FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQ’s:

 

Q: What is Aquala-ply? 

A: Aquala-ply is our two-ply, proprietarily blended rubber sheeting, that we’ve been using since the early 1950s. The outer layer is green, and the inner layer is white. It is .031″ thick.

Q: How long does it take to make my suit? 

A: We quote 6-8 weeks for delivery. Every Aquala suit is cut by hand and made to order. We don’t start your suit until the order is placed, so we take our time to get it just right.

Q: How do I clean my suit?

A: Rinse after each use, both inside and out, towel dry, then air dry to finish. For mud, and other waterborne contaminants, use mild soap and water with a soft bristled brush if necessary. Clean cuffs and face seal with mild soap and water after every dive. Coat with pure talc, or corn starch to keep seals from sticking during prolonged storage.

Q: How do I store my suit?

A: Loosely fold, and keep in a canvas duffel. Cool, dry and dark is best, so avoid places like the trunk of your car, a metal storage shed, etc. Also avoid sources of ground ozone, like copiers, laser printers, hair dryers, and car exhaust. Ground ozone, not the good stuff up in the atmosphere, can lead to dryrot in rubber products. Although there are ozone and UV protectants blended into Aquala-ply, it’s best to avoid it altogether. If you live in places with high levels of ozone, such as Los Angeles, Long Beach or Riverside California, it’s best to store in a sealed plastic bag. For long-term storage, coat the suit entirely, both inside and out, with a thin layer of pure talc or cornstarch.

Q: Why do you recommend pure talcum powder, instead of baby powder?

A: Pure talc is just that, pure talc. Baby powder is talc, but it contains fragrances which are chemicals that can react with rubber. Baby powder can cause latex seals to deteriorate and can cause Aquala-ply to develop a hardened sheen which makes repair difficult.

Q: How long will my Aquala suit last?

A: That depends on many factors, such as frequency of use, and how well it’s cleaned and cared for after the dive. We have suits spanning the decades, going all the way back to the 1950s, that are still diveable today.

Q: What is your return policy?

A: Actually, and we hate for this to sound harsh, all suit orders are final. The reason being is that your suit was cut and built for you, and nobody really wants someone else’s suit.

Q: What is your warranty?

A: We guarantee our material and our quality of workmanship. If there’s a problem with either of those two issues within the first twelve months, we’ll take care of it. We don’t warrant against mishandling or abuse of the suit. Since we’ve been doing this for a long time, we can tell the difference between mishandling, and manufacturing workmanship issues, so we hope you’ll understand.

Q: Why are your suits only available in green?

A: Aquala is clean, classic style and that’s what our “Water Green” color is all about. It’s the color that put us on the map back in the day, and was the earliest form of underwater camouflage. Remember, our suits predate scuba, and our earliest customers were free diving, spear fishermen. Our “Water Green” color was so on the map, that according to legend, one of the reasons the term “frogman” was coined, was for the green color of our suits.

Q: What’s up with the suit names?

A: While we’re no longer based in Los Angeles…California is where we began. This is our way of paying homage to the state, and a few cool Cali dive spots that helped us get our start. After all, the “LA” in AQUA-LA, originally stood for Los Angeles.

The Coronado: An early US Navy combat diver was called a “frogman”, and legend tells that the term was coined because of their green Aquala built suits. Like many things, what starts in the military soon trickles down to the civilian world. Eventually all divers in the 1950s were being called “frogmen”, partly because of their green, Aquala suits. We named this suit the Coronado, home to the US Navy’s Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, in Coronado, California. The base that turns out the most elite frogmen in the world, the US Navy SEALs.

The Monterey: Covering 276 miles of California coastline, The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is the largest in the United States. It’s home to a vast network of marine life, but even more interesting, it’s where the US space program tests and develops autonomous underwater robots. Underwater robots that NASA is developing for future missions to Mars’ possible aquatic moons. If oceans are found, these robots will be the first to explore those extraterrestrial seas. Our Monterey suit was the by-product of US space exploration, so we thought it fitting to give it a name that embraces our ocean below, as well as possible oceans beyond.

The Cordell: Off the North West coast of San Francisco, on the edge of the Continental Shelf, lies the Cordell Bank National Marine sanctuary. It’s deep, mysterious, largely unexplored, yet teeming with marine life. It’s the type of place where ocean exploration dreams are realized, and our Cordell suit would be right at home.

Q: Where are your suits made?

They’re made in our workshop in Shreveport, Louisiana USA. Our suits have been made in the US since 1950, and always will be. In fact, we believe in supporting our own fellow countrymen so much, that all of our supporting products like hats, patches, and t-shirts are also US Made. Not that there’s anything wrong with products made elsewhere, we just believe in supporting our own first. We hope that’s respected, no matter what country you’re from.

If you have any questions, please visit our Customer Service contact page.