Diving helmet fit changed after I swapped my hood type

I've been using a Kirby Morgan 37 for about 4 years now and always wore a 7mm neoprene hood under it. Last month I switched to a thin 3mm crushed neoprene hood for a warmer water job and suddenly the helmet seal feels totally different, like it's sitting higher on my neck. Has anyone else noticed a big fit difference just from changing hood thickness, or am I imagining things?

2 comments

2 Comments

wren21718d ago

Oh man, that's a pretty big change to adjust to.

victorross17d ago

A seven millimeter to a three millimeter change is a huge jump in thickness, not just a small one. That extra neoprene was basically acting like a cushioned spacer on your shoulders and neck, so when you yank it out, the whole helmet drops down and shifts how it sits. The KM 37 skirt seal is designed to grip around your neck and collarbone area, and with the thinner hood, that seal is now landing on a different spot entirely. I've seen guys have to adjust their spider straps or even swap out the neck dam because of that exact thickness difference. Plus your head might be sitting just a tiny bit lower in the bowl, which changes the angle of the faceport and how the cheek pads dig in. It's not in your head at all, that fit change is totally real and something you gotta dial back in.