Internal thermal insulation for dry suits, we feel, is one of the most misunderstood elements of dry suit diving. It is fundamental for divers to understand thermal layering and its buoyancy implications when deciding what to wear under a dry suit which is why we developed the PBB Plus Base Layer System.
Materials that have been proven in more extreme environments than diving have been used by O’Three in the development and manufacture of a technical, functional, easy to wear set of garments specifically designed for our sport creating this PBB plus base layer system.
To stay warm it is imperative you stay dry, not just the job of your drysuit, but your base layer/undersuit as well.
Your first concern must be to move perspiration away from your skin. Polarpro technical thermal fleece wicks, breathes and is hydrophobic, which means the fibres do not absorb water.
Body moisture is transferred away from the skin and in its place a contour of warm dry air is created.
Specifications
- Flexible two part design – Top and Salopette
- PolarPro Technical Thermal Fleece
- Collar comfort zip
- Double Front Pocket
- Hidden Key Pocket
- Routing for P-Valve
- Double ended zip on the Salopette
- New and improved spine and lumbar areas
- Specific designs specially tailored for Men and Women
This PBB Plus base layer Set comprises of Top, Salopette and Socks.
All our PBB sets come ready to dive in their own zipped carry / stash bag.
Size Guide
Please call of if you are unsure about sizing – +44 (0) 1305 822820
Polar Pro fleece is very flexible and has a lot of stretch, so sizing isn’t exact. It is feasible for someone who is 5′ 11″ (180cm) tall and 23 stone to fit into a 2XL.
Mens Sizes
| Mens |
Height |
Chest |
Waist |
Hip |
Inside Leg |
| Small |
5’5" - 5’7"
165 - 170cm |
36" - 38"
92 - 97cm |
29" - 31"
74 - 79cm |
34" - 36"
86 - 91cm |
27"
69cm |
| Medium |
5’7" - 5’9"
170 - 175cm |
38" - 40"
97 - 101cm |
31" - 33"
79 - 84cm |
36" - 38"
91 - 97cm |
28"
71cm |
| Large |
5’11" - 6’1"
180 - 186cm |
42" - 44"
107 - 112cm |
31" - 33"
79 - 84cm |
40" - 42"
101 - 107cm |
30"
76cm |
| Extra Large |
6’1" - 6’3"
185 - 190cm |
44" - 46"
112 - 117cm |
37" - 39"
94-99cm |
42" - 44"
107 - 112cm |
32"
81cm |
| 2XL |
6’3" - 6’5"
190 - 195cm |
46" - 48"
112 - 117cm |
39" - 41"
99-104cm |
44" - 46"
112 - 117cm |
33"
84cm |
| 3XL |
6’5" - 6’7"
195 - 205cm |
48" - 52"
117 - 132cm |
41" - 45"
104-114cm |
46" - 50"
117 - 127cm |
35"
89cm |
Womens Sizes
| Womens |
Height |
Bust |
Waist |
Hip |
Inside Leg |
| Extra Small |
5’2" - 5’4"
157 - 162cm |
33" - 34"
84 - 89cm |
25" - 27"
64 -69cm |
36" - 38"
91 - 97cm |
26"
66 |
| Small |
5’4" - 5’6"
162 - 167cm |
34" - 36"
89 - 91cm |
27" - 28"
69 - 71cm |
38" - 40"
97 - 101cm |
27"
69cm |
| Medium |
5’6" - 5’8"
167 - 17cm |
36" - 38"
91 - 96cm |
28" - 30"
71 - 76cm |
40" - 42"
101 - 107cm |
28"
71cm |
| Large |
5’10" - 6’0"
178 - 183cm |
40" - 42"
101 - 107cm |
32" - 35"
81 - 89cm |
44" - 46"
112 - 117cm |
30"
76cm |
| Extra Large |
5’10" - 6’0"
178 - 183cm |
42" - 44"
107 - 112cm |
35" - 38"
89-96cm |
46" - 48"
117 - 122cm |
30"
76cm |
To maximise the characteristics of all dry suits, choose your base layers / under suit carefully, and you will maintain excellent flexibility whilst still being able to dive in some very cold conditions.
Over the years experience and feedback has proved that one set of PBB+ is all that is needed under an MSF-500tb dry suit and will be effective for most of the year, for most divers. If you wear a thinner dry suit, such as the Ri 2-100 or similar, then the PBB Extreme is recommended.
This double layer will protect you from the very cold and if sized properly will not hinder your movement when fully kitted up.
Old Ideas to Modern Fabrics
It is accepted that insulation is directly proportional to the amount of trapped air in a material. Therefore, the thicker the fabric the warmer your will be.
This somewhat outdated view has created a generation of bulky, buoyant and restrictive under suits.
Today’s modern fabrics trap greater amounts of air than traditional fabrics of the same thickness, the end result, more insulation with less bulk, increased flexibility, reduced buoyancy issues and a lighter weight belt.
PLEASE NOTE: Ultimately, it is you the wearer of the dry suit that is generating the heat, the suit you choose to wear (as long as it is a neoprene suit) is simply the insulator. A membrane style of suit will offer virtually no thermal protection.
The thermal guidance information above is purely that, a guide. If you are a petite lady and feels the cold when snuggled up in bed with a winter duvet on all year round, or you are a guy that wears a T-Shirt in the depths of winter your reliance on a neoprene dry suit from a thermal perspective is at either end of the scale.
Remember, if your base layer / under suit combination is coming up short at certain times of the year, just add flexible layers using the correct fabrics to improve your resistance to the cold. Think climbers and skiers. Get it wrong and you will increase bulk and buoyancy.
Please be sensible realistic and careful when choosing the appropriate thermal protection. We are all different.
Your life could depend on it.
