SEASOFT Ti 5000™ Drysuits

Why should you buy a SEASOFT Ti 5000 Drysuit?

The SEASOFT Ti 5000™ is our cold water “TECH” drysuit.  Do not buy the Ti 5000 if you are going be diving for long periods in water temps above 60º to 65º degrees F.  We have had suits returned because their owners thought they needed a really warm suit only to find they overheated during dives or on deco stops.

The SEASOFT Ti 5000™ is made of a special type of  5 mm compressed neoprene that Bruce Justinen carefully chose.   A compressed neoprene that was a balance between stretchable for comfort and resistance to compression at depth for longevity and warmth.  

• The entire surface of the suit is covered in DINA-HIDE™, a super abrasion resistant material that also stretches.   Underneath the DINA-HIDE™ are are two layers of Titanium Flake Foil™, one layer on each side of the neoprene itself.  This technology helps makes this suit incredibly warm, still lightweight and comfortable by reflecting the cold away with the outside layer and reflecting the heat in with the inner layer. 

• Built in STEALTH Booties™ with an elevated heel and a real arch support for warmth, stability and unsurpassed comfort.

• Rugged kneepads that last, in 11 years of making this suit we have NEVER replaced a kneepad!

• All SEASOFT Drysuits are built without a cross seam in the crotch like our competitors.  In other words, the front and back of our drysuits are ONE piece of neoprene.  No one else does this, it is very expensive to do.  We cut our suits with this as one piece eliminating the #1 place for leaks, the crotch area.

• Si-Tech exhaust and intake Valves and optional Si-Tech Pee Valves.

• Ti ZIP™ from Germany is a no cost option or you can choose a traditional brass zipper.  We recommend the Ti ZIP™ because it can be self opened and closed and we are convinced it is more durable.

• All SEASOFT drysuits are cut with raglan sleeves (wide sleeves) for a wide range of motion and the exhaust valve is located on the forearm for superior buoyancy control.  A forearm mounted exhaust valve will vent air 5 TIMES faster than a shoulder mounted exhaust valve, this is the logical position for the exhaust valve.  Your arm becomes your deflator hose.  So when you lift your arm during the dive, the raglan sleeve allows all the air to move to the forearm, to lift the exhaust valve off the undergarment and vent rapidly and efficiently.  Buoyancy control is so easy.  You do not use your BC underwater, you use your drysuit.

• STRETCHTEX Seals™ these 3 mm hybrid neoprene neck and wrist seals fold under for unsurpassed comfort, warmth, reliability and dryness especially when compared to latex seals.  STRETCHTEX Seals™ get their watertight abilities from being folded under with the small amount of air inside the fold trying to "escape". This air then holds the STRETCHTEX™ against your neck and wrist creating a waterproof seal.

This suit can be used in temperatures from approximately 45 to 65 degrees F.  Of course, you will want a SEASOFT ALASKA™ undergarment for temperatures from 32 to 45 degrees.  The SEASOFT Ti 5000™, a remarkable drysuit for those looking for a compressed neoprene suit that is comfortable, warm, dry and as tough as the diving and the divers that own it.

Available in 8 stock men's and women's sizes AND custom suits as well.

Bruce Justinen, the President of SEASOFT SCUBA, explains the difference between Shell Drysuits and Neoprene Drysuits:

"There are a lot of "experts" out there telling people which drysuit they should buy.  The problem is they are telling people base on their "experience".  Usually that "experience" is based on their one or two drysuits.

It reminds me of the "pickup wars".  Traditionally people are very loyal to a brand of pickup, Ford, Chevy, Dodge (now Ram), etc. Rarely, if ever, had they ever actually driven the "other guys" pickup but they would be sure to tell you that they would NEVER own one.  

That's often how it is with drysuits.  But for the person wanting to buy a drysuit there are a lot of mixed messages, a lot of advice from divers, instructors etc. who have only used one drysuit or type of drysuit.  

I have over 5,000 drysuit dives over the last 27 years.  I have experience with virtually every type of suit, vulcanized rubber, compressed neoprene, crushed neoprene, traditional neoprene, trilaminate shell, thin shell, heavy duty shell, stretched fabric over shell and hybrid neoprene suits and here is my experience with the two most widely used type of drysuits. 

Here are the main differences between shell suits and neoprene suits.  

SHELL SUIT:  In a shell suit the diver basically dives with a squeeze in order to have a useable suit  (remember, the fabric doesn't stretch).    Because the suit has to be cut large enough to accomodate for their movements in a non-stretchable fabric, there is space for air to move in a large mass.  This big "bubble" in the suit would create potential mayhem for their buoyancy and control.  So in order to eliminate this chaos, they dive with a squeeze (they do NOT add air or they add very little, as they descend). 

Since, the diver is diving with a squeeze and since air is what gives them warmth and since the suit itself has NO thermal protection they are forced to wear big thick undergarments.  They have NO choice. 

For buoyancy control, they would use their BC underwater, if they used their drysuit, instability ensues for most divers.

NEOPRENE SUIT: In a neoprene suit the diver does use air to keep warm.  Since the suit fits like a loose wetsuit and because it stretches the air does not form a large bubble.  The air is dispersed all around the suit as a layer of air.  When the diver adds air as they descend, more air is added to this layer.  They will get a minor movement of air but it does not move as a "body" of air.  The diver does not need thick undergarments because the suit itself is providing a layer of insulation but so is the layer of air AND as they add air during the dive that air continues to provide additional insulation.

Additionally, in the winter, many divers will actually add a couple of pounds of weight so that they can add a small amount of additional air to their drysuit for additional warmth.  in a neoprene drysuit ...... Air = Warmth

They will not use their BC for buoyancy during the dive. They will typically ONLY use their BC on the surface.

SHELL SUIT:  Once again, because shell suits do not stretch, it must be made larger, creating a large amount of excess material.  This excess material creates hydro-drag.  The more surface area (loose fabric, wrinkles, etc.)  that water has to flow over, the more drag it produces.  This uses up air, slows the diver down, tires them out prematurely, nothing good comes from hydro-drag.

 From Wikipedia, the larger the surface area presented to the water, the more hydro-drag produced.

NEOPRENE SUIT:  Since neoprene stretches, it makes for a closer fitting drysuit and presents far less surface area to the water, typically 20-30% less fabric.. Thus, there is less hydro-drag in a neoprene drysuit and it is not uncommon for divers to have longer bottom times with part of that reason being that they are also warmer.

SHELL SUITS: So often, even with the thicker undergarment many divers are cold when they dive their shell drysuits.  Of curse, part of the reason is because they are diving in a squeeze (no air in the suit).  This causes the suit to collapse in on the undergarment and forces it against the body.  This can potentially eliminate some of its thermal protection. Also, the suit itself has NO thermal protection and with no layer of air, the only thermal protection is the undergarment.

NEOPRENE SUITS: Neoprene suits deliver a layer of thermal protection, the dispersed air around your body that you can and do add to is a layer of thermal protection, and the undergarment is a layer of thermal protection.  Three will always beat one.

There are arguments made by some that you need more weight for a neoprene drysuit.  The answer is yes you do!  If you were diving a shell suit with a squeeze then yes, diving warm in a neoprene drysuit will require more weight but that is like saying that steel tanks costs more than aluminum.  Well, yes, they do but the advantages are worth it.  In the case of neoprene vs shell, as amazing as it is, the neoprene is usually the less expensive of the two.

IN CONCLUSION:  SEASOFT SCUBA does not make shell suits, it would be easy and extremely profitable to make them.   But we won't and this is why - I cannot manufacture a product i don't believe in.  Neoprene drysuits are simply better than shell suits in every way!  Once you dive one, you will agree.