surfing vs diving wetsuits

[Doghouse]

Ok, what is the major differences. From what I can see the diving ones have wear pads on the shoulders and less protection across the back for water.

I was a able to pick up a great 3/2 surfing wetsuit for 29.99 at a local discount store. Heck at that price who cares if it says O'Neill or scubapro.

Just thinking before I get a 5 mil...

[nferra2]

I am trying to figure out the difference between some non-scuba branded products and there scubab branded counterparts. For expample Oceanic has a Split fin using the "Natures Wing" patent and US Divers has a Split Fin using the "Natures Wing" patent. They both look very simular to each other except for the price. The Oceanic Retails for over $100 and the US divers version is under $50.

[TxHockeyGuy]

I have heard, but do not know this for myself, that surfing wetsuits are not made of the same quality neoprene and as such they will not survive as many dives before the neoprene starts to compress. This means they stop providing as much thermal protection as diving wetsuits quicker, note this same thing will eventually happen to diving wetsuits too.

[nferra2]

I think scuba divers have more money than surfers, so scuba companies can market a very simular product as a surf company at a much higher retail and still sell it very well. It is always easy to say "It is cheap for a reason" Well maybe that reason is it has a slim profit margin.

[Bigg_Budd]

Originally Posted by nferra2

I think scuba divers have more money than surfers, so scuba companies can market a very simular product as a surf company at a much higher retail and still sell it very well. It is always easy to say "It is cheap for a reason" Well maybe that reason is it has a slim profit margin.

Awesome man.

[ScubaToys Larry]

There is a difference in the neoprenes. Mainly on the amount of compression that will happen at depth, and how well they rebound. I've had manufacturers bring in the different neoprenes they use for their surf vs dive suits, and you can tell when you examine them closely. But if you have a surf suit and want to use it... it should not be a problem, just not as warm due to the compression.

[cummings66]

Depending on brand they can be kind of low quality. Bass Pro used to see a cheap wetsuit for skiing and it was pretty easily damaged compared to a scuba wetsuit.

[namabiru]

Now, forgive me if I'm wrong, but I've also heard that stitching can be of different quality on a surfing suit vs. scuba suit. Which I suppose comes back to that old economical issue--something that is cheap is often cheaply made.

But for $30, you can wear that 3/2 under another suit for warmth (the 5 mil you want to buy eventually) if you do any cold water diving.

[yankeefan21]

Originally Posted by nferra2

I am trying to figure out the difference between some non-scuba branded products and there scubab branded counterparts. For expample Oceanic has a Split fin using the "Natures Wing" patent and US Divers has a Split Fin using the "Natures Wing" patent. They both look very simular to each other except for the price. The Oceanic Retails for over $100 and the US divers version is under $50.

Make sure you feel them and don't just look at them on the internet. I know a lot of the US Divers stuff is really designed for snorkeling. As such, they are WAY more flexible.

I got a pair of the US Divers split fins for snorkeling and thought they were the greatest things ever [I get calf cramps from my aqualungs after a while]. I was zooming around all day without a care in the world and no cramps at all. So, I decided to try them on a dive? TERRIBLE! They were too soft and weren't able to propell all that extra weight. They were fine once you got up to speed but were complete garbage from a stop.

[namabiru]

Heh. Kind of a hijack, but I started out using Body Glove snorkeling fins until I could afford new fins. Man, I should have kept those mothers to put on my wall. They were really bent out of shape and all scratched up and such. Definitely not so good for scuba. They got unceremoniously retired when I moved in May. I think I threw them in the Goodwill pile, then got embarrassed and transferred them to the disposal pile. Can't remember.