Advice on HOODS !

[Hi-Soft]

I'm looking at getting a hood to go with my 7mm wetsuit to dive the colder
water of Victoria, AUSTRALIA.

The thing is, I really don't like wearing hoods.....I hate chocking
feeling,and limiting flexability...like probably most people do...

So I'm looking at one that doesn't have a long neck / shoulder seal
section.....so more like the "dry suit" type...shorter...so I can maybe wear
it over the neck of my wetsuit...is that possible ???

Can I use an actual "dry suit" hood with a conventional wetsuit, or will it
no work properly or something ??

I'm also thinking...I will only go as thick as 5mm max...for the above
reason..(chocking feeling etc. )...

Any advide appreciated...

bc

[Don Gingrich]

Post by Hi-Soft
I'm looking at getting a hood to go with my 7mm wetsuit to dive the
colder water of Victoria, AUSTRALIA.
The thing is, I really don't like wearing hoods.....I hate chocking
feeling,and limiting flexability...like probably most people do...

If it's properly fitted there's not much of a problem
with this. I'm also from Melbourne, and I've always
used a hood with my wetsuit. It makes sense since a
large part of the heat loss is through the head.

Post by Hi-Soft
So I'm looking at one that doesn't have a long neck / shoulder seal
section.....so more like the "dry suit" type...shorter...so I can
maybe wear it over the neck of my wetsuit...is that possible ???

You can wear what you like-- there are no
"SCUBA Fashion Police" out there to check on
you. The biggest problem with shorter hoods is
the leaks at the back of the neck as you move
your head.

Post by Hi-Soft
Can I use an actual "dry suit" hood with a conventional wetsuit, or
will it no work properly or something ??

The shorter hoods are OK, but the cold water down the back
of your neck can be annoying.

Post by Hi-Soft
I'm also thinking...I will only go as thick as 5mm max...for the
above reason..(chocking feeling etc. )...

I've never seen a 7mm hood, in any case.


-Don

[Hi-Soft]

Post by Don Gingrich
You can wear what you like-- there are no
"SCUBA Fashion Police" out there to check on
you. The biggest problem with shorter hoods is
the leaks at the back of the neck as you move
your head.

Post by Hi-Soft
Can I use an actual "dry suit" hood with a conventional wetsuit, or
will it no work properly or something ??

The shorter hoods are OK, but the cold water down the back
of your neck can be annoying.

Post by Hi-Soft
I'm also thinking...I will only go as thick as 5mm max...for the
above reason..(chocking feeling etc. )...

I've never seen a 7mm hood, in any case.
-Don

Yeah the wetsuit I'm getting is a semi dry type ( Pinnacle 7mm ) and has
seals on the ankles, wrists and neck...so was thinking if i wear the hood
inside...may not even seal as well as the sea from the suit on my neck (
skin to seal )..so thinking worn outside may still be alright, plus give me
more neck freedom... sound logical ?

bc

[Anonymous Loser]

I have a standard type hood, and it seals fairly well with my
paragon/pinnacle 'Arctic' suit.

When I first got this suit, I did a couple of dives with my old hood which
has a wrap around neck with velcro. The old hood worked great over the top
of an old front-entry semidry (great neck seal), but with the rear vertical
zip on the paragon suit it let a lot of water flow through. The full length
pull on hood works much better.

As for the choking feeling, all I can suggest is thin rubber, maybe trimming
the hood down a bit (particularly under the chin?) Or just getting used to
it... I'm a Melbourne diver, and dive all year round, so can assure you a
hood is certainly desirable.

Cheers,

Mick G

Post by Hi-Soft
I'm looking at getting a hood to go with my 7mm wetsuit to dive the colder
water of Victoria, AUSTRALIA.
The thing is, I really don't like wearing hoods.....I hate chocking
feeling,and limiting flexability...like probably most people do...
So I'm looking at one that doesn't have a long neck / shoulder seal
section.....so more like the "dry suit" type...shorter...so I can maybe wear
it over the neck of my wetsuit...is that possible ???
Can I use an actual "dry suit" hood with a conventional wetsuit, or will it
no work properly or something ??
I'm also thinking...I will only go as thick as 5mm max...for the above
reason..(chocking feeling etc. )...
Any advide appreciated...
bc

[Hi-Soft]

Post by Anonymous Loser
I have a standard type hood, and it seals fairly well with my
paragon/pinnacle 'Arctic' suit.
When I first got this suit, I did a couple of dives with my old hood which
has a wrap around neck with velcro. The old hood worked great over the top
of an old front-entry semidry (great neck seal), but with the rear vertical
zip on the paragon suit it let a lot of water flow through. The full length
pull on hood works much better.
As for the choking feeling, all I can suggest is thin rubber, maybe trimming
the hood down a bit (particularly under the chin?) Or just getting used to
it... I'm a Melbourne diver, and dive all year round, so can assure you a
hood is certainly desirable.
Cheers,
Mick G

Thanks for that Mick, certainly helps that you have a similar suit to which
I'll have too...

On another note, you were saying you dive all year round...and I haven't
dived in Vic since my OW cert early this year.... went staight to Thailand
and got spoilt in 30degrees water... anyway, just trying to acertain if I
will survive the Melb water over the next few months with my 7mm Elstiprene,
hood, boots, gloves etc... ??

I think when I last dove Melb, the water was 19 degrees... not sure what to
expect at this time of the year... I'll probably just try a shore dive at
Portsea... to test the water ( so to speak), and my new gear too..

bc

[Pat]

Post by Hi-Soft
I'm looking at getting a hood to go with my 7mm wetsuit to dive the colder
water of Victoria, AUSTRALIA.
The thing is, I really don't like wearing hoods.....I hate chocking
feeling,and limiting flexability...like probably most people do...
So I'm looking at one that doesn't have a long neck / shoulder seal
section.....so more like the "dry suit" type...shorter...so I can maybe
wear it over the neck of my wetsuit...is that possible ???
Can I use an actual "dry suit" hood with a conventional wetsuit, or will
it no work properly or something ??
I'm also thinking...I will only go as thick as 5mm max...for the above
reason..(chocking feeling etc. )...
Any advide appreciated...
bc

I have quite a thick neck and also hate the feeling of the neck section of
hoods. What I did is got one (they are pretty cheap) and stretched out the
neck section with a piece of wood over a period of time so that it is quite
loose around the neck section only. Works well for me.

Cheers
Pat