Had a bit of a search . There was a few results but nothing with too much to offer
As far as drysuits go for nz conditions for dredging what advice has anyone got for a first time buyer and what features are considered mandatory and or not required .
I can figure out i need a piss flap . Non optional
Dont plan on being very deep tbph . Probably only be in water i can stand up in anyway
What is the difference between “socks” and “boots" vs what ever its called with ya bare foot sticking out ?
I ld assume I want dry feet but I’ll wear light boots / shoes over that ?
One good idea I did hear was sections of inner tube over knees protects them longer .
I want to go dry suit because I have both types of diabetes and the getting in / out of a wetsuit with hot water as a one man operation is looking less than ideal . Due to poor circulation etc
This seemed to tick bout the right amount of boxes ?
I saw this listing you may be interested in: Brand New Santi E-Motion Dry Suit Size 2XL Trade Me
I dont need anything untill the end of summer so no rush
hi I dont recommend dry suits with zips across the back i have 2 and there a right pain , get a front entry one if possible, make sure you get an undergarment and make sure its plenty big enough to put a few clothes on under it , use bread bags to slide your arms thru the seals , wax your zipper often , both my suits have built in boots but you need neopreme socks as well , so keep all this in mind when sizing your suit , look after your suit replacing the seals is expensive , they have there pros and cons , if your dredging some distance from your vehicle go for a drysuit , its a must to have knee protection for both you and your suit.. hope this helps
Hi mate, I havnt used a dry suit personally but in my wetsuit experience Iv tried all kinds of knee pads etc to cut down on wear. Iv discovered the best thing you can do as a starter is to purchase some *flex marine sealant and really cover your wear points before use. Knees, elbows/forearms. I normallypack out my suit with some towels so it dosnt lose shape. I also do belly and hips, but I do work in a lot of shallow water. I havnt tried tyre tube, but if you use the sealant and then tube or pads itl make your suit last so much longer, itl need sealant every know and again as it wears down. Hard to do with a new suit. But worth it. Also try and find yourself some orange Lynn River rubber gloves to pull over your wettie gloves. They will save you a fortune in replacing wettie gloves, super tough.
Hey GS, I like your idea of sticking towels into the suit to help hold its shape/size. My last suit shrunk on me I hadn’t put on any weight either. Had to buy a new one a size bigger. I can grow into that one.
I have a Santi drysuit for diving… it’s amazing! Kevlar cover from knee to ankles….
I’d probably recommend drysuit with socks for dredging as the usual boots on drysuits are very thin and soft and might break quickly with all the rocks and stuff you encounter while dredging. But if you find a nice dive shop they can probably replace the boots of that Santi with socks…
That said, I used my Santi for a few years now and do wreck diving with it and never had a hole or anything broken even when squeezing through tighter passages…
You can even get heated undergarments for drysuits if you need and a dry glove system for the Santi that is user replaceable… Nothing’s better than having warm, dry hands while diving… And I suppose it can’t hurt while dredging either
I hadn’t put on any weight either. Had to buy a new one a size bigger. I can grow into that one. 
