| John Smythe |
| Written by John Smythe | |
| Tuesday, 05 February 2002 | |
Field ReportFor a full year of commercial abalone diving in Australian southern waters I have worn a 1mm XXX steamer under a Neptune commercial 7mm wetsuit, ie; long john and coat with hood. Typically I dive all months of the year for a total of 60 days to catch my quota. I average 4 hours per day, sometimes getting out for a break, or to move to another area, and often I just swim for 4 to 5 hours.  Depths are generally above 10 metres with occasional excursions out to 15 metres.Water temperatures varied from a minimum of 12c to 18c. After 25 plus years of diving these waters I have never been able to get through the winter months wearing only a 7mm suit. From June through to October I used always a full 10mm suit and also wore a 2mm undersuit to keep warm. The disadvantage of all this rubber was I had to greatly increase the weights in my back harness. And this meant far less mobility and increased weight on my back. Long term back problems from weights have forced divers out of the industry. It is also worth noting that the 7mm suit I have been using was already one year old and showing signs of "collapse." At this stage I find the suits most comfortable and extremely comfortable in warmer water but I used to dread colder water and the move up from an old 7mm to a 10mm suit. Enter XXX Titanium /Heatwave Wetsuits Don provided me with a 1mm steamer and a 3mm steamer. I wore the 1mm all year from February when an upwelling of cold southern water had the water temp down to 14c. I worked comfortably at all depths and with minimum weights and with wetsuit flaps secured. As the water temp rose again through March/April I simply undid flaps and in the shallows actually got quite hot to the point I would often pull back the hood. As temps again cooled with the onset of winter it became unnecessary to wear more "rubber" and of course heavier weights. 2001 was the first time in my diving career, I began in 1975, that I was able to get through the winter without the extra weight burden. I worked freely throughout winter much as I do in a normal summer and subsequently suffered no back pain after work or cold numb fingers during work. I was always comfortable enough not to wear the 3mm XXX and I have saved this for the upcoming winter when I intend buying for the first time in my life, a full 5mm dive suit to wear in conjunction with the 3mm XXX. This will mean even less weight and I am looking forward to conducting this "experiment" although I can already predict the results. As for the 1mm suit it has remained in good condition despite pulling it on and off more than 60 times and more that 300 hours under water. There are no signs of wear and tear and it slips on comfortable without the aid of a plastic bag on the feet. All I have done to maintain the suit is wash after use in warm soapy water. Despite not having foot loops the suit does not creep up. (I have worn inner suits with footloops before and they creep up forcing the "loop" to cut into the bottom of the foot, which is most uncomfortable.) Don also gave me a XXX 1mm vest, which I passed on to another diver who wears Picasso Wetsuits. Picasso is renowned for warmth, as they are very close fitting requiring lubrication to get on and hence generally unsuitable for use with under suits. Nevertheless the XXX vest fitted like a glove under the Picasso and provided the extra warmth for the winter months and hence another warm and happy diver. As the 2002 diving year begins I will continue the 7mm Neptune/ 1mmXXX combo until the temps begin to fall. Then I will try the 3mm XXX with a 5mm Neptune for the winter and you'll be able to hear the whistling on sonar as I work away happy, light and warm in the southern ocean. John Smythe |
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