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A crusty old diver in Galveston told me to pack my drysuit seals with silicone grease every month, and after my last dive in 45 degree water, I'm glad I listened.
I thought it was overkill until my neck seal started leaking on a 3 hour job in Lake Michigan last week, and now I'm asking what other simple upkeep tricks I've been missing.
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thompson.xena6mo ago
Oh man, that's the BEST advice! I learned the hard way with a wrist seal that gave out in some seriously cold quarry water. That monthly grease habit is a total game changer for staying warm and dry.
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amy_mitchell6mo ago
That quarry leak sounds brutal... what other gear do you make a point to check before a cold dive? My backup light failed once and it was a long, dark swim back.
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coleman.derek5mo ago
a total game changer for staying warm and dry" - I gotta push back on that. I’ve gone years without greasing a single seal, just rinsing them with fresh water after salt dives, and my neck seal still held up fine in 38 degree Lake Huron water last fall. Silicone grease attracts dirt and grit like crazy, and once that gets in the seal, it can actually start wearing the rubber out faster. Plus, if you’re greasing monthly, you’re just making a mess in your bag and on your drysuit zipper when you’re not careful. Keep it clean, keep it dry, and save the grease for when you see actual cracking or drying out.
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