Kategorie: News
What is a Dynaskin diving suit?
I was given the opportunity to try it out: Dynamic Nord is going in the right direction with this suit. The magic words are ‘neoprene-free’. Dynaskin suits are made from high-quality Polartec® material, which is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.
The warm waters of the Pacific are the perfect place to test the new suit. With water temperatures around 28 degrees Celsius, it's certainly not a bad idea to wear a suit that's not too thick and can also withstand the sharp rocks on the lava floor. I have ruined more than a few neoprene suits because I came too close to the sharp-edged ground while waiting for sharks. Let's see how the Dynaskin copes with that. As soon as I unpack the suit, I am pleasantly surprised. The material feels soft and supple. I wonder if it will be as warm as I hope? I will test it for the next 24 dives.
As soon as I put it on, I am pleased with the material. It glides easily and smoothly over the skin and I am in the suit in seconds, which is not so easy with some neoprene. The suit fits well and is close-fitting almost everywhere on the body, even around the small beer belly ... Well, let's see how it feels in the water. As soon as I dive in, I feel a little water coming around my hips, but it's not an unpleasant feeling. After just five minutes, I feel like I always do underwater. It's not cold, even though the water temperature is now only 27 degrees. I wonder if I should put on a lycra shirt underneath for the next dive. I test it and am surprised that it makes no difference!
On the fifth dive, it goes a little deeper and here it is just 25 degrees. Now I am a little chilly, but as soon as I resurface, it is pleasantly warm again. All in all, I have a lot of fun with the suit and despite occasional contact with the ground, there are no visible damage spots on the suit after the tour. The material is robust and protects you well against hypothermia and injuries, even if I don't want to dive in it permanently at temperatures below 25-26 degrees. But that's a very personal feeling and will vary from person to person.
How does the Dynaskin perform in cold water?
To test the suit in other conditions, I take it with me into cold water. I'm planning a few dives in our rivers and, despite the water temperature being only 11 degrees, I don't want to dive in a dry suit. So I pack my 7mm neoprene suit, but plan to wear the Dynaskin underneath. Although my neoprene suit has been in use for a few days and is quite tight, I can easily pull the Dynaskin on underneath.
For comparison, I'll dive once with and once without the suit. The difference is dramatic. With the Dynaskin, it is significantly warmer because the water exchange is also significantly lower. For the remaining dives planned with the 7mm wetsuit, I always use the Dynaskin as an undersuit.
All in all, I am really impressed that a diving suit made from recycled drinks bottles can have such a positive effect and I am totally convinced by it. I will be trying out more of these suits in the future and I hope that suits like the Dynaskin will soon be available for cooler waters too.
General information about neoprene:
Neoprene is super warm when diving, but it is not without its problems. Neoprene (Chloroprene rubber) is a synthetic rubber that is made into pressure-resistant foam or foam or sponge rubber with excellent insulating properties using chemical blowing agents. In foamed neoprene, many small gas bubbles are evenly distributed, creating excellent thermal insulation properties.
Unfortunately, neoprene also has a few disadvantages. Due to the small gas bubbles (which are sometimes open on the surface), liquids (e.g. urine) can penetrate through pressure, which then react quite strongly over time due to the effect of bacteria (they rot) and start to stink. In addition, the flexibility of neoprene decreases over time because the plasticisers in the material evaporate, causing the suits to become tighter and less flexible. Old wetsuits are eventually only hazardous waste and cannot be recycled.
Information:
Original Polartec® technology
Dynaskin is a water-specific, windproof, three-layer composite material developed for water sports enthusiasts. Quite unlike neoprene, this new technology is the best option for keeping you warmer, whether you use it as a diving undersuit or as a single garment.
Thanks to Polartec®, the Dynaskin offers maximum weather protection from wind, water and cold and fits like a second skin. The three layers work together to provide excellent results in all weather conditions.
Outer layer
Consists of polyester, nylon and elastane, which are highly compressed to prevent the penetration of water or external moisture, but at the same time remain stretchy.
Intermediate layer
The Windbloc membrane blocks moisture from the outside and air flow at the microscopic level to provide weather protection and breathability.
Inner layer
Consists of a soft polar fleece that prevents the loss of body heat and absorbs moisture.
The one-piece suit is perfect for diving in warm waters and offers you a high level of comfort while diving thanks to its neutral buoyancy. The material is softer and more elastic than neoprene and offers great freedom of movement both during the dive and on the surface.
The material is resistant to UV rays and odours and dries quickly. The perfect suit for travelling in tropical areas. Its light weight and flexibility make it ideal for taking up little space when packing, when weight and space are important.
The Dynaskin can also be used as an undersuit under a dry suit.
Product details
Weight 1.06 kg
Item number 01-0591-0000
Size S, M, ML, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL
Colour black/blue
Material Original Polartec® Technology, 51% polyester 37% nylon 12% elastane
RRP 319.00 EUR
100% windproof, water-repellent, highly breathable, neutral buoyancy, elastic stretch, quick-drying, odour-resistant, UV protection, easy-care, slim fit
Website:
dynamicnord.com/produkt/dy-11/
Video: https://player.vimeo.com/video/747228445
Photographers:
Christian Eisenbeis, Peter Schreilechner