TESTCENTRE
Short order
Not since BC ( Before Covid ) had I managed a dive trip outside home waters , so when the chance of a height-of-summer excursion to the Red Sea came up , I found myself searching for an appropriate warm-water suit . A quick call to Portland-based O ’ Three soon had an example of their 2.5mm neoprene Shortie Wetsuit on its way to the Test Centre . With the compact , lightweight ( 800g ) suit tucked away in my kit bag , I left a wet and windy UK behind for a welcome break .
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Shortie Wetsuit
COMPANY : O ’ THREE TEL : 01305 822820 PRICE : £ 99.95 WEB : WWW . OTHREE . CO . UK
Available in gender-specific tailored versions , the all-black shortie has accented graphics in blue ( gents ) and pink ( ladies ). These are subtle in design and are further complimented by a colour-coordinated O ’ Three matching logo located on the chest . The robust 2.5mm thick neoprene makes good use of panels in its construction to provide support and excellent flexibility where it ’ s needed . The backside and rear of the legs are protected from wear and tear with 190D abrasion-resistant fabric . This not only protects the seat of the suit from damage when kitting-up on dive boat benches or rocky entry points , but also for kayaking or surfing . Donning the shortie was quick and easy , even when wet . The heavy-duty YKK zip runs vertically from the lower back to the neck , and runs free and easy . An inner
Male ( left ) and female-specific designs
Adjustable velro-closure zip
flap of thinner neoprene prevents water ingress and eliminates any discomfort from your BCD and cylinder when fully kitted-up . The wide , adjustable , smooth-skinned neck seal provided an excellent seal , secured via a contoured Velcro flap . The water temperature of 27 ° C saw a variety of different exposure-protection approaches among my fellow divers . Some opted for a rash vest / board shorts combo , others needed a full 5mm wetsuit , however the shortie-style wetsuit proved the most popular by far . The reasons behind this are quite simple and O ’ Three ’ s attractive version illustrated this perfectly throughout my week-long trip , diving two or three times a day . First , it ’ s a relatively inexpensive purchase . At a smidgeon under £ 100 , it won ’ t break the bank and providing you don ’ t gain more than a few kilogrammes during your ownership ( although it ’ s actually quite accommodating in this respect ) it should give years of service . The most important factors however , are its convenience