Scuba diving was born in the 20th century and so the evolution of undersea equipment has gone hand in hand with the rapid progression of 20th century technology. From rubber facemasks to digital dive computers, from neoprene to titanium, every year some amazing new gadget, material, design, or device will burst on the scene to improve our diving lives. Without the synthetics and technology of the 20th century, scuba diving would still be just science fiction. Surprising then that one of the first major discoveries of the 21st century to revolutionise the wetsuit industry, is a material that mankind has already been using for over 2000 year, Merino™ fibre.
Award-winning designer John Gordon, has been designing wetsuits for over thirty years and admits that he never considered lining his suits with sheep-wool in all that time. But with increased global environmental awareness and some astounding research into the properties of this miracle fibre, John discovered that not only was the merino option a viable alternative, in many areas it was superior to the petro-chemical synthetics currently being widely used. Not to be confused with the wool of a normal sheep, merino fibre has unique qualities that make it a superior fibre for the lining of wetsuits. In fact it is one of the most complex fibres - natural or synthetic- known to mankind. With its natural composition and complexity, Merino™ easily adapts to your body's temperature and its unique moisture control properties make it a remarkable discovery for the wetsuit industry.
Merino sheep have been bred for it's wool for over 2000 years and has many different strains around the world, but the world's best merino fibre comes from a small Merino population bred in isolation in one of the remotest parts of the world. Deep in the South Pacific, the majestic Southern Alps of New Zealand are home to this elite band of sheep. The climatic extremes and isolation of this harsh, rugged landscape have led to the development of a special fibre, New Zealand Merino™, which is unrivalled in softness, purity and strength.
Male version = Blue/Black
Female Version = Purple/Black
Features
Constructed in a combination of 7mm and 5mm neoprene, with a Merino™ lined torso.
Rear entry zipper has a smoothskin seal with a 10mm backing flap for spinal protection.
Wrist seal system with O-ring cuffs and internal Orcaskin™ seal for reduced water entry.
Ankle sealing system includes a locking zipper and an internal chimney seal to eliminate water transfer.
Roll-down collar allows freedom of head move-ment while maintaining a watertight seal.
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