A Detailed Review of the Cressi Semi-Drysuit


Wear Cressi Semi-drysuit

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Drysuits have increasingly become popular as they allow you to stay dry and warm even when you’re in the water. Also, they are comfortable and loose fitting, unlike wetsuits.  You can control the warmth with the layers you wear under a drysuit. However, it doesn’t offer enough insulation on its own.

If you work in cold water, you might also consider going for a bulky duty drysuit.  Nonetheless, the suit should have a breathable membrane as this lets the moisture out.

Choosing the best undersuit is vital to enjoying a dive whether you’re a technical diver experienced in deep diving or a recreational diver looking to have some fun.  But with plenty of options available, settling on anyone drysuit can be overwhelming.

The good news is that you don’t have to settle for less, having read multiple diving drysuit reviews, we’ve picked one that will suit your needs.  The Cressi semi-drysuit has excellent features that will come in handy when going for a dive;

Before we get into a detailed review of the Cressi suit, here’s a list of features that you need to look out for when shopping.

Key Areas to Evaluate When Shopping for a Drysuit

Shopping for a Drysuit on a Mall
Photo credit to Global Dive

You’ll want to check off each of the following before you’re confident enough that you’ve found the right drysuit.

Fit and comfort: fit is an essential consideration when shopping for a drysuit. Whether you’re looking for a plus size wetsuit or a reasonable one, you need to check that the torso, ankles, wrists, and the neck fit well. You can choose to test for fit on the surface and at depth.

Furthermore, you will find out that the zipper location has a significant impact on the ease of donning a drysuit. There are different zippers like front entry and shoulder entry drysuit zippers.

Remember that suits can be altered to provide you a better fit.  The neck seals and cuff can be changed.  You should have a trained professional do your repairs to avoid disappointments.

Fabrics: most drysuits are made from trilaminate, rubber, or neoprene.  The seals are made of silicone or latex.  Drysuits made from laminated materials are easy to do and repair. Nevertheless, they require you to wear something warm underneath it.

While neoprene can be warm and durable, it can be challenging to get it on and off. Neoprene drysuits are resistant to tearing and abrasion. Also, they are simple to repair once dry.  These suits have little insulating qualities. You need to have various undergarments if the temperatures are extreme.

Trilaminate drysuits are made of polyester, nylon and butyl rubber. The rubber acts as a waterproof barrier. These suits are streamlined in water and can be easily transported. However, trilaminate suits have less flexibility and do not offer a lot of thermal insulation.

Ease of getting it in and Out:  although the right fit is key, you should never ignore ease of donning and doffing. You need to be able to put the drysuit easily as well as get it out without the assistance of a dive buddy.

Features:  there are many features available of the many drysuits on the market. Look out for taped seams, if it’s ergonomic, breathable or waterproof. Some suits have front zippers while others have back zippers.

Most drysuits have hoods attached. Check to see if the hood decreases your visibility. A brightly colored hood may be helpful in a case of a man-overboard situation.

Valve Use:  most suits are equipped with an adjustable or automatic exhaust valve on the upper left arm. Some have a 360-degree swivel inflation valve on the chest.  When selecting any Cressi wetsuit, be sure to check how easy it is to adjust or access these valves.

The range of Motion: if you’re an experienced diver, you know how critical it is to reach the cylinder valves to conduct shutdowns. This means that your suit needs to provide as much flexibility when making these movements.

Wearing the Drysuit

Wearing the Cressi Drysuit
Photo credit to Scuba Diver Life

It’s vital to take care when donning on your drysuit. This only increases its reliability; it also prolongs its durability.  The undergarments you wear should provide enough warmth as well as absorb perspiration.

Make sure to remove any jewelry and secure your hair with a band. Keep your skin clear of any chemicals like sunscreen as this may destroy latex.

Also, ensure that you’re not standing on gravel or concrete to avoid damaging the drysuit socks. Use the front zipper to step into the suit. You might find it comfortable sitting down while wearing a suit.

Sometimes you may find that the suit has excess air inside. You can get rid of this air by squatting and pulling the neck gasket away from the neck.  Furthermore, it’s best to test your suit before you go for a dive. This is to make sure that everything works.

Maintaining a Drysuit

Your drysuit needs to be maintained to last you a long time. Wash your suit in a bath or sink after every use and allow it to dry in a dark place.  Clean your suit with fresh water. Keep it away from sunlight and never wash it in a washing machine.

If you can’t dry it outside, use an iron or a tumble dryer. Avoid storing your suit when it’s still wet.  Ensure that you hang the suit in a wide, non-wired hanger with the zip halfway closed.  This helps to maintain its shape.  Use talcum powder for latex gaskets.  Wax or Vaseline at the bottom of the zip works great if you’re trying to prevent water seepage.

Maintaining a Drysuit Cressi Drysuit
Photo credit to Tamarillo Boutique

A Review of the Cressi Semi-drysuit

The Cressi Semi-drysuit uses neoprene that is pre-compressed. The material provides excellent thermal protection in the base. It also means that you don’t have to wear lots of undergarments. Moreover, you can enjoy an awesome patterned design and high finish quality on seams.

You’ll find two high volume thigh pockets and a complete with the Semi-drysuit.  If you’re worried about your movements, the suit uses ultra-span on its exterior lining. This gives the suit enough elasticity, hydrodynamic gliding, as well as a brilliant finish.  With Cressi wetsuit, you get to enjoy the stylish look, great performance, and extra comfort.

An extra sealing strip on the inside gives you a semi-dry waterproof ability. For seasoned divers, the double sealing system on the suit is meant to enable you to adapt to extreme weather or work conditions.

The knees, ankles, inseam, chest, armpits, and the shoulders tend to suffer from excess wear. Fortunately, this has been covered as the suit has a liquid seal which provides excellent resistance to wear.  In case you need to make a replacement or repairs to the collar, booties, or the sleeves, there are traditional seams which you can easily access.

Just like similar models, the Cressi’s chest area has an inflation valve. The Sitech valves use a lateral button. This helps to avoid unintended activation.   You’ll love the eight-pitch zipper which doesn’t sacrifice suit elasticity but also guarantees reliability.  The external flap on the zipper prevents abrasion and tearing.

No one wants to spend thirty minutes trying to get into a suit.  With Cressi drysuit, you can enjoy an oversized suit entry which provides enough room for donning.  The elastic anti-wear latex reinforcements on the knee and tibia areas have enough strength without interfering with its elasticity.

Another great thing about this suit is the fact that this suit fits perfectly for people with various foot sizes. This is because the booties do not have soles, the support areas are the only parts with reinforcements. With an abrasion resistant fabric sole, the suit has fantastic thermal conductivity while also maintaining normal fin sizing.

The female suit has one pocket, hood clip on a suit, and a free upgrade for a second hood.  You’ll find a hood and two pockets in the male suit.

Cressi Semi-drysuit Features

Cressi Semi-drysuit Features
Photo credit to Amazon UK
  • Adjustable release valve
  • Hi-stretch neoprene material for advanced comfort
  • Internal suspender system
  • Heavy duty kneepads
  • Concealed zipper
  • Side action rotating inflation valve

Pros of the Cressi Drysuit

  • Perfectly fits size
  • Easy to put on
  • Can be easily packed when traveling

Cons of the Cressi Suit

  • Not available in most countries
  • The undergarments may not be warm enough when going to a cold water environment
  • Can be difficult to fit if you’re wearing it with thicker undergarments

If you’re looking for a drysuit that provides the perfect fit and hydrodynamics similar to a wetsuit, you’ll find the Cressi Semi-drysuit an excellent option.  With minimal positive buoyancy and perfect-fit boots, you’re guaranteed to have fun while diving.  The Hi-Stretch neoprene material makes the suit extra flexible; this makes it easier to put it on and to take it off.

Vance R.

Jack Thompson, a scuba diving enthusiast from San Diego, has spent over a decade exploring the underwater world across the globe. Sharing his passion through captivating stories and informative articles, Jack aims to inspire others to embark on their own scuba diving adventures and uncover the ocean's hidden treasures. You can also follow him on Twitter.

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