Only really suitable for warmer waters. In a membrane drysuit I'd use one as a summer undersuit. I wouldn't wear one for longer or deeper dives because it isn't designed to maintain insulation under compression.
Don't know if it can replace a wetsuit, but as I don't like the choky feeling of a hood and still wanted some kind of thermal protection for my head I bought the lavacore hoodie and wear that under my 5.5 mm wetsuit. Gives me enough protection in water down to 16 degrees. The biggest disadvantage of the lavacore material: it is soaking wet after a dive while neoprene feels nearly dry between dives. But the hoodie looks quite cool :D
Some differences in the alternatives might be that Sharkskin has their Chillproof line (3mm equiv claimed, so probably really 2mm like mentioned in this video), and a T2 line they claim is 5mm equivalent, which makes me think it would really be closer to 4mm, but still a decent little boost on that front. 4th Element says their Thermoprene line is machine washable, which is also a plus. I think Sharkskin's line recommends hand washing, but does suggest it can be machine washed on gentle if it gets really muddy or the like. I have a lavacore hooded vest which I just got and wore this weekend on a dive in one of the Florida springs which I wore under a ScubaPro Everlfex Yulex 3/2 wetsuit for the 68F/20C water there and I was very comfy, if not a little on the warm side (for comparison I made my 2nd dive without the Lavacore and was just a little chilly), but I'm also very comfortable in a 3mm shorty in 76F/24C water to give you some idea of my warmth tolerance. I didn't have to change my weighting at all between the change, so definitely neutrally buoyant for me. I rather like the material, however, and would be very tempted to try a Sharkskin T2 fullsuit (with hood) in place of my wetsuit in those conditions if it weren't just as expensive as the wetsuit was. Still, using as a hooded vest for under a wetsuit I've been pretty impressed and get the feeling that Mark's suggestion that for replacing a shorty in warm water it may be an excellent alternative
I wear a pair of lavacore pants and a lavacore vest. Works great in tropical water and if I feel a chill, I add a rash guard over the vest. Using the "rolling" method, I can fit all 3 of these pieces in my backpack/carry-on, no problemo.
#askmark #scuba Hi Mark and thanks for your videos and info and also congrats for keeping for so long on this: for us beginners is fantastic to find these explanatory videos about everything scuba-related. Here is my question: I usually dive in cold waters with a 7mm rental standard BCD wearing 8kg lead. I have just bought a XDEEp Zeos with steel plate, what is supposed to give me some extra weight in comparison with the jacket: is there any way to calculate how much lead am I going to save with the wing? Thanks again! Jose
Not precisely, I would probably take 2 to 4kg off your belt as a start and run a buoyancy check before the next proper dive to fine-tune it. The steel backplate for the Zeos weighs about 2kg I think. I would spend some time in the shallows with my buddy who can ferry excess lead and some spare lead on the shore if you need to put any back on. Calculating buoyancy is best done in the water and involves volumes and displacements, there are pretty comprehensive calculators out there that you can spend a lot of time on to work out approx lead requirements: scubaboard.com/community/threads/optimal-buoyancy-computer.576321/ But real-world in-water experience is always best.
They have warmer options, at least with sharkskin, there is also the titanium sharkskin. I've used that in 70f (21c) degree water and been plenty warm.
Hi Mark thx for vids. What do you think about the new Sharksin T2 chillproof as a drysuit undergarment
Only really suitable for warmer waters. In a membrane drysuit I'd use one as a summer undersuit. I wouldn't wear one for longer or deeper dives because it isn't designed to maintain insulation under compression.
Don't know if it can replace a wetsuit, but as I don't like the choky feeling of a hood and still wanted some kind of thermal protection for my head I bought the lavacore hoodie and wear that under my 5.5 mm wetsuit. Gives me enough protection in water down to 16 degrees.
The biggest disadvantage of the lavacore material: it is soaking wet after a dive while neoprene feels nearly dry between dives. But the hoodie looks quite cool :D
Some differences in the alternatives might be that Sharkskin has their Chillproof line (3mm equiv claimed, so probably really 2mm like mentioned in this video), and a T2 line they claim is 5mm equivalent, which makes me think it would really be closer to 4mm, but still a decent little boost on that front. 4th Element says their Thermoprene line is machine washable, which is also a plus. I think Sharkskin's line recommends hand washing, but does suggest it can be machine washed on gentle if it gets really muddy or the like. I have a lavacore hooded vest which I just got and wore this weekend on a dive in one of the Florida springs which I wore under a ScubaPro Everlfex Yulex 3/2 wetsuit for the 68F/20C water there and I was very comfy, if not a little on the warm side (for comparison I made my 2nd dive without the Lavacore and was just a little chilly), but I'm also very comfortable in a 3mm shorty in 76F/24C water to give you some idea of my warmth tolerance. I didn't have to change my weighting at all between the change, so definitely neutrally buoyant for me.
I rather like the material, however, and would be very tempted to try a Sharkskin T2 fullsuit (with hood) in place of my wetsuit in those conditions if it weren't just as expensive as the wetsuit was. Still, using as a hooded vest for under a wetsuit I've been pretty impressed and get the feeling that Mark's suggestion that for replacing a shorty in warm water it may be an excellent alternative
I reckon the average price for the Sharkskin Chillproof 1 suit is £395 in uk.
The long sleeve top £135.
I wear a pair of lavacore pants and a lavacore vest. Works great in tropical water and if I feel a chill, I add a rash guard over the vest. Using the "rolling" method, I can fit all 3 of these pieces in my backpack/carry-on, no problemo.
And you can wash them in the washing machine so they smell good!
A very important feature most divers overlook
Are sharkskin products in short supply at the moment? Can't seem to find it anywhere
#askmark #scuba Hi Mark and thanks for your videos and info and also congrats for keeping for so long on this: for us beginners is fantastic to find these explanatory videos about everything scuba-related. Here is my question: I usually dive in cold waters with a 7mm rental standard BCD wearing 8kg lead. I have just bought a XDEEp Zeos with steel plate, what is supposed to give me some extra weight in comparison with the jacket: is there any way to calculate how much lead am I going to save with the wing?
Thanks again!
Jose
Not precisely, I would probably take 2 to 4kg off your belt as a start and run a buoyancy check before the next proper dive to fine-tune it. The steel backplate for the Zeos weighs about 2kg I think. I would spend some time in the shallows with my buddy who can ferry excess lead and some spare lead on the shore if you need to put any back on.
Calculating buoyancy is best done in the water and involves volumes and displacements, there are pretty comprehensive calculators out there that you can spend a lot of time on to work out approx lead requirements:
scubaboard.com/community/threads/optimal-buoyancy-computer.576321/
But real-world in-water experience is always best.
@@ScubaDiverMagazine Thanks for the quick response! I will try wearing 6Kg on my belt and see.
Hi
They have warmer options, at least with sharkskin, there is also the titanium sharkskin. I've used that in 70f (21c) degree water and been plenty warm.