Navigation
Drysuit Seals
After the zip, the seals are the next important part of a drysuit. They create a seal between your neck, wrists (and possibly your ankles) and the suit, preventing water getting inside. Why not order a set of spare drysuit seals that can be fitted yourself, or make up a dry suit repair kit for those longer dive trips.
For the neck and wrist seals there are three options, either Silicone, Latex or Neoprene. Seals are best considered as consumables and are likley to require replacing during the life of the dry suit.
Latex Drysuit Seals
Latex Seals offer the most waterproof seal when compared to neoprene, especially for the neck. Latex seals are cheap and simple. If you know your size it's pretty easy to swap them over yourself. Latex seals are soft and give a reliable seal, they come in a few thicknesses, the thicker they are the tougher they are but thinner ones give a softer seal so you don't loose circulation.
Latex stretches over time so your neck and cuffs feel really tight when you first fit them, to the point of cutting off circulation, so you have to stretch them over a cylinder for a few hours so they're more comfortable. You can cut them down to make the seal larger but if you do it too early and they continue to stretch you'll end up with a loose seal that leaks.
Silicone Drysuit Seals
Silicone seals have all of the best features of latex with very few of the drawbacks. Silicone is thin and flexible so you can don and doff your suit more comfortably. It's hypoallergenic so people who suffer from latex allergies are fine to use silicone seals. Silicone is more flexible and stretchy than latex, but some find them to be more fragile than similar latex seals.
Because very little sticks to silicone once it's set you need to use a ring system around your wrists and neck. While they first looked uncomfortable, the rings are now comfortable and practical thanks to newer more flexible and ergonomic designs.
Silicone seals are sandwiched between a hard internal ring and a softer external ring glued to your drysuit so you can change broken seals in minutes not days. Carrying spare seals in your bag is easy and can save a dive even when you're off shore on a boat as you only need a simple tool to swap seals over.
More and more divers are using dryglove systems that fit almost any drysuit, which is an added benefit of rings. The design of some neck seals adds a bellow so you can move your head around without breaking the seal. Silicone can also come in a range of shapes and colours instead of standard black. Bright colours are a great way to personalise your suit and stand out of the crowd.
Neoprene Drysuit Seals
Neoprene seals are warmer to wear compared to latex seals and are sometimes considered more comfortable. They also have a tendancy to last longer. Neoprene is good at spreading the pressure over a wide area so you don't end up with Latex love bites, but getting the right size can be tricky.
Neoprene does stretch, but nowhere near as much as Latex or Silicone so they can be harder to put on and the glideskin sticks to your skin so you need to lubricate to get them on. The glideskin is great at sealing against your skin but is quite fragile so you have to be careful pulling it on or it can tear. Ripped neoprene cuffs can be easily fixed if the rip isn't too catastrophic.
Scuba Buying Guides
The right scuba equipment can make an incredible dive even better. Scuba diving equipment is evolving in ways that make diving safer, more comfortable and more enjoyable. But how do you ensure you're making the right choice? The following Buying Guides and Tips from The Scuba Doctor will certainly help:
- Top Recreational Scuba Gear
- Buying a Wetsuit or Drysuit
- Dive Hood Buying Guide
- Dive Gloves Buying Guide
- Scuba Fins Buying Guide
- Buying Dive Boots
- Buying the Best Dive Mask
- Buying a Snorkel
- Dive Light Buying Guide
- Buying a Dive Computer
- Dive Compass Buying Guide
- Buying a Scuba Cylinder
- Buying an Emergency Air Source
- Buying Dive Regulators
- Buying a Scuba Diving BCD
- Buying a Dive Knife
- Dive Reel Buying Guide
- Dive Bag Buying Guide
- Watertight Hard Cases Buying Guide
- Valentines Day Gifts for Scuba Divers
- Scuba Doctor Holiday Gift Guide 2019
- Must Have Tools for a Safe Dive
- Underwater Noisemaker Buying Guide
- Buying Scuba Diving Hoses
- Dive Weights Buying Guide
- Scuba Diving O-Rings
Dive Gear Features You Need to Know About Before You Buy
Not sure about the key features you need to know about, and what you can ignore when buying dive gear? Then we also have the following pages of to help you get to know what matters and what doesn't about the key features of dive gear.
- Mask Features
- Fixing Underwater Vision Problems
- Avoiding Mask Squeeze
- Snorkel Features
- Fin Features
- BCD Features
- Regulator Features
Fundamental Scuba Gear Buying Tips
Or you could start with these fundamental scuba gear buying tips from The Scuba Doctor.
Do Your Homework
There's no such thing as being too well informed. Ask questions of instructors, shop personnel and divers. At The Scuba Doctor, we welcome your calls or email seeking such information.
Consider the Source
Most divers have a favourite brand or product type. Ask why and see if their reasoning applies to you.
Determine Your True Needs
The most advanced gear in the world won't serve you well if it isn't matched to your needs. If your dive plans involve tropical vacations and relaxed tours of the reef, you don't need to spend extra for "expedition ready" equipment designed for polar exploration.
Invest for Expansion
Just as you don't want to buy gear that is overly complex for your needs, you don't want to limit yourself if your aspirations might expand. The Scuba Doctor is highly experienced in coming up with a gear configuration that enables you to reconfigure your scuba kit easily as your requirements change.
Go with a Name Brand
The big-name brands can be more expensive, but most devote significant resources to research, development and quality control. And it's nice to know the brand you invest in has been around, and will continue to be around. Then again, smaller or less well known brands are often more innovative. Thankfully, The Scuba Doctor can advise you as to which small and big brands deliver true value for money.
Consider Service
Even the best gear can fail without proper maintenance and service, which is a good argument for going with a brand represented by The Scuba Doctor, because we service what we sell.
Avoid Fads
Every year it seems someone unveils the next big thing in diving. Some of these innovations stick, but others fall by the wayside. If it's a brand-new design, complex, expensive or untested, you might want to steer clear.
Buy Local
Yes, it's possible to get some real bargains when you shop overseas, but often there is a hidden price to pay. When you buy products from The Scuba Doctor you know you have local access to the full manufacturer's warranty. You also know that The Scuba Doctor can handle the service and repair all of the equipment you buy from us. Plus when you visit our dive shop, you have cheap air fills available, plus the latest advise on where to dive and the camaraderie of fellow divers who gather there.
How do I know what the best gear is?
There is no best gear. But, there is the best gear for you. Scuba equipment comes in a wonderful variety that accommodates a broad range of needs, interests and sizes.
The dive professionals at The Scuba Doctor are trained to help you find dive gear that best matches your preferences, fit and budget. We can get you set with the right stuff, plus we provide service and support for years of enjoyable and dependable use.
The Scuba Doctor motto is:
"Buy your dive gear once. Let us help you make sure its right for your needs and budget, then use it for a lifetime."
![Halcyon Infinity 30lb System [SS Small Backplate]](/diveshop/images/halcyon/Halcyon-Evolve-Wing.jpg "Halcyon Infinity 30lb System [SS Small Backplate]")
