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mickwood · 28-11-2008, 03:59 PM

ok...managed to pick up a secondhand 'northern divers divemaster' neoprene divesuit for a cheap price of £80 but it didn't come with an inflator hose - but for £80 who can argue!

I'm new to diving drysuits and wondered if anyone know's what hose is required for this suit? I've managed to work out that the valve is the blowgun valve type but am not 100% sure what this means? Do I need a hose from the 1st stage reg to a 'trigger mechanism' (to release the air?) which then attaches to the chest valve? If so...where sells them? I've trawled the internet to see if I can see anything but no joy....hence the post!

Huh

Ian · 28-11-2008, 04:08 PM

Call Northern Divers. They are a good bunch and will tell you exactly what you need. They will probably also sell it to you at a reasonable price!

Are you sure it's the blowgun type? They are quite unusual... Anyway, ND will sort you out.

Ian

bottlefish · (This post was last modified: 28-11-2008 04:14 PM by bottlefish.)

There should be a push button on the chest which controls the flow of air in, the LPI hose should be similar to the one you attach to your BCD, attachs to one of the low pressure ports on the 1st stage. There are two different sizes of valve on dry suit, it will either be the same size as your BCD valve or a larger size.... try your BCD LPI, if it fits, by the same, if it doesn't by the other....

Please, make sure you get some training, or atleast an oritentation, on dry suit diving from someone experienced and qualified before you go out and dive it. There are a few essential skills you'll need to learn, if you don't you might find yourself breaching the surface feet first at the speed of a polaris missile!!

gerald1961 · 28-11-2008, 04:23 PM

have to agree with Ian northern diver give amazing support for thier gear , even when it is bought from someone else

Polly · 28-11-2008, 04:26 PM

My first suit was a Northern diver and I had 2 inflator hoses for it. I've still got one of them, which doesn't fit my current suit.

I can post it on if you want to give it a go, but from what I remember it's quite small...want me to measure it so you can check against your regs / suit?

mickwood · (This post was last modified: 28-11-2008 04:42 PM by mickwood.)

(28-11-2008 04:13 PM)bottlefish Wrote: There should be a push button on the chest which controls the flow of air in, the LPI hose should be similar to the one you attach to your BCD

Yeah, that's what I was expecting but nope! Which is what lead me to believe that there MUST be an attachment which goes between the LPH and the valve that allows you to put air in.

Would Northern Divers still help even if I bought it second hand??

Just e-mailed them......fingers crossed!!

gerald1961 · 28-11-2008, 04:44 PM

i would think so they were very helpful with the regs i bought off ebay.

bottlefish · 28-11-2008, 05:29 PM

As Gerald says, I'm sure they would... just had a look on the ND web site, I didn't even know they did a "blowgun" fitting! Yay, I've learnt something new Smile

, however I've still no idea how they fit or work Sad

Anyone care to enlghten me some more?

Ian · (This post was last modified: 28-11-2008 05:48 PM by Ian.)

(28-11-2008 05:29 PM)bottlefish Wrote: As Gerald says, I'm sure they would... just had a look on the ND web site, I didn't even know they did a "blowgun" fitting! Yay, I've learnt something new , however I've still no idea how they fit or work

Anyone care to enlghten me some more?

With a blowgun fitting the suit just has an attachment and a valve that only opens under pressure. The "button" to activate the flow is on the hose fitting.

The advantage is that you can detach the hose under water and use the "blowgun" for other things such as inflating a SMB.

(28-11-2008 04:28 PM)mickwood Wrote: Would Northern Divers still help even if I bought it second hand??
Just e-mailed them......fingers crossed!!

Absolutely - they are OK on e-mail but just phone them tomorrow if you don't hear back (they are open Saturday). They are always happy to support their kit however it is being used!

DaveS · 28-11-2008, 10:18 PM

(28-11-2008 04:26 PM)Polly Wrote: My first suit was a Northern diver and I had 2 inflator hoses for it. I've still got one of them, which doesn't fit my current suit.

I can post it on if you want to give it a go, but from what I remember it's quite small...want me to measure it so you can check against your regs / suit?

Your drysuit also has a half coat hanger in it from the weekend. I think it broke as Will grabbed anything to hand as the boat nearly capsized.