Which drysuit seal should I choose?

Which seal should I choose for my drysuit?

There are three types of drysuit seals: neoprene, latex and silicone.

Neoprene or latex seal

Neoprene seals insulate better and are often less tight around your neck; you fold the neoprene inwards, and the surrounding pressure pushes it against your skin to create the seal. Latex, on the other hand, is usually a bit tighter around the neck but generally seals better. People who put their fingers into the seals are more likely to tear them. The best way is to put both hands all the way inside and then pull the seal over your head.

For all seals it is advisable to use special unscented talc. So no baby powder or baby oil! These affect your seal. You can buy the right talc for your seals at your dive shop. For both latex and neoprene, keep in mind that the material stretches slightly over time.

Silicone seal

A newer option is the silicone seal. Because of its flexibility it feels less tight on the skin. Silicone is also more resistant to weather, sunlight and seawater. Silicone is sensitive to knocks against something hard, though, which could cause leaks. Otherwise it is used the same way as latex seals. Until recently silicone seals were only available in combination with ring systems, because silicone itself cannot be glued. There is now a new development on the market with a coating on the silicone that does make gluing possible. With latex seals, diving in salt water can give you red marks on your neck. These are caused by salt crystals rubbing in the seal and irritating the skin. In that case neoprene or silicone seals are advisable; you will not have that problem with these two types. Aftershave and perfume often degrade seals; that is not the case with silicone.

Need a new seal or a ring system? Read more about our drysuit repair.

Published in: DUIKEN Magazine

Text: Eddy van Vliet – Scuba Support

Photos: René Lipman – DUIKEN Magazine