Wet-suit Dreams and other things

[Nemrod]

Please, no reference to the previous wetsuit threads. This thread is for serious discussion of domestic or foreign legitimate manufactuers of vintage styled suits--real scuba diving suits that are suit-able (lol) for vintage diving.

The main two potential sources I have are:

Wetwear in Florida. Their calling card is that they have been doing suits for a long time, they use genuine Rubatex G231 (the very best there is for real divers) and they can supply custom made a vintage type suit. They prefer to work with a nylon two side material for durability since they have a warranty.

Terrapin in Texas, I have bought from them before, also successful for many years. Custom only and a bit more pricey. She uses only Yamamoto neoprenes and some Shien blended cheaper stuff. She can do skin out and may be willing to discuss ordering special texture out Yamamota skin out neoprenes. She also has made beaver tail suits. Terrapin will work with individuals only, no group deals I don't think.

Both of these would be sewn suits and then double glued and reinforced. They both will do either raw edges or finished though again for professional reasons they prefer finished edges.

Historical fact, in the late 70s and 80s most domestic quality manufactuers went away supplanted by all of the foreign sourced and slave labor made asian products we see on the LDS suit racks. Cheap blended neoprenes that compress and flatten out--sometimes forever--after a deep dive or two.

OK, please feel free to comment and add your sources or ideas. No, Luis's charturse neon trimmed suit is not --uh---never mind .

Nem

[luis]

No, Luis's charturse neon trimmed suit is not --uh---never mind .

Nem

You are picking on me because my drysuit hood has a yellow stripe …my drysuit is black…and at least I am diving.

Actually I wish I had one inch wide yellow stripes like Cousteau suits. I like the visibility and I think they are a classic look.

[kgehring]

http://www.diveskin.net/
Have not tried them but looks like they will do custom suits.

[JES]

Don't forget Allan's vintage style wetsuit which is made by Elios Sub

[Nemrod]

Yes, thank you Luis, Joe and Karl, that is what I was hoping to do is to collect a list of wetsuit makers who will make or supply vintage styled beaver tail two piece suits like we all know and love to the community.

Nem

[Mudhog]

Good to know there are still some made to measure shops out there, will need a hood some day and nothing off the shelf works with my 19 inch neck.

[Douchebag]

Around here there's Otter Bay: http://otterbaysuits.com/

They do great work. This is the home of the 12mil drysuit hood. Keeps things nice and toasty. And custom fit too. But then again, why would you dive wet when there are perfectly good drysuits for sub-50 degree water?

[Nemrod]

Drysuits are not vintage and 50 degree water does not work well for some of us vintage (old) divers. But thank you for the link, I wonder if they can do vintage style suits, they seem to be a solid company? I was thinking to make a list of "VINTAGE" style wetsuit suppliers. There are a plethora of places to buy the typical modern wetsuits and drysuits but very few who can make the smooth skin or textured suits or nylon II and with a beaver tail and proper arm and leg zippers. Thanks for the link, I wil give them a call and see what they say about vintage suits.

I have already settled on a new supplier and made an order, this list if for you guys, not me in particular. For future reference when that old used ebay purchase does not fit around that growing middle section etc.

Like these:










Never mindthat mask ,if Luis can have green weights I can have a stupid modern mask, at least it is on my forehead jauntily placed.

Nem

[capn_tucker]

http://www.diveskin.net/
Have not tried them but looks like they will do custom suits.

These guys can do custom smoothskin suits, BUT they cannot do arm/leg zips and beavertails. I looked into this while trying to find a source for a vintage suit.
Harveys will still do two piece suits with zippers, but only in modern 2-sided nylon/neoprene, and the beavertail fastens with velcro. This was my first attempt at having a vintage suit. It's not a bad suit, just not smoothskin..

[luis]

Drysuits are not vintage and 50 degree water does not work well for some of us vintage (old) divers.


Never mindthat mask ,if Luis can have green weights I can have a stupid modern mask, at least it is on my forehead jauntily placed.

Nem

I was just going to say…you make comments of my weights and here you are with that mask…yeee…I don’t know.


Also I am not sure about the comment: “Drysuits are not vintage”. The neoprene drysuit, Unisuit has been around since the 60’s. I have a book about cold water diving and ice diving with lots of pictures of divers in Unisuit with double hose regulators, mostly Royal Aqua Master.

I actually own a crotch entry vintage Unisuit that I haven’t had a chance to use yet. I am having new boots installed on it. It is going to be interesting diving it.

[ivan's mermaid]

Rob & I just placed an order with Spiros at "diveskin.net"
He was very quick in his reply to our questions.
He has a very nice easy to follow "custom measurement chart" on his site.
He says he will make me a slick skin on the outside, beavertail, farmer jane suit, with a detachable hood, with zippers at the anckles and wrists.
We even sent him a photo of Allan in his sharp looking Eliossub vintage suit, and Spiros at Diveskin.net, said it would not be a problem to make a suit just like Allan's with no logos.

We placed the order, and paid via Paypal. $291.00 which included shipping, total.
Spiros indicated that the suit will be finished 4 days after they received the payment, and we can expect delivery within 2 - 3 weeks from then.. We'll keep you posted and send pictures when we receive it.
I'm hoping to look nice in my vintage suit, perhaps I'll look good enough to be a great aunt, to our newest 2008 VDH friends.

[JES]

Rob & I just placed an order with Spiros at "diveskin.net"
He was very quick in his reply to our questions.
He has a very nice easy to follow "custom measurement chart" on his site.
He says he will make me a slick skin on the outside, beavertail, farmer jane suit, with a detachable hood, with zippers at the anckles and wrists.
We even sent him a photo of Allan in his sharp looking Eliossub vintage suit, and Spiros at Diveskin.net, said it would not be a problem to make a suit just like Allan's with no logos.

We placed the order, and paid via Paypal. $291.00 which included shipping, total.
Spiros indicated that the suit will be finished 4 days after they received the payment, and we can expect delivery within 2 - 3 weeks from then.. We'll keep you posted and send pictures when we receive it.
I'm hoping to look nice in my vintage suit, perhaps I'll look good enough to be a great aunt, to our newest 2008 VDH friends.

Barb,

That sounds like a good deal.

What specific wetsuit are you having them custom make for you?

BTW, You could pass as the step-sister in my book to our newest 2008 VDH friends.

[capn_tucker]

Rob & I just placed an order with Spiros at "diveskin.net"
He was very quick in his reply to our questions.
He has a very nice easy to follow "custom measurement chart" on his site.
He says he will make me a slick skin on the outside, beavertail, farmer jane suit, with a detachable hood, with zippers at the anckles and wrists.
We even sent him a photo of Allan in his sharp looking Eliossub vintage suit, and Spiros at Diveskin.net, said it would not be a problem to make a suit just like Allan's with no logos.

We placed the order, and paid via Paypal. $291.00 which included shipping, total.
Spiros indicated that the suit will be finished 4 days after they received the payment, and we can expect delivery within 2 - 3 weeks from then.. We'll keep you posted and send pictures when we receive it.
I'm hoping to look nice in my vintage suit, perhaps I'll look good enough to be a great aunt, to our newest 2008 VDH friends.

Huh, he must have decided to make vintage suits after all. When I contacted him he said he couldn't do that kind of suit. Good to know..

[Poogweese]

Also I am not sure about the comment: “Drysuits are not vintage”. The neoprene drysuit, Unisuit has been around since the 60’s. I have a book about cold water diving and ice diving with lots of pictures of divers in Unisuit with double hose regulators, mostly Royal Aqua Master.

I actually own a crotch entry vintage Unisuit that I haven’t had a chance to use yet. I am having new boots installed on it. It is going to be interesting diving it.[/quote]

It's a pretty unique suit-I have used one before and they're pretty comfortable. The only drawback for me was the extra weight I needed as compared to the bag suit (Viking) that I use now. Luis, do you have to use extra weight with your uni? Uni has been around since the 50's according to this web page:
http://www.scubacenter.com/scubacenter_ ... ive_HB.htm

Poog

[Bryan]

Never mindthat mask ,if Luis can have green weights I can have a stupid modern mask, at least it is on my forehead jauntily placed.
Nem

James you are one of my favorite people but take away the suit and you kinda look like a modern diver "Im Just Sayin"

Are you getting ready to dive the Pike at TR in that photo?