Neoprene Drysuit VS Trilaminate Drysuit | VS Monday

Dorota is back once again with a new instalment of VS Monday. On this episode, Dorota will be looking at the various different materials used in Dry Suits, which material GUE favour, and why!
JUMP TO A CHAPTER:
0:00 Intro
0:58 Different Dry Suit Materials
1:46 Neoprene Drysuits
4:08 "Crushed" Neoprene Dry Suits
6:15 Trilaminate Drysuits
10:20 Issues with Neoprene Drysuits
17:18 Summary
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VIDEO CREDITS:
On screen: Dorota Czerny
Post Production by Nico Lurot
Music by DJ Williams Titled "awaken together" on KZbin audio library
#ScubaDiving #DrySuitMaterial #DrySuit

[@M.M.M.M.M890]

Great explanation and useful overview for someone considering to buy a first drysuit.

[@CODivingAcademy]

What about the extra ballast you need, to off set the buoyancy of your undergarment, when diving in a trilam suit? The undergarment I use with my trilam suite, is way more buoyant than my 4mm neoprene drysuit (+undergarment). It is impossible to completely vent the trilam suit on the surface, because the undergarment hold a lot of air by default. I use significantly more ballast when diving with my trilam as opposed to my neoprene, because the need to offset the positive buoyancy characteristics of my undergarment. (same with neoprene, it’s weight I don’t need at depth but only on the surface to help me sink). I own a dive shop and I dove over the years, with probably any kind of suit you can use. I never heard about the “main reason” you mentioned. And if you must, you can also add air into your suit in a case of a wing failure to help you reach the surface and assist with buoyancy. You are making it sound like you’ll drown if you’ll be in a neoprene suit and your bcd fails. And it doesn’t sound to me like you truly understand the advantages and disadvantages of the different choices. What if your wing fails when you dive in your trilam suit? It is no different. No matter what, if your wing fails, you either add more air to your suit and/or will probably need to ditch some weight in order to make it back to the surface, unless you can fin your way up without needing to do all the above. After diving hundreds of dives in both types of suits, I must say that your logic doesn’t make sense to me at all. I dive my trilam suit when I travel, only if I dive in low to high 60’sF to mid 70’s (because it’s lighter). If it’s colder, then the amount of undergarment that I will need to pack with my trilam, will be a wash in compare to a neoprene suit. I also like to dive it in the winter, because the undergarment is warmer and can be worn when I am not in the suit, so I am also protected from air temperatures as well. The neoprene drysuit is more form fitting, because you don’t need as much access material to built it, because you don’t need as heavy undergarment to stay warm. A good neoprene drysuit, will always be more comfortable because of that, and the learning curve in a neoprene suit is much steeper, because it’s more form fitting and feels closer to a wetsuit than the trilam is. I dive my neoprene drysuit in the summer (it requires a lot less undergarment to stay warm, which is nice between dives and when not in the suit when the air is warm. I also need a lot less ballast to sink, which is always nice. It will also be my choice when traveling to colder temperatures, because it’ll be lighter to pack overall. I am privileged to be able to dive both kind of suits all the time. However, if I had to choose one, I’d have to think about it more, to weigh the advantages and disadvantages for my specific needs. One thing for sure, the main “concern” you expressed at the end of this this video, won’t even be on the list of my concerns when making my choice. I don’t mean to sound bashing, the video is well produced. What rubbed me the wrong way, is that you presented the main concern, as something that you should be concerned about, and really you shouldn’t. If someone who doesn’t know about drysuit, looking to get educated, and pick up on that last thing you said (the last thing is alway the thing that you remember), then they might end up with the wrong suit for their needs.

[@scubadiverhaley]

Thank you. That was a great explanation!

[@saraha3958]

I think the safety aspect is a excellent point. I use a trilaminate drysuit. I caught my lower dump valve cord of my wing on a seat on the boat as I was getting in. (I’m not the most nimble as I’m getting older). It pulled the cord off and must have loosened this lower dump valve. 30 minutes into the dive inside a cave I tried to put air into my wing as I was sinking and nothing happened. The low inflator was connected. I felt around for the lower dump valve and no cover just a big hole!!! . The wing was therefore useless but a puff into the drysuit and back to neutral buoyancy. Good having that drysuit buoyancy back up

[@PanamaDiveAdventure]

Dorota, very good video. Tks!!!

[@priscalim499]

would love to hear your opinion on plastic vs metal zips and latex vs silicone seals!

[@fabianbuckreus185]

The myth that a trilaminate suit is light and a crushed neopren is heavy is just not true. Just compare the Scubapro Everdry 4 (crushed neopren) and the Waterproof D7 Iss Pro (trilaminate). I own both and the Scubapro is WAY WAY WAY lighter than the Waterproof. And because the scubapro has not rings for the neck and the cuff seals, it's way easier to reach your valve with that suit. Also I need 2 KG less with the crushed neopren drysuit.

[@dorotaczerny6811]

Hey Fabian, thanks for your reply. Yes, you are correct that a trilaminate will be always lighter - if it is a Cordura based one, it will be very heavy indeed. And the weight of the drysuit depends a lot on all of the additional things like - type of boots, the material that the pockets are done from, the amount of padding (like knee pads). So agreed here - but if chosen well, a trilaminate suit (with layers of nylon), with lightweight boots, plastic zipper, lightweight pockets and no additional pads will be really light compared to any neoprene (crushed, compressed or standards one). For me, the lightest, for now, were DUI TLS 350 and SANTI E-Light suits, but there are many more in the market and definitely, I do not know them all :))))))

[@timothybluett7845]

I agree with you as well Fabian I have the everdry 4 from scuba pro , I can move freely its not that heavy and its tough for the wrecks and rocky shore entry's here in New Zealand south island .keeps me nice and warm as well in 10 degree water

[@lydialeigh4]

Excellent breakdown of the pros and cons of both materials! I am ready to purchase a drysuit soon and this video helped me take other things into consideration when making this decision. Thank you!

[@GUEdivers]

Fantastic! Great to hear that this info has been practically helpful to you!!

[@cziasai]

Many thanks for this. Really awesome information.

[@seikibrian8641]

This video has given me something to think about that I never considered before. If I'm diving in a thick neoprene wetsuit and need a lot of weight to get below the surface, and then that neoprene compresses a depth, and THEN my BCD fails...I may not be able to ascend. The natural solution would be to drop the weights. But then, as I ascend, the neoprene will begin to expand...and now, without those weights, I may find myself in an uncontrolled ascent. This seems like a VERY good reason to have a dry suit: you have a backup BCD in case the primary fails. You can add air at depth to allow a normal ascent, and then as the pressure decreases you can vent air to prevent an excessive ascent rate.

[@wallybrown9509]

You make some great points. Thank. you

[@bergeracvandamme]

Great explanation. This has helped me a lot.

[@gray_wolverine63]

Thank you 😊

[@Superlukjan]

Dziekuje !

[@DiSil]

very nice video i agree to everything, i use the Bare SENTRY hyper compressed neoprene 2mm dry suit and it comports perfect in buoyancy, almost like a trilaminate , less undergarment more durable and more thermal protection , Thank you

[@davidressler9316]

A very good video. I am going now to get a Tri laminate dry suit not mention ditching weights then can result in an uncontrollable ascent to the surface

[@NetGateway]

I appreciate all your opinions and thoughts but I’m not totally in line in this topic, I own both an Aqualung Neoprene crushed 4mm and a Ursuit trilaminated and as water in lakes here it’s around 9/10°c I’ll use way more undergarment with a Trilaminated and by that fact it’s basically the same buoyancy as the neoprene suite. Cause In the End Volume/density it’s what counts so it’s terms off failure they will be both quite identical. So this time I can’t really count this as real advantage.

[@andreykarayvansky9549]

If your wing fails, you still have your drysuit to be inflated. Or I don't understand something? I have a trilam drysuit, and I'm always cold after 30-25 mins :( I tried 7mm neoprene, and it felt way warmer. Though keeping the proper buoyancy in neoprene requires much more attention compared to a trilam. I've never tried compressed neoprene. I'm curious if it's also much warmer than a trilam and if it's more or less flexible than a trilam drysuit.

[@ericwagner3223]

How about rubber suits? (Viking)

[@BurhanMuntasser]

If I show up for a GUE course with a cf200 or an O3 compressed neoprene suit, will they be acceptable from a GUE point of view without any objections from the GUE instructor?

[@didierplouhinec4899]

A very clever explanation. What do you think of divers who use only a neoprene drysuit and no other buoyancy items like a Fenzy, a stabilisation jacket or a wing? they often dive on shipwrecks and I imagine how dramatic a simple tear could be. it would be interesting to tell you more about by email. In my opinion this is playing the russian roulette at each dive.

[@aevans692]

this isn't entirely correct . I dive in the uk mainly with a crushed neoprene dry suit I dive a balanced rig and can swim up from depth. With my side mount configuration Im carrying 4.5 kg of weight , with my back mount configuration I'm carrying 7.5 kg of weight , able to maintain a stop at 5m with empty wing and near empty cylinders .. With my dry suit Im able to wear less underneath, with a Trilam, thicker and bulkier under suites are needed to provide the same level of thermal protection, these suits can add a fair bit of buoyancy to a diver .. which in the end works out to be very little difference .. ( thick under suit from a big brand I have to add 2kg to offset its buoyancy, now add addition layers = more lead .. ) with the crushed neoprene suit if at any stage it becomes compromised, the suit retains a good amount of thermal protection, but a failed tri-lam suit offers nothing,.. with that in mind, add a decompression stop , safety stop with next to no thermal protection in cold water .. I know which suit I would rather have ... For me, im about redundancy , I dive the neoprene suit because its tougher, maintains a good amount of thermal protection if damaged, which will allow me to make a safe ascent and deco stops in cold water .. the down side to the suit is its a bit restrictive in movement , but a small compromise .. For warmer water diving where less under suits are needed then the Tri-lam comes in to its own, its probably the better option .. good vid tho ..

[@Litehamer]

Hi . I’m a new diver (30 dives new) and only dived in the Caribbean with the Mrs . Now I have the bug and am hoping to dive at home in the U.K. . I’m looking at dry suits and really struggle to figure out which material type but was leaning towards crushed neoprene for thermal properties and general hard wearing . If I dive overseas I plan to make it rash next and shorts weather . So thanks sorry the comment I think you’ve helped me choose

[@aevans692]

@@Litehamer I think a crushed neoprene suit would be a good choice, for diving in the sea in winter you would only need a minimal under suit , if your diving in land ( fresh ) the temp doesn't get much above 7 degrees all year and as low as 4-5 in the winter so a reasonable under suit will still be needed .. But as I said above for cold water diving this is the suit of my choice , hard going, and retains thermal protection even if damaged ..

[@Biriadan]

GUE/DIR is the most closed minded diving philosphy on the planet. They essentially took gear that worked for them in north florida caves and declared that they're the best possible configuration for diving anywhere in the world. Among their more controversial opinions were historic resistance to use of diving computers and side mount, instead arguing that backmount is better in nearly every situation and that computers are "too expensive" and risk of failure underwater is too high, instead using a voodoo decompression method called ratio decompression, that produced schedules with unknown levels of conservatism for the diver. They also strongly oppose the use of helmets in caves and self reliance, since every cave must be like florida with great visibility to see your buddies and no chance of hitting your head. The risk of a buddy behind you getting entangled in the guide line, cutting it and stranding you is an accepted risk for them. Some of their founders like George Irvine 3 were banned from multiple tech diving agencies after repeatedly insulting divers after accidents and deaths. These guys are just trolls, and GUE itself is basically just a marketing campaign for Halcyon. Make gear that's slightly different from everyone else and then teach divers a class that everything that's not halcyon is unsafe.

[@deepdivegooddive]

Waow, dive is fun ...no ?

[@Sakul1321]

Executive: How many watches do you need? Dorota Czerny: Yes

[@dorotaczerny7496]

huehuehue... it is one watch and one fitness strap (which I am experimenting with) :))))

[@lil_cheese_xdlil_cheese_xd2287]

Dawg I'm not gonna dive a drysuit for a 30 foot reef in Hawaii.