PSA: I tried using a cheap harbor freight drysuit patch kit on a 100ft dive off Port Angeles and it blew a seam.

The patch held for about 20 minutes at depth before it just peeled right off. Water temp was 45 degrees, and I had to call the dive. Cost me half a day's pay and a real cold ride back to the surface boat. Learned my lesson about cutting corners on critical gear. What's a reliable brand for emergency field repairs that you guys actually trust?

2 comments

2 Comments

danielh812mo ago

Wait... you used a harbor freight patch kit on a drysuit for a 100 foot dive? That's just asking for trouble... I'm honestly surprised it held for 20 minutes. That stuff is for fixing a kiddie pool in the backyard, not keeping water out under pressure. You got lucky it just meant a cold ride up and not something way worse. For something that important, you can't use hardware store stuff.

bethcarr2mo ago

Oof, that sounds like a really rough way to learn that lesson. I mean, @danielh81 isn't wrong, that's some serious backyard fix-it energy for a deep dive. I once tried to fix a fin strap with a bread bag clip, so I get the temptation, but yeah, not for the drysuit. For a real field repair, I've only ever trusted the official stuff from the suit maker, even if it costs more. Anything else feels like hoping for a miracle.