I like the suit but I have two concerns: 1) Isn't it a disadvantage having the exhaust valve that deep on the arm? 2) is it easy to close the zipper all the way up? I'd like to try the suit on...
It's more of a DIR valve position. If you're trim then it's still in-line with your body and gives you a little control when it vents. I managed to open and close the zipper fully myself every time. I do struggle with some zippers but this one was quite easy.
Seal SL-01, Santi E-Lite +, or Fourth Element Argonaut 3.0? For northern Europe cold water, including winter recreation dives, and perhaps later tech diving.
#askmark Thanks to your review on the Seal SL:01 I have been planning on purchasing one and was able to find a “used” one NIB at a fraction of the price which fits me perfectly. It came with a Light Monkey balanced pee valve. Do you have any tips/tricks on hose management on shorter dives when not used or needed.
Mine tends to loop up to the crotch and back down the other leg and I've never noticed it rubbing. If you're diving a thin undersuit then you may want to fix it so the end isn't near a joint but, I've never had a problem with it around my thigh. Just be sure that the valve is closed on the outside before you jump in.
Hi I love my suit had it for over a year now .. since I got it I hardly use my other one. The seal is just so comfortable..my only hick is I would of put velcro on the inner pockets closest to your thy. And it looks badass lol
Hey Mark, for this suit there is the options for Si-Tech or Apeks valves. Whats the difference between these two? And which would you recommend? Thanks. #AskMark
The general differences are that SiTech tend to vent more efficiently but, they're higher profile. Apeks valves are built tougher and lower profile but, some divers have problems with occasional leaks. Both will do the job and personally I've never had a problem with either.
Hey Mark. Can we get a six month update on your seal suit? They seem to be expanding distribution, but I’ve heard some comments that the mass produced suits are not as nice as the early prototypes. Thoughts?
I only had a sample for a few days, I don't get to keep much of what I'm sent... It does make sense that quality might drop as production increases, I often find that for every one complaint you read online, you'll have tens or hundreds of happy divers who don't post anything. It's only when somebody has a problem that they post something.
Good point. There are “lemon” posts about every good drysuit too. Scary, but not a reason to steer clear. I think I’ll take the leap and order one. Thanks for the great content. Keep it up.
@@scubacro5758 I wish. I have decided it’s the suit I want after much research, but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. Still attempting repair of my current suit before I commit.
Sure, I've dived Poseidon regs for a long time. My first set was some Xstreams which is a great regulator. Then I bought some Cyklons. They're hard workers and I've never had a problem with them. Some divers don't like the upstream design of Poseidon's but, it's never been an issue for me. Practically, I like the side exhaust and they give you more than enough gas when you need it. Otherwise it comes down to who can service them. The dive centre I used to teach for is a Poseidon service centre so, you need to know that you can get them serviced near where you are.
I had a choice of ordering a Santi Elite+ or a SL:01 - I ended up going the Santi route just because if anything goes wrong I know Santi will sort me out - but I don't know if Seal/XDeep's service is up to that level yet.
You can't go wrong with the Elite+, I dive it too, but SERVICE wouldn't be the main selling point for me. I'm waiting for a namepatch I've ordered with my suit for over a year now with Santi, while the Xdeep customer service for my NX Project is seriously top notch. I had some really specific questions about my configuration and always got replies within minutes by the ceo.
@@fabianbuckreus185 yeah, I hope that if I buy another suit in the future that time will prove SEAL to be a solid choice. No doubt they win the category of coolest looking suit and they have all the features I want (made to fit, p-valve, silicone quick seals, good pockets, trilaminate, good overall quality). I wish that Santi had options for putting on Velcro patches. Seems like such a simple thing and the SL:01 has it. I don't want to try attaching my own on case there's a bad interaction with the adhesive.
Hey #AskMark, I'm guessing the Fourth Element Argonaut is the other drysuit in your top two. If you had a gun to your head (and don't rule it out) to pick one over the other, which one would you get and why?
The other suit was the KVR1, the SEAL beats that one because of the zipper location and pockets. The Fusion double layer is very easy to move in and comfortable but, it does have it's down sides. My main drysuit right now is an Argonaut. I love it for the breathability and the pockets. The SEAL would be my choice when my Argonaut is retired. All of the little touches and features are great. I wouldn't mind some colour choices instead of plain black
Thank you thank you thank you Mark. Your reviews are the best out there🎖️. What is your stance on sock vs boot fittings? My concern is socks may have the tendency to bunch up under boots but I’m worried boots would have more failure points since they’re not just one continuous piece of material. #AskMark
I'm happy with either. Boots are more convenient, if you're in a rush it's much faster to get ready with integrated boots. Socks can slip inside boots, I tend to wear longer socks and tuck them inside my undersuit with boots and drysuit boots with Velcro ankle straps help. But, socks do give you the flexibility and choice of rock boots. The join between leg and boots is usually quite high up so it doesn't get a lot of wear. It tends to be where your fins rub on the boot or if you walk around in the suit a lot where the boots wear.
wasn't this suit your size? just wondering why you didn't wear it, i would like to see the different seal options & dry gloves, why a plastic zip and not a metal one? im definitely going to get one! ask them to send you a prototype undersuit! they look good, especially for uk diving
It was far too large for me the sample suit, it was the best I could do without them making one for me (which may happen if my current drysuit develops a knife hole...) All three choices of neck seal but, no neoprene cuff seals. They use SiTech QCS Glove Rings for silicone so you can use Ultima. I don't think they have an agreement with KUBI yet but, you should be able fit KUBI to the latex seals.
First! Enjoying the podcasts and video - thanks Mark
Thanks. Definitely considering this suit when my Santi wears out. Lots of smart features.
I think my drysuit may develop a leak soon...
😂@@ScubaDiverMagazine
Great review been really hard to get good videos of these suits. I’ve just ordered mine can’t wait to get my hands on it :)
I like the suit but I have two concerns: 1) Isn't it a disadvantage having the exhaust valve that deep on the arm? 2) is it easy to close the zipper all the way up?
I'd like to try the suit on...
It's more of a DIR valve position. If you're trim then it's still in-line with your body and gives you a little control when it vents. I managed to open and close the zipper fully myself every time. I do struggle with some zippers but this one was quite easy.
Seal SL-01, Santi E-Lite +, or Fourth Element Argonaut 3.0? For northern Europe cold water, including winter recreation dives, and perhaps later tech diving.
#askmark Thanks to your review on the Seal SL:01 I have been planning on purchasing one and was able to find a “used” one NIB at a fraction of the price which fits me perfectly. It came with a Light Monkey balanced pee valve. Do you have any tips/tricks on hose management on shorter dives when not used or needed.
Mine tends to loop up to the crotch and back down the other leg and I've never noticed it rubbing. If you're diving a thin undersuit then you may want to fix it so the end isn't near a joint but, I've never had a problem with it around my thigh. Just be sure that the valve is closed on the outside before you jump in.
Hi I love my suit had it for over a year now .. since I got it I hardly use my other one. The seal is just so comfortable..my only hick is I would of put velcro on the inner pockets closest to your thy. And it looks badass lol
Hey Mark, for this suit there is the options for Si-Tech or Apeks valves. Whats the difference between these two? And which would you recommend? Thanks. #AskMark
The general differences are that SiTech tend to vent more efficiently but, they're higher profile. Apeks valves are built tougher and lower profile but, some divers have problems with occasional leaks.
Both will do the job and personally I've never had a problem with either.
Hey Mark. Can we get a six month update on your seal suit? They seem to be expanding distribution, but I’ve heard some comments that the mass produced suits are not as nice as the early prototypes. Thoughts?
I only had a sample for a few days, I don't get to keep much of what I'm sent...
It does make sense that quality might drop as production increases, I often find that for every one complaint you read online, you'll have tens or hundreds of happy divers who don't post anything. It's only when somebody has a problem that they post something.
Good point. There are “lemon” posts about every good drysuit too. Scary, but not a reason to steer clear. I think I’ll take the leap and order one. Thanks for the great content. Keep it up.
@@talbotmcinnis
Did you get your suit? How do you like it?
@@scubacro5758 I wish. I have decided it’s the suit I want after much research, but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. Still attempting repair of my current suit before I commit.
Could you please do a review of Poseidon's line of regs? I can't seem to find any good ones on RUclips. #AskMark
Sure, I've dived Poseidon regs for a long time. My first set was some Xstreams which is a great regulator. Then I bought some Cyklons. They're hard workers and I've never had a problem with them. Some divers don't like the upstream design of Poseidon's but, it's never been an issue for me.
Practically, I like the side exhaust and they give you more than enough gas when you need it. Otherwise it comes down to who can service them. The dive centre I used to teach for is a Poseidon service centre so, you need to know that you can get them serviced near where you are.
I had a choice of ordering a Santi Elite+ or a SL:01 - I ended up going the Santi route just because if anything goes wrong I know Santi will sort me out - but I don't know if Seal/XDeep's service is up to that level yet.
You can't go wrong with the Elite+, I dive it too, but SERVICE wouldn't be the main selling point for me. I'm waiting for a namepatch I've ordered with my suit for over a year now with Santi, while the Xdeep customer service for my NX Project is seriously top notch. I had some really specific questions about my configuration and always got replies within minutes by the ceo.
@@fabianbuckreus185 yeah, I hope that if I buy another suit in the future that time will prove SEAL to be a solid choice. No doubt they win the category of coolest looking suit and they have all the features I want (made to fit, p-valve, silicone quick seals, good pockets, trilaminate, good overall quality).
I wish that Santi had options for putting on Velcro patches. Seems like such a simple thing and the SL:01 has it. I don't want to try attaching my own on case there's a bad interaction with the adhesive.
Hey #AskMark,
I'm guessing the Fourth Element Argonaut is the other drysuit in your top two.
If you had a gun to your head (and don't rule it out) to pick one over the other, which one would you get and why?
The other suit was the KVR1, the SEAL beats that one because of the zipper location and pockets. The Fusion double layer is very easy to move in and comfortable but, it does have it's down sides. My main drysuit right now is an Argonaut. I love it for the breathability and the pockets.
The SEAL would be my choice when my Argonaut is retired. All of the little touches and features are great. I wouldn't mind some colour choices instead of plain black
Thank you thank you thank you Mark. Your reviews are the best out there🎖️.
What is your stance on sock vs boot fittings? My concern is socks may have the tendency to bunch up under boots but I’m worried boots would have more failure points since they’re not just one continuous piece of material. #AskMark
I'm happy with either. Boots are more convenient, if you're in a rush it's much faster to get ready with integrated boots. Socks can slip inside boots, I tend to wear longer socks and tuck them inside my undersuit with boots and drysuit boots with Velcro ankle straps help. But, socks do give you the flexibility and choice of rock boots.
The join between leg and boots is usually quite high up so it doesn't get a lot of wear. It tends to be where your fins rub on the boot or if you walk around in the suit a lot where the boots wear.
@@ScubaDiverMagazine thank you so much!
wasn't this suit your size? just wondering why you didn't wear it, i would like to see the different seal options & dry gloves, why a plastic zip and not a metal one? im definitely going to get one! ask them to send you a prototype undersuit! they look good, especially for uk diving
It was far too large for me the sample suit, it was the best I could do without them making one for me (which may happen if my current drysuit develops a knife hole...)
All three choices of neck seal but, no neoprene cuff seals. They use SiTech QCS Glove Rings for silicone so you can use Ultima. I don't think they have an agreement with KUBI yet but, you should be able fit KUBI to the latex seals.
Have you taken this on a dive in cold UK waters ? How did it perform?