Waterproof Drysuit Manual 2013-03-01static.squarespace.com/.../1377913770112/ManualDrysuit_130308-1.pdfWaterproof Drysuit Manual 2013-03-01 5 wrists seals are too tight cut a little

Waterproof Drysuit Manual 2013-03-01

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IMPORTANT!

Please read this entire manual before diving.

Failure to follow the instructions in this

manual can result in serious injury or death.

The Waterproof World Wide

Warranty Waterproof warranties these Drysuits against

defects in materials and workmanship to the

original purchaser for a period of two years.

This warranty does not cover damage due to

abuse, neglect, improper usage, lack of proper

maintenance or normal wear and tear. Lack of

proper maintenance will cause abnormal

deterioration.

Please be sure to enter www.waterproof.eu

and completely fill out the warranty form

within 30 days from purchasing to validate the

World Wide Waterproof warranty.

EC Type Examination by:

RINA Test Laboratory

Calata G. Gadda

16126 Genova

Notified Body no. 0474

Congratulations on purchasing a

Waterproof Drysuit! This suit has been carefully manufactured

from the best available materials, and with

reasonable care it will give you many years of

service. Please read the care, maintenance

and use information in this manual and follow

the suggestions carefully.

Stay safe

Drysuit diving can add immensely to the

comfort, enjoyment, and safety of cold water

divers. But while Drysuits are easy to use, like

any piece of diving equipment they require

instruction in proper use and safety

procedures. If you are unfamiliar with diving in

Drysuits, or with the type of suit you have

purchased, make sure you have received

training in a confined water situation before

attempting to dive in open water. A Drysuit

course is an excellent idea. At minimum, you

should have some supervised confined water

training in Drysuit use that meets the

standards of your certifying agency. Certain

aspects of weighting, buoyancy control and

emergency procedure must be handled

differently in a Drysuit, and while the

techniques are easy to master for most divers

(many feel diving in a Drysuit is easier than

diving in a wetsuit) proper instruction can

make your initial open water experience more

enjoyable and much safer.

User Instructions Before Diving

• Make sure both valves are securely screwed

into the suit. Ensure that the inflator valve and

exhaust valve work properly by operating

them before every entry into the water.

• Inspect the latex/silicone seals for damage.

Pay particular attention that edges of the seals

are not cracked or torn. If they are, it could

indicate that the seals are damaged and could

fail. Damaged seals should be replaced before

diving.

• Make sure you have removed watches,

rings, or any jewelry with sharp points prior to

donning the suit. Do not wear anything which

could catch the seals and tear them.

• Make sure the zipper is lubricated. Use wax

lubricants only, DO NOT use silicone, silicone

sprays, or petroleum based lubricants. These

products will damage the zipper and the suit.


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Check the teeth to make sure they are in good

condition and that the slider operates freely.

• Lubricate the seals to ease entry into the

suit. In a dry environment, unscented talc

makes a good lubricant. In a wet environment

(rain or a boat) many divers prefer to carry a

small bottle of a water based lubricant. DO

NOT use silicone or petroleum based

lubricants as they will damage the suit.

• When donning the suit make very sure that

the undergarments do not catch in the zipper.

Pulling the zipper closed over an obstruction

can break the zipper.

Suit use

These instructions are a general guide only

and do not substitute for instruction in a

Drysuit diving course. Comprehensive Drysuit

diving instruction should be obtained from a

certified instructor.

Seals

It is essential that the seals are properly

trimmed to fit and that they lay flat against

your skin with no wrinkles that could allow

water to enter the suit. If you are not

experienced in trimming Drysuit seals have

your dealer or instructor help you get a good

fit. (See Adjustment of Seals)

Weight yourself properly

Spend some time getting your weight right,

work with your dealer and/or instructor to

become relaxed and comfortable with your

diving system.

Buoyancy control

In order to relieve the squeeze caused by the

compression of the air inside the suit and to

maintain neutral buoyancy it will be necessary

to introduce air into the suit via the inflation

valve as you descend. When ascending it will

be necessary to vent air from the suit using

the adjustable exhaust valve in order to keep

from ascending too fast. Practice buoyancy

control with all of your equipment including

your drysuit in controlled conditions in

confined water before diving in open water.

Suit Inflation Valve use

The Waterproof Drysuits come equipped with

a swivelling inflation valve, which allows for

convenient positioning of the low pressure

inflator hose. The low pressure inflator hose

must be connected to a low pressure port on

the first stage of your regulator and attaches

to the suit inflator valve via a quick release

connector. Pull back the spring loaded flange

on the quick release connector and push the

connector to engage the fitting on the suit

inflator valve. Release the flange to lock the

connector in position. Always make sure that

the inflator hose is securely fastened before

diving. To release the hose from the valve pull

back on the spring loaded flange and pull the

hose away from the valve assembly. Practice

this procedure with all of your diving gear on

(including gloves) as it might be necessary to

perform it in an emergency.

Suit Exhaust Valve use

The automatic adjustable exhaust valve is

designed to vent excess air form the suit by

simply positioning yourself underwater so that

the valve is in the high position. The amount

of air pressure the valve will retain inside the

suit is adjustable. Rotating the valve flange

clockwise will increase the air held inside the

suit, rotating the flange counter clockwise will

cause the suit to retain less air. Even when the

valve has been rotated fully clockwise so as to

retain the maximum air, pressing downwards

on the flange will cause air to vent as if the

valve were fully opened, as long as the

pressure is maintained. Most divers find that

diving with the valve completely or nearly

completely opened (turned counter clockwise


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as far as possible) allows for the most precise

buoyancy control while underwater. Turning

the valve to a more closed position when on

the surface (so as to retain more air) may

make resting or swimming more comfortable.

Your diving instructor or retailer can help you

find the buoyancy and weighting combination

that works best for you.

After Diving/Suit Storage

• DO NOT use silicone sprays/lubricants on

the seals or zipper. They will not help the seals

last longer and will make seal or zipper

replacement difficult or impossible if the

silicone has soaked into the suit material.

Seals should be cleaned with soap and water

and then lubricated with unscented talc.

• Rinse your suit with fresh water after diving,

taking particular care to clean sand and salt

from the valves and zipper. The valves should

be operated while being rinsed.

• Always dry the suit after diving, do not store

it wet. If perspiration has made the interior of

the suit damp it may be necessary to air the

suit inside out, or hang it with the zipper

completely open until dry.

• Neoprene suits should not be hung for

extended periods on narrow hangers, as the

suit material may become stressed where it

passes over the hanger. Extra wide WP

Hangers especially designed for dry or wetsuit

storage may be used. Suits may be stored in

their bag, but take care with the Neoprene

suits not to repeatedly fold them in the same

spot, as this may create permanent creases in

the suit material.

• If your suit is equipped with Latex seals it is

important to store the suit away from sources

of ozone (electric motors, gas water heaters,

home furnaces, etc.), and away from sources

of UV radiation (mainly sunlight), as both of

these will degrade the latex seals more

rapidly.

• Suits stored for extended periods will be

well protected if stored on a hanger in a dry

cool place.

• Do not store your suit where it will be

subjected to high temperatures. Drysuits can

be damaged by excessive heat, as in the trunk

of a car in summer sun.

• Lubricate the zipper with paraffin wax

before storage. When the suit is stored or

transported in its bag the zipper must be

open. When the zipper is open it is very

flexible, when closed it becomes stiff and

could be damaged or broken if inadvertently

bent.

• Before storage dust the seals with

unscented talc (available from a Waterproof

dealer). This will help prevent the seals from

sticking together and will make the suit easier

to put on the next time. Be sure to use only

unscented talc, as scented varieties contain

oils that might damage the seals.

Silicone Seals

If your suit is equipped with I.S.S, Integrated

Silicone Seals please read the Silicone Seal

Manual at the end of this manual.

Latex seals

Adjustments of Seals

On a new suit, or one that has had new neck

or wrist seals installed, the seals will most

likely need adjusting. The seals don’t need to

be uncomfortable to seal properly. They only

need to be snug against the skin for a proper

fit. If you are not familiar with the proper

fitting or trimming of seals contact your

drysuit dealer before cutting. If neck and/or


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wrists seals are too tight cut a little (1/4

inch/6mm or less) off the end/length of the

seal. A pair of sharp scissors will cut the seal

easily. Latex seals are marked with rings for

cutting guides. Then check fitting over wrists

or neck. If you cut too much you may cause a

seal to leak and it will have to be replaced.

Care of the Latex Seals

Latex seals are mounted on some models of

Waterproof Drysuits, neoprene seals are

available as an option. Most divers find that

latex provides a dryer and more comfortable

seal, however the nature of the latex material

means that more care is required than for

neoprene seals and after some time the latex

seals may need to be replaced. Latex seal

replacement is not difficult but must be done

correctly. Workshops in seal replacement are

offered by some dealers if you want to learn

to “do it yourself”, however we recommend

that you take your suit to a Waterproof dealer

experienced in Drysuit repair.

You can help your latex seals to last by

following these suggestions:

• Store the suit away from sources like Ozone

and UV radiation or Sunlight.

• Rinse seals with fresh water and let them

dry before storage.

• Always dust dry latex seals with unscented

talc (available from your Waterproof dealer)

before storage.

• Keep the seals away from sharp objects.

• Periodically wash the seals with soap and

water to remove body oils that may

accumulate and cause degradation of the

material.

Care of the Dry Zipper

The Dry zipper is the heart of your Drysuit and

its most expensive component. With the right

care the zipper can last for the life of the suit.

All zippers are examined and pressure tested

before leaving the factory. The Drysuit zippers

can only be damaged by mishandling. Please

treat with care. We cannot take responsibility

for zippers damaged by misuse.

• Lubricate the zipper (on the outside of the

teeth only) with paraffin wax (available from

your Waterproof dealer) or beeswax, DO NOT

use silicone or petroleum based lubricants.

Avoid sticky waxes, as they will tend to attract

sand and grit. A very small amount of wax is

sufficient. Clean zipper with fresh water after

diving being sure to remove any debris from

between zipper teeth. Dry the zipper before

storage.

• When storing or transporting the suit keep

the zipper unzipped. When opened the zipper

is much more flexible, when closed the zipper

becomes semi-rigid and might be damaged if

it is folded, or if a heavy object were

inadvertently placed on it.

• When opening and closing the zipper be

sure the teeth are in alignment and that the

supporting tape is not kinked. This will

normally require two hands. Take great care

not to zip undergarment material into the dry

zipper, as this is the most common way the

zipper gets broken.

Care of the Valves

The inlet and exhaust valves require little

maintenance besides keeping them clean.

They should be periodically (at least annually)

checked by a qualified service facility. DO NOT

attempt to disassemble the valves yourself.

• Rinse the valves after diving to remove sand

and foreign material.

• Only use undergarments that do not

produce excessive lint. Lint can become

caught in the exhaust valve and cause it to

leak.


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Tips to stay warm

A few tips to help you stay warm and

comfortable.

• Use only undergarments made from non-

absorptive materials. Don’t wear cotton

sweatshirts, t-shirts, or other garments next to

the skin. Cotton is highly absorptive and will

soak up like a sponge any moisture your body

puts out. This creates a thermal conduit which

will conduct heat away from your body and

make you feel cold.

• Use undergarments that are not restrictive.

Tight fitting or confining undergarments that

restrict motion detract from both comfort and

safety. Waterproof´s Drysuit undergarment

system is designed to allow completely

unrestricted motion.

• In diving as in other active sports, layering

undergarments is generally preferable to a

single thick layer. This allows the diver to

match insulation to the conditions on a given

dive.

If you have a leak

Almost everyone who dives actively in a

drysuit sooner or later experiences a leak.

Most of these are minor and result only in

slight dampness, however, if you notice water

entering your suit during a dive, end the dive

and surface to determine the cause, do not

tough it out . A serious leak could cause loss of

buoyancy, chilling, rapid air consumption, or

other problems. The most likely causes are

easy to fix and you can be back in the water

soon. While major leaks or seal failures are

extremely rare, you will probably at some

point come up from a dive with an area of

dampness that seems more than would be

accounted for by normal perspiration.

Carefully note the location of the dampness.

Check to see if it is near a wrist or neck seal, a

valve, or the location of the zipper. This will

give you an excellent clue as to the location of

the leak. The most common causes of leaks in

Drysuits are:

• Failure to get a good seal before entering

the water. Hair or undergarments might be

trapped under the seals or the seal might be

folded in such a way as to make an entry point

for water.

• Failure to completely close the zipper before

entering the water. Double check the zipper

closure as a part of your pre-dive procedure.

• Valve leaks can be caused by loose valves,

connecting the inflator hose while in the

water can cause a very small amount of water

to enter the suit, or foreign material could

have become lodged in the exhaust valve. If

this latter is the case it can often be corrected

by flushing the valve with water to wash out

the foreign material.

• Something might have punctured the suit.

Sea urchin spines, sharp shells, and wire,

hooks, or sharp metal on boats or wrecks are

common offenders.

Locating a very small puncture is sometimes

difficult. If the puncture is not visually obvious,

the best procedure is to seal the wrist and

neck seals with cans or by folding, zip the suit

up, and inflate it fully. A soapy water solution

can then be sprayed or sponged on the

suspect area. Small leaks show themselves by

producing bubbles. Mark the spot and dry the

suit before repairing the leak. Most small

holes and tears (1/2 inch/12mm or less) in

either trilaminate or neoprene suits can be

temporarily repaired with an Aquaseal type

product that is sold in dive equipment stores.

• You might have a tear or a pinhole in one of

the seals. If it is a Silicone seal, replace it. If it

is a latex seal check the latex material


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carefully, particularly along the edges. If a leak

is found you should take your Drysuit to a

dealer that is qualified in Drysuit servicing but

the patching of small leaks can be an easy do-

it-yourself project with a couple of readily

available items. Small size cuts or tears in latex

seals can easily be repaired with the rubber

patching materials used in fixing the leaks in

bicycle tires. These types of small repairs can

last for years even though they are considered

temporary or field repairs. It is recommended

that before your next dive trip that you have

the repairs inspected by a dealer that is

familiar with Drysuit servicing.

We wish you a safe dive and a great

experience!

The Waterproof Team

Waterproof Diving International AB

Industrivägen 39

433 61 Partille, Sweden

www.waterproof.eu

http://www.waterproof.eu/


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MANUAL Silicone Seals


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SILICONE ADVANTAGES

Silicone seals were introduced to the market

in 2009 by Waterproof. Silicone Seals have no

chemical or environmental sensitivity and they

have approximately 40% better stretch than

latex seals. This elasticity makes donning the

suit much easier and it seals with your skin

more effectively. Since the pressure is lower

on the wrists your hands will stay warmer. The

comfort really is enhanced during long

technical dives and decompression stops. A

few of the features are listed below:

100 % UV and Ozone resistant

Very stretchable

Enhanced durability

No latex allergy

Easy donning and doffing

Extremely fast mounting

Interior Glide Coating

Safety Ridge

GENERAL ADVICE

Even though silicone seals are better in many

ways than regular latex seals they still must be

handled with care.

Overstretching, sharp objects and poor

trimming can cause your seal to tear.

Even if the silicone seals have more stretch

than latex seals, do not stretch the seal more

than required. Assist yourself with a free hand

when pulling the seals over your head or

hands - both for the seal and your comfort.

Avoid contact with sharp objects, like finger

nails or rings, when handling seals. Use a

product such as unscented talc on a regular

basis to minimize frictional strain on the seal

and for personal comfort.

MAINTENANCE

Silicone Seals are virtually maintenance free,

but there are a couple of things to think of.

Never try to glue or patch a broken silicone

seal! After a dive check and clean the seal for

tears or damage, especially in the fold where

it comes out from the oval stiff ring. The seals

are glide treated but it is advisable to use

unscented talc powder to enhance a trouble-

free donning.

TRIMMING SEALS

When trimming seals, use sharp scissors. Cut

edges should be as smooth and straight as

possible. Make sure there are absolutely no

pointed cuts into the seal. Do not trim across

trim lines.

THE PARTS The ISS wrist seal consists of three parts.

1. PU ring (Polyurethane ring) which is glued

to the suit. This ring is soft.

2. Oval Stiff Ring is the inner plastic ring that

holds the Silicone Seal.

3. The Silicone Seal.

1 2

3


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REPLACING A WRISTSEAL

1. Fold up the zipper cover and remove the

neoprene cuff.

2. Hold the ring system with both hands with

the seal towards you.

3. Place both thumbs in the groove and

push/bend the soft PU-ring upwards/

backwards towards arm and at the same time

push down the back end of the ring with your

other fingers. Push hard until the inner stiff

ring loosens.

If you find it too difficult to dismount the ring

by hand you can use a standard plastic bike

tire removal tool.

3a. Carefully insert the tool between the PU-

ring and the Stiff ring and bend upwards until

the ring pops out. Bend carefully without

twisting the tool. If it is too hard to get the

tool in position at the “short side” of the ring,

start at the recess and slide the tool to the

side.

4. Clean the inner PU-ring and the Oval stiff

ring thoroughly.

These images illustrate two different ways of

positioning the seal depending on the design

and fabric of the Drysuit and how the PU-Ring

is attached into the Drysuit. One of these

mounting alternatives will work better than

the other. It is important to try assembling the

components both ways to see which one

works best. The suit comes from the factory

with seals in position 1.

If leakage occurs after changing a seal or ring,

try mounting the seal in position 2.

1 2


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5. Mount the new seal by placing the ridge of

the seal in the groove with the glide coated

side out.

6. Add waterbased lubricant on both the seal

and inside the suit PU-ring. It is better to use

too much than too little. It should slide easily.

7. Align the oval stiff ring to the alignment

mark on the suit and carefully fit the seal in

the suit.

8. It is very important that the Seal doesn’t get

any wrinkles when mounting it in the suit.

Push the seal slowly and carefully little by

little until it stops. Then push the last bit until

you hear a clicking sound. Again, it should

slide very easily into position, if not, use more

lubricant.


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9. Grab the end of the seal as the image shows

and pull it gently away from the joint to

ensure that it is seated properly.

NECKSEAL DETACHMENT

Make sure you have the SI Tech Neck Tite

Tool.

1. Press the Neck Tite Tool towards the

bottom of the groove in the PU-ring.

2. Press the tool in the direction of the arrow

and force the groove in the PU-ring to ”open

up” and start releasing the Lock Ring.

3. When the tool has reached the bottom of

the groove, it´s time to use the tool to bend

up the Lock Ring from the groove.

4. Press up the Lock Ring from the groove.

5. When you have successfully released the

Lock Ring you can use your fingers to pull the

seal and Lock Ring out of its position. If the

same seal shall be used again, please be

careful and check for damages on the seal.


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NECKSEAL ATTACHMENT

1. Place the Lock Ring on the inside of the seal.

Ensure that approx. 1,5 cm of the seal is pulled

over the Lock Ring.

2. Put the seal in position over the PU-Ring

(mounted on your drysuit) with the Lock Ring

on top of the tapered groove in the PU-Ring.

Make sure that the bellow of the Neckseal

faces the back of the suit.

3. Put the Neck Tite Tool in position as image

displays. By applying force, press the Lock Ring

down into the tapered groove of the PU-Ring

so that the Lock Ring enters the groove and

locks into position. Use a flat surface when

performing this operation.

4. Push the Neck Tite Tool forward along the

Lock Ring until all of it has been forced into

the groove in the PU-Ring.

5. Ensure that the excess part of the seal is

similar throughout the entire dressing. We

recommend between: 1,5-2 cm.


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6. Check that the Lock Ring is in position by

following the groove 360°.

7. After completing the seal attachment

section, perform a security check: Grab the

end of the seal as the image shows and pull it

gently away from the joint to ensure that it is

seated properly. Do not use excessive force!

Simulate the same force as used when

donning the suit.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Make pre-dive checks at all times.

• Always check seals for scratching and

pinching.

• Always check your Neck Tite Tool for sharp

edges that might occur over time.

• Avoid exposing the seals to direct sunlight.

• Always clean sand and dirt from your seals.

• Use unscented talc on seals to extend the

lifespan.

• Remove seals from your suit during long

periods of storage.


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CONTACT WATERPROOF DIVING INTL AB

Industrigatan 39

43361 Partille, Sweden

+46 31 336 82 70

+46 31 33 68 271

[email protected]

www.waterproof.eu

CONTACT WATERPROOF DIVING INTL AB

Industrivägen 39

43361 Partille, Sweden

+46 31 336 82 70

+46 31 33 68 271

[email protected]

www.waterproof.eu

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Waterproof Drysuit Manual 2013-03-01static.squarespace.com/.../1377913770112/ManualDrysuit_130308-1.pdfWaterproof Drysuit Manual 2013-03-01 5 wrists seals are too tight cut a little