Drysuit seam repair is a service that most dive shops offer. A drysuit is essentially a suit that has been designed for long periods of exposure to extremely low temperatures, without adding any form of protection to the wearer’s skin. Diving and swimming in these conditions presents some unique dangers, particularly as it relates to the possibility of hypothermia. For this reason, every dive site has its own emergency protocol for dealing with such situations. Diving experts tend to perform drysuit seam repair in the event of an accident, rather than risk their own lives by attempting to rescue a colleague.
Drysuit Seam Repair
The main goal of drysuit seam repair is to correct any seam inconsistencies so that the suit can resume its intended functionality. Two common scenarios that are addressed by this service include one in which the fabric has been cut or damaged beyond repair, or two in which the protective seam has been compromised beyond repair. In the first case, the diver may be able to have the item altered via custom quote or drysuit exchange, while in the second, the garment will have to be sent to a professional drysuit repair shop for repair. A customized drysuit repair often addresses matters such as punctures, tears, and even missing buttons.
Drysuit seam repair isn’t usually covered by insurance, but many dive shops still provide it as a service. If the garment has been damaged beyond repair, the scuba doctor can typically suggest replacement items from the same manufacturer, or he may suggest an identical style of drysuit that would be able to protect the wearer in the same way. A scuba doctor trained in drysuit seam repair can also make suggestions for improvements to the original design that can further prevent similar problems in the future. The service is usually provided for a minimal fee, and often requires that a copy of the diver’s certification be presented for inspection by the scuba doctor prior to the new garment being introduced to the diver’s body.