wetsuit or drysuit for dredging

does anyone have any advice about wetsuits and drysuits as far as which would be better for dredging? i have a 2 1/2" keene dredge without air, so i'll mostly be snorkeling no deeper that 6 feet. i'm looking for the best combination of cold protection and mobility. i've never been in either type of suit, only neoprene waders.  i'm in east tn, near the smoky mountains. i'm sure you folks know how cool the mountain streams are, especially in the winter.  i'd like to be able to stay in the water for at least 2 hrs before i have to warm up.  thanks in advance.
                                                                                     andy

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thanks justin.  i'll check around and see what i can find.  i doubt i would have went for the dry suit anyway. i just went to a dive supply site after i posted to check prices.  wowsers, they dont make drysuits for a poor man's budget huh?  take care and thanks again,   andy

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As a long time whitewater paddler, I can attest that a dry suit is mostly only suitable for temporary submersion and is most effective for water based activities where you're primarily only being splashed with water.  I wear a drysuit to keep the water away from me when punching through rapids in cold weather, and you will usually find me wearing a couple of layers of polartec fleece under the drysuit just to help stay warm.  It does no good if you take a dump and have to swim for a while, because dry suit or not, you're gonna get soaked if you stay in the drink long enough.  Also, a long swim in a drysuit can be dangerous, because once it starts to leak and fills up with water, it becomes an anchor and will drag you down.

I wear a wetsuit on the other hand when I know I'm going spend some time submerged.  I might wear a wetsuit UNDER a drysuit if I'm contemplating something particularly stupid like shooting a 20' waterfall, but I don't depend on a dry suit to keep me dry, or even wear one, unless I'm relatively sure I won't be actually swimming for any significant amount of time. 

The time of year and cold factor determines the thickness of the wetsuit  I'll wear.  You can die from heat exhaustion in 50 degree water fighting around in a 5 mm wet suit, but freeze to death in 30 degree water in a 2mm wetsuit. 

If you end up in a cold water crisis situation wearing a wetsuit and can't get out of it immediately, (This could be considered gross so if you're sensitive, don't read any further) pee in your wetsuit.  The warm pee will instantly spread throughout the suit and buy you a few minutes of warmth so you can handle your situation.  Yeah, they teach us some strange ideas in wilderness first responder and swiftwater rescue class.  But they work.

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thanks for all the advice.  i really appreciate all the replies.  good luck to all of you in your search for "rich stuff"..
                                                                                          andy   

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