@@scubacro5758 Haha I do like the cold but honestly my wife also finds them very comfortable. I’d say a lot of people in Northern California dive with semi-drys and the water is often under 55. We also dive in Puget Sound a lot which is high 40s. While dry suits are definitely more common in the sound, I’ve definitely seen a few semi-drys.
Been diving in one of these for 3 years now, UK diving all year round, never had a problem with the cold. As mentioned really needs a D ring/attachment point in the pocket.
Still don’t see why they can’t use drysuit style seals and avoid all the bulk and expense of a full blown drysuit. If suit squeeze is an issue, just add inflate and deflate valves like on a drysuit. Use attached booties and you’ve got an inexpensive, low cost, low bulk “drysuit”.
Low-end neoprene drysuits already exist. Scubapro makes the Scubapro Everdry for example. The zip and the seams on a semidry are not as watertight as a proper drysuit so it's not really the same as a drysuit even though it seems close. When you add up that cost of all the extras you'd need you end up with a low-end neoprene drysuit. Semidry are good for those who don't want to deal with drysuits. Drysuits scare a lot of people because you do have to be careful of your buoyancy.
I have a question for you. I own a semi-dry suit. Now, I am going to the Azores where the temperature is quite cold. I want to ask if it makes sense to wear a 1 mm wetsuit under the semi-dry suit to keep myself warmer. Normally, I dive in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, so 24 degrees Celsius is already cold water for me! Thanks.
I need to take you diving here in the UK to experience cold water. A thin suit under your existing suit should be alright, it depends how tight your semi-dry already is though. The extra suit will add extra insulation to keep you warm but, it will make you more buoyant and reduce flexibility. If you put it on and it feels tight across your chest or restricts your movement, then I'd avoid using it. You'll be surprised how much a bulky suit can tire you out and you don't want to be exhausted in the water. Try it on now before the dive and see how it feels, if it feels too restrictive then it may be time to look at a drysuit course.
