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Congratulations on your Drysuit Purchase
Your drysuit has been designed to provide you with the highest degree of comfort and convenience. Since
1956 we have been constructing suits with the finest quality materials, design and production excellence.
Our suits have been used for many years by professional dive and rescue teams and have a reputation for
performance and durability.
Each drysuit is individually inspected and tank tested before it leaves our factory.
From time to time your suit, including its valves, zippers and seals, may require professional service. If,
for any reason, you suspect that service is required, or your suit and/or its components do not perform as
they should, then you should immediately discontinue its use and have it evaluated and/or serviced at your
authorized dealer. Our recommended interval is annually.
A little effort goes a long way to keeping your suit in optimum working order. Please take a moment to
familiarize yourself with the care, maintenance and warranty information. If you have any questions about
your suit, please do not hesitate to contact your authorized dealer.
The dry suit and has been found to be in accordance with the requirements of Council Directive 89/686/
EEC. When examined the product satisfied the requirements of the manufacturer’s technical specifications
(based upon EN14225:2005 requirements), which has been previously assessed and deemed to meet the
basic health and safety requirements (Annex II) of the directive.
Components Supplied with your Drysuit
Every drysuit comes supplied with:
- Suspenders - Inflation Hose - Owner's Manual - Zipper Lubricant
Drysuit Accessories
A full range of accessories is available to add to the comfort or practicality of using
your drysuit. For details, please refer to the current product catalogue and/or www.aqualung.com.
Dry suit compatibility
The dry suit is compatible with all standard diving equipment, such as: undersuit, mask, fins, BCD, tanks,
regulator etc. The user should be trained and familiar with the use of the equipment for use with the dry suit.
The size of suit is
marked on interior
label of suit with
size of suit per
published chart with
Height and Chest
sizing included.
HEIGHT
CHEST
3
Table of Contents
Critical Safety Precautions & Limitations on Use 4
User Guidance & Warnings 5-6
Limited Warranty 6
Donning a Back Entry Drysuit 7-8
Post Dive Procedures, Cleaning & Decontamination 8-10
Disposal 10
Polytex Neck & Wrist Seal Care 11
Fitting Polytex Seals 11
Exhaust Valve 12
Inflator Valve & Low Pressure Hose 13
Folding Suit for Storage 14
Drysuit Zipper Care 14-15
Installing Inflator & Exhaust Valves 15
Finding a Leak 16
Repairing a Hole 17
Changing Polytex Neck Seal and/or Hood 18
Replacing Wrist Seals, Neck Seal & Hood 19
4
Critical Safety Precautions & Limitations on Use
1 Complete a drysuit diving course from an instructor and stay current.
2 Always use a buoyancy compensation device (BCD) when diving with a drysuit.
3 Know your equipment and emergency procedures.
4 Practice your drysuit diving skills under controlled conditions until you are fully conversant. If div-
ing in open water, consider using a shot line or the boat’s anchor line to control your ascent.
5 If diving with a buddy ensure that he/she understands your drysuit system.
6 Use the correct amount of insulation (thermal protection) for the water temperature you are diving
in and your exercise rate.
7 Don't weight yourself heavier than neutral buoyancy with an empty tank. Your weighting should
allow you to make a safety stop at an appropriate depth in accordance with the decompression
schedule in use.
8 Inspect your valves, zipper and seals for proper performance before each dive.
9 Perform preventative maintenance and repairs on your suit and valves regularly, or have them
serviced by a qualified individual.
10 Know your limitations and do not exceed them.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This is not a diving instruction manual, nor does it eliminate the necessity for obtaining professional
instruction in the operation of a drysuit, diving in contaminated water or having a diving certification. The
user is therefore advised to obtain such instruction as well as familiarizing him or herself with the informa-
tion contained in this manual prior to operation of any drysuit.
5
Use: This suit should only be used in conditions appropriate for this type of CE certification, within user
qualifications and in accordance with the regulations of the local jurisdiction. The maximum operating depth
is determined by the users training, experience level and certified limits of breathing apparatus.
Variation of Buoyancy: Improper use or misuse of this drysuit could result in the loss of buoyancy control,
including uncontrolled descents and uncontrolled rapid ascents, which could result in decompression sick-
ness, air embolism, drowning and death. The presence of a volume gas inside the suit will be subject to the
effects of compression and expansion relative to the hydrostatic pressure. Inappropriate use of the inflator
and the purge could cause squeeze during the descent as well as a too-fast ascent, which could result in a
decompression accident. An undergarment used in combination with this drysuit shall allow free passage
of air between the user’s body and the deflation device for proper exhausting and inflation. Do not use the
drysuit as a lift bag. If you use the drysuit as a lift bag and lose the grip on the object, you may become ex-
cessively buoyant. This may result in rapid ascent. Rapid ascent is dangerous and may cause air embolism
or decompression sickness, either of which can result in serious injury or death.
Inflation Gas: Introducing gas into the suit should serve only to control the internal volume and so main-
taining the thermal protection. Use of a drysuit will in no way replace the need for a buoyancy compensation
device (BCD). This suit is intended for use with compressed air or with Enriched Air Nitrox (EAN) where the
percentage of oxygen in the EAN does not exceed 40%. Do not use any other gas or mixture for inflation of
the suit. Using any EAN with a percentage of oxygen exceeding 40% for inflation presents a risk of fire and
explosion. When using argon there is a risk of this gas getting into a full-face mask and the breathing system
through the hood. The effects of breathing argon are more narcotic than nitrogen when under increased
partial pressure.
Thermal Protection: This suit leaves only your head and hands in direct contact with the water. The
temperature of the water in which you will use this suit will likely require that you also wear a hood and
gloves. This suit offers thermal protection as long as it is used with an undergarment with a thickness
appropriate to the temperature of the water. Several types of undergarments are available. The choice of
undergarment is influenced by the drysuit material, the temperature of the water in which you plan to dive,
and your work rate. An inappropriate choice of undergarment could cause hypothermia or hyperthermia.
Only specialized training will give you the knowledge required to make the best choice of equipment.
User Guidance & Warnings
6
Your drysuit is warranted for a period of (3) years from the date of original purchase to be free from de-
fects in workmanship, material, and seams. Warranty is valid to the original purchaser and non-transferable.
The zipper and valves are warranted for a period of (1) year from the date of original purchase from de-
fects in materials and workmanship. Drysuit seals (wrist & neck) are warranted for a period of 90 days from
defects in material and workmanship.
Warranties do not extend to damages caused by normal or abusive wear and tear, fading, misuse,
improper trimming, negligence, or effects from chemical exposure. This warranty is invalid if negligent or
unauthorized repair procedures have resulted in damage to the drysuit.
Any product determined to be defective in material or workmanship will be repaired or replaced at our
discretion free of charge. Suit must be returned freight prepaid with proof of purchase. Proof of purchase
must be established to obtain warranty service or replacement.
Hydrostatic pressure will reduce the thickness of the suit. Thus the thermal protection of the suit can
reduce with depth.
Work Rate: Work rates will be influenced by choice of undergarment being worn and water temperature.
Too high of a work rate in conjunction with a thick undergarment and/or warm water temperature could
cause hyperthermia. Only specialized training will give you the knowledge required to make the best choice
of equipment.
Fitting: Reference the appropriate size chart for your suit to assist with selecting the correct size for your
body. It is important that you try on the suit in a specialized dive shop offering you the advice of qualified
and experienced staff. If you choose a suit that is too tight you may experience squeeze problems during
the descent. If the suit is too big for your size you may experience problems of over-expansion that could
cause an uncontrolled ascent. Neck and wrist seals need to be adapted to the size of the diver.
Allergic Reaction: Some individuals may be allergic to contact with materials in this suit such as latex or
neoprene. If you suffer from allergies, consult a doctor before using the suit.
User Guidance & Warnings
Limited Warranty
7
Donning a Back Entry Drysuit
(zipper across shoulders)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1 Adjust suspenders for a snug yet comfortable fit. The suspenders should hold the suit up in the crotch
but not so tight to restrict bending over.
2 Push hands through the latex wrist seals, using your free hand to expand the wrist opening. Use thumb
loops on undergarment to hold garment in place, eliminating bunching.
3 Tuck undergarment thumb loops back under seal after your hand has been
pushed through.
4 Using both hands, stretch the neck seal over your head.
5 Have your dive buddy carefully zip you up.
6 When opening or closing the zipper avoid catching undergarment material in the dry zip per teeth. If
zipper slider becomes jammed, do not continue pulling. Back zipper up and clear debris or clothing. Do
not force your zipper.
* Use talcum powder on seals as a lubricant to assist in sliding into seals.
When removing a back-entry drysuit, follow the same steps as above in reverse.
Warning: Avoid sharp objects (rings, earrings, fingernails) when donning suits.
To keep the suit clean, rinse the external part of the diving suit with clean water (especially after diving
in salty water). This will remove the salt and mud from the fasteners and will limit the formation of mould,
as well as the development of bacteria. Rinse with a strong stream of running water. After rinsing, dry the
diving suit. Drying the diving suit is necessary in such circumstances, where the diving suit has been
flooded with water. First completely dry the inside of the diving suit followed by the same procedure with
the outside. When drying, the diving suit should be hung on a wide hanger with the fasteners unzipped
and all other parts of the suit hanging freely. Avoid drying in the sun, near chemical substances or open
fire, as well as heaters, electric engines or other devices that produce ozone. The effect of these can
cause color – fading and damage elements of the diving suit. After drying examine the diving suit carefully
for any damage.
Donning a Back Entry Drysuit (zipper across shoulders)
Post Dive Procedures, Cleaning & Decontamination
9
Post Dive Procedures, Cleaning & Decontamination
General: The materials used in the construction of your suit allow for easy general cleaning & decon-
tamination. Care was taken in choosing materials that not only protect you in the environment in which
you are diving but also allow for straightforward post-dive clean up. All suits should be cleaned/rinsed
with fresh water after use and after decontamination.
Contaminated Water Diving (CWD):
1 HazMat, Enviro & Enviro Hybid suits should always be decontaminated after each CWD use.
2 The very smooth surface of these suits allows for many products to be used for decontamination and
does not require special systems or application process to ensure the suit is clean.
3 There are many different types of contaminates and an appropriate decontamination solution should be
chosen for use.
4 Types of decontamination solutions vary in the effectiveness and application depending on the contami-
nation encountered.
5 The most common contamination encountered by divers is biological-based. Biological contaminants
are not damaging towards the suit material, unlike some chemicals, but can still pose a risk to the diver
and topside personnel.
6 Petroleum-based products (gas, oil, and other lubricants) are the second most common contamination
encountered during CWD today. These are mostly found in small concentrations floating on the surface
and get on the suit during entering and exiting the water.
Some of the more common solutions used for decontamination:
Simple Green™ is a good degreaser and is non-toxic and biodegradable according to the manufacturer.
Depending on the amount of petroleum based product on the suit it can be applied with a simple garden
sprayer in whatever concentration necessary to ensure complete decontamination.
Lestoil™ is a household cleaner/degreaser that is recommended for many household cleaning chores
including laundry. It can also be diluted to a concentration that is most effective for the level of contami-
nation.
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Bleach solution has been used for many years to kill biological contaminates. Used in the correct con-
centrations it does an excellent job in killing biological contamination. The key here is “correct concentra-
tions” - too little and it is ineffective, too much and you will start to shorten the life of the drysuit. A 5-7%
concentration will effectively kill most biological contamination encountered in the marine environment
without adversely affecting the drysuit.
Failure to properly decontaminate your dry suit will increase the risk of health issues to both diver and
support personnel and can also reduce the useable life of the dry suit.
Note: The above list is not exhaustive and other suitable decontamination products may be available.
An assessment of the need for additional decontamination shall be made if the dry suit is to be reused
after it has been exposed to hazardous materials and initially decontaminated. A close visual inspection of
any diving equipment used in contaminated water is essential once the gear has been decontaminated.
During the inspection, the diver should look for any of the following:
• Brittleness of the material
• Color changes in the material
• Swollen material
All suits that are damaged beyond repair and cannot be made to pass all inspections and checks
described above, must be taken out of service and disposed of.
The proper method of disposal will depend on local regulations. In general the suit should be treated
as waste and as such the proper method of disposal is normally incineration or landfill. For suits that are
contaminated with chemicals, local regulations for the chemicals in question must be taken into account.
Post Dive Procedures, Cleaning & Decontamination
Disposal
11
1-2 You may want to fine-tune the fit of your seals. If your seals seem too tight, they can be trimmed to
create a comfortable fit. Using scissors, carefully trim off 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) at a time, checking the fit
each time. You do not have to wear your suit during this process, just slide wrist or your neck into the
seals to test the fit as you go along. The seals should be snug but not tight. You may want your dealer
to assist you in fitting your seals.
Warning: Neck seals that are too tight may restrict blood
flow to the brain resulting in serious injury.
Polytex Neck & Wrist Seal Care
Polytex seals offer a superb seal, however they can be fragile. Avoid contact with petroleum based
products such as lotions, and petroleum based silicone lubricants, as they will accelerate the deteriora-
tion of Polytex seals.
For lubrication use talcum powder or cornstarch. Avoid sharp objects (rings, earrings, and fingernails)
as they may tear the seal. Extended exposure to sunlight will damage seals. Exposure to extreme cold will
stiffen seals, ensure seals are warmed to pliable condition before attempting to stretch them.
1 2
Fitting Polytex Seals
12
Exhaust Valve
2
1
1 Your drysuit is equipped with an adjustable high-
flow auto-exhaust valve allowing the highest
degree of hands-off buoyancy control.
2 The HazMat suit is fitted with a double diaphragm
Contaminated Water Exhaust Valve (red cover).
The Enviro and ProCom suits are fitted with a
standard single diaphragm exhaust valve (black
cover).
3 Rotate faceplate clockwise for decreased venting and counter-clockwise for increased venting.
4 Pushing down on the faceplate will allow manual air release.
5 Check that your exhaust valve body is screwed hand-tight into the suit before each dive.
6 Check the exhaust valve faceplate setting before each dive.
If your valve is not working correctly abandon your dive and have the valve inspected by an authorized
technician.
7 Contaminated Water Exhaust Valve: This valve (red cover, fitted to the HazMat suit) is specially designed
to reduce the chance of water entering the suit during your dive. This valve uses a double diaphragm (or
check valve) system that exhausts at a slower rate than a standard exhaust valve. You should always
practice your buoyancy and ascent rate with this valve in order to become familiar with its function.
8 If you ever remove both your inflator and exhaust valves from your HazMat suit pay close attention upon
re-installation that you install the red back nut with the red exhaust valve as the second check valve is
located in the interior back nut. It is important not to swap this with the inflator back nut as it will not allow
air to enter the suit through the inflator valve.
13
1 Screw the low pressure inflate hose into
the low-pressure port on your first stage.
Do not use a high- pressure port!
2 Slide hose connector back to lock hose into
place over inflate valve nipple.
3 Pushing the button center on the inflate
valve will add air to your suit.
4 Available as an option is a Contaminated
Water Inflate Valve (red cover for identification) with slider/shut-off valve.
This allows the user to shut off the air in case the inflator button sticks open
without disconnecting the hose.
Important: Check that your inflate valve body is screwed hand-tight
into the suit before each dive. If your valve is not working correctly
abandon your dive and have the valve inspected by your dealer.
2
1
4
Inflator Valve & Low Pressure Hose
14
Keep your zipper free of sand and debris by spraying with clean fresh water after
every use. Store suit with zipper in the open position. Stubborn debris lodged in the
zipper can be removed with a soft toothbrush and mild hand or dish soap.
When opening or closing a zipper, avoid catching undergarment material in the dry
zipper teeth. If zipper slider becomes jammed, do not continue pulling. Back zipper up
and clear debris or clothing. Do not force your zipper.
Keep your zipper lubricated, paraffin wax is ideal. Do not use oil-based lubricants
or silicone spray as they can damage the zipper material. Lubricate metallic zipper
teeth after each dive and plastic zipper teeth every 4-5 dives. Be sure when storing
your suit not to fold the zipper back on itself (see "Folding" above). For prolonged storage, it is best to
Drysuit Zipper Care
1 Back-entry suit: with the zipper open, roll the suit
starting at the boots working forward toward the
neck seal.
2 Legs and torso rolled up.
3 Loosely fold the arms together over the body of the
suit. Do not stuff your suit in a bag that is too small,
as the zipper may get bent.
4 Self-entry suit: same as above, except fold suit with
back facing upwards.
The emphasis is on keeping the zipper from bend-
ing or kinking. For prolonged storage, it is best to
hang your suit boots up, with the zipper in the open
position. Hang in a cool dry place, out of direct sun-
light and away from electric motors or fumes (i.e.:
chlorine, diesel or gas).
2
Folding Suit for Storage
4
1
3
15
hang your suit from the legs, with the zipper in the open position. Hang it in a cool, dry place, out of direct
sunlight. For transport, do not stuff your suit in a bag that is too small.
Important: After prolonged storage check the seals for cracking or loss of stretch. Natural rubber com-
ponents generally have a lifetime of 5 years before needing replacement.
We suggest having
your authorized dealer
maintain your drysuit
valves
1-4 Insert the male part of the valve into the suit
valve hole.
5 Screw the valve backing plate into position.
The valves must be screwed in hand-tight.
A valve tool, can assist in tightening the valve.
21 3
4 5
Drysuit Zipper Care
Installing Inflator & Exhaust Valves
16
The HazMat, Enviro and ProCom suits are
some of the easiest drysuits to repair on the
market. Our dry adhesive system makes patch-
ing the suit very simple with only a few tools
needed. The first task is finding the hole(s).
1 What you need: mild soap, pop cans, water
container or spray bottle, tank, regulator,
twine, and chalk.
2 If your suit has the dry glove ring system on
it just snap a pair of dry gloves over the rings
and use either a pair of Glove Retention Rings
or twine to hold the gloves on. If your suit does
not have the rings, place a can in the wrist
opening and tie with twine.
3 Gather neck seal and tie snug with twine.
Rotate exhaust valve faceplate to closed
position.
4 Insert inflate hose into inflate valve and
inflate suit fully.
5 Pour soapy water or spray with soapy water
over the suspected leak area. Mark areas
where bubbles appear with chalk.
Finding a Leak
4
5a
21
5b
3
17
Repairing a Hole
3
Now that you have marked the leak with chalk
you can proceed to repair the hole.
1 What you need: dry adhesive patch (available from
your dealer), acetone, clean rag, hot air source (a
heat gun), a pair of scissors and a hand roller.
2 Cut patch to desired size and shape. Round off any
points.
3 Clean the area of the hole with acetone. Clean the
dry adhesive on the patch with acetone. Repeat
for both areas using liberal amounts of acetone
each time.
4 Promptly apply patch over hole and press firmly.
5 Using a hot air source, apply heat to patch. Use
extreme caution! Keep moving the heat around
and do not focus it at any one point for an
extended period of time (most heat guns need
to be held at least 5" to 6" away). Roll patch with
hand roller. Press patch firmly.
Caution: Patch may be extremely hot!
6 Let patch cool for 15 minutes and inspect bond.
Adhesive film should be bonded to both surfaces.
If bond is not secure, repeat heat process and
inspect bond again.
1 2
4
5
6
18
Changing Polytex Neck Seal and/or Hood
1
3
4 5
6
7 8
2
9 10
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If your suit is equipped with the Wrist Rings for dry gloves and the SLT (Seal Lock Technology) neck
system then this is the easiest repair. A complete video is available on our website on how to change seals
on both systems. As it is very possible you will be doing this in the field (without access to a computer) we
suggest you review the video and practice it a head of time so you will feel comfortable doing it in the field.
If your suit does not have either of the quick change systems we suggest you have your seals replaced
by an authorized dealer. A complete list can be obtained on our website.
Replacing Wrist Seals, Neck Seal, & Hood
Aqua Lung Canada Ltd
6820 Kirkpatrick Crescent
Saanichton, British Columbia
V8M 1Z9 Canada
t: 250.652.8554 f: 250.652.8553
www.aqualung.com/militaryandprofessional
Version 8/2014
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