, which wicks moisture away from your skin regardless of whether its sweat, condensation or water leaking into your drysuit. You stay dry and warm. It is also relatively lightweight in relation to the insulation it provides. The two-piece design means that the clothes won’t hinder your movements as much as a one-piece would. And dressing and undressing can be done piecemeal, leaving you less exposed.

I did a number of dives in the suit, and it works brilliantly in temperatures ranging from around the 60 F, or 15 C, range and down to about 45 F, or 8 C, on its own, and works even better when combined with other insulating layers. I did a dive in 28 F, or minus 2 C,  wearing a base layer of moisture-wicking underwear (long sleeves and legs), a thin, insulating layer (in this case the “little brother” series of the Arctic, called Xerotherm), and the Arctic, and I was quite comfortable. And, because it looks and wears more like normal clothes, the sweatshirt can be worn between dives as a normal, if very warm, sweatshirt. You may even find yourself wearing it around the house on cold days.

The series of products is not cheap, and for total protection, you’ll need socks, pants and a sweatshirt. Keep in mind though that the total cost doesn’t exceed that of most high-quality one-piece options. If you decide to buy the underwear, ensure that the pants and sweatshirt don’t gap in the middle when you stretch, as this can expose a midriff where you’ll have little or no protection from the cold, and fit can be hard to adjust once your drysuit is on.

Overall, the Fourth Element Arctic can do wonders in terms of keeping you warm and comfortable on any of your cold-water dives.

Pros

• Low buoyancy in relation to insulation properties
• Lightweight
• Good moisture-wicking properties
• Maintains good insulation properties even when wet or damp
• Modular, which allows for combinations with other products, and allows for better range of motion

Cons

• Cost is relatively high
• A number of products are needed for complete protection
• Pants-and-sweatshirt design can result in bare midriff under drysuit

Bottom line:

A good choice for the cold-water diver looking for protection from the cold exposure.

Images copyright Fourth Element

The post Product Test: Fourth Element Arctic Series appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.