I have been freezing in my current wetsuit lately. I think it has done the opposite to most wetsuits and stretched with time. So its time for a new one.

I am after a good quality wetsuit suited to north island diving. No I am not getting a drysuit (not yet anyway). At this stage my preference is to have an unhooded suit - then I can be comfortable and only add the hood when absolutely necessary.

Does anyone have any recommendations for wetsuits?

I have heard good things about seaquel wetsuits - and their prices seem pretty good too. $551 for their semi-dry, with the elbow and knee pads added, and pocket. Or $671 made to measure (should be able to get it in something other than hide in the dark black too ). Only problem with them is they aren't open on weekends anymore (till next summer I presume), so I would have to a Friday off work to drive up and visit them.

I have been looking at the pinnacle/trident ones too, but their best suits (better seals etc) all have merino lining, which sounds like it would be a PITA to dry (and I doubt it increases warmth). And they are $800.

Or the Mares Isotherm sounds warm too, with nice seals. I think it sells for $700.

I have heard good things about prodive wetsuits in the past - but are they still making them? I think they might have closed down - or maybe just relocated manufacturing to china.

Other brands I have been looking at are Neptune, and Cressi. Anyone own these?

Any feedback on any of these suits (or others not mentioned) would be much appreciated.

(also posted on the other forum too)

Just get a dry suit.

X2

I have an isotherm and have been real happy with it. Mine has done about 70 dives and is still in good shape, but after just getting home from 2 x 50 minute night dives I am so glad I got a dry suit.

A good fitting cheap drysuit will probably cost you little more than a good wetsuit. But it's waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better.
Being cold during a dive really takes the fun out of it.

I love my trident, its really warm and I do believe the Merino lining helps in warmth.

My wetsuit takes about a day to dry hanging up, half a day inside out, and half a day the right way out.... It'll be dry the night after the day befores diving... But I have heard people complain about Merino and drytimes...

by little more do you mean twice the price? Cheapest I've seen are about $1600

Maybe. But they will last a lot longer too.

Good point about the durability packie, but at the moment I've got a few big expenses coming up so the dry suit will have to wait at least a year.

My current wetsuit is still cold in 20 degree water, so I would still need a new wetsuit anyway (wouldn't want to be one of those divers who always dive dry).

True. I have 2 drysuits and a wetsuit. I did my first dry dive last weekend after summer. I love my wetsuit. But I love being dry in the colder months. Keep an eye out for a second hand oner on TM. They go really cheap but allow a little extra for boots and seals.

so what's the second dry suit for packie? I think you might be taking this redundancy thing a bit far

I brought my first ( moray ) at a great price but I really wanted an Otter ( or similar membrane front entry suit).
I got made an offer I couldnt turn down.
Both have advantages.
I actuly prefer the Moray ( for fit) but wish it was front entry and had pockets.

GN, PH's Moray is the same model as my neoprene drysuit.
I bought mine on TM for $300 or so and then spent another $300 to replace seals.

GN - I've got an old drysuit in need of new seals. It was fully waterproof when I last used it. It's had, ahem, a bit of an interesting paint job,, - you can have it for zip if you'd like.

Now that's a price I like! But I'm sure I could find you a box of beer. I will PM you more about it.

But I am still in need of a wetsuit though. Tried on a couple of pinnacle/trident ones today. One was the zipless stealth - holy shit that thing is hard to get on, and even harder to get off. Definitely not the way to go. And the bastard was too big after all that.