32 replies to this topic

[peterbj7]

The thickest wetsuit I've ever owned is a full 5mm, and that I wore for just one trip to the Red Sea when I was told I would need it. I didn't. I have it here in Belize but I've never used it. I did have a suit with an integral hood, but after my first (weekend) trip I had it taken off. Way too restricting/constricting. I have a 2mm hood that I wear with my drysuit but at no other time. That hood does have holes by the ears, but it still restricts my hearing.

I'm still diving here every day in just my diveskin, though I was getting a bit chilly yesterday on the second dive. Today was sunny and warm between dives and underwater was no problem. We'll see what tomorrow has in store. I haven't worn a neoprene wetsuit in about five years, and I doubt if I'll start now. People on the Belize trip may have noticed that all the dive staff, including Patojo, were diving in just shorts and rashguard.

[WreckWench]

Water temps in Belize this past week ranged from 81 on one dive to as low as 78 on our regular dives. The Blue Hole was notably cooler at 72 degrees on my computer but the other dives on Half Moon Caye and Long Caye were 76 and 78 respectively.

The air temps were the problem as they were in the low 70's the first part of the week and did not fully warm up until the end of the week to the mid 80's. We also had a lot of wind so people lost body core and had a hard time regaining it...hence the topic at hand.

And yes the DM's and diving staff at Patojos wore only board shorts and rash guards while the diving staff at AquaDives who we dove with for the Blue Hole and Turneffe wore two overlapping 3mil shorties.

[scrappykidz]

Best advice I can give you is to go to your LDS, and try them all out in the pool! That will tell you which setup works best for you. If your LDS does not let you "try before you buy", then find another LDS!

Where do you go in KC?

Bought fins & booties/mask/snorkel through the guy that teaches here at K-State... rolled the dice on a 3 mil shorty for my Belize trip (didn't end up using it) from a not to be named web-site. Up to 14 whole dives and have yet to be in a dive shop in Kansas... guess that places me firmly in the n00b camp...

[ArtRunScuba]

Lynn-- I took a five mile hood and a three mil vest with five mil hood and tried both. Preferred the vest and hood combo and it made no difference at all with my boyancy and weights required. In fact, in addition to keeping me warmer, it was easier to put on my 5 mil suit over it. I have also used it with my 3 mil suit and in Bonaire I may well try it with my 1 mil. I also wear the hood to protect my head from sun. Ironically even though Galapagos was much colder than Belize on our trip last week with water temps between 64 and 70 and thermoclines to 60, I used the same 5 mil suit and 3 mil vest with 5 mil hood there, plus of course gloves.

[PilotDiverBrad]

Water temps in Belize this past week ranged from 81 on one dive to as low as 78 on our regular dives. The Blue Hole was notably cooler at 72 degrees on my computer but the other dives on Half Moon Caye and Long Caye were 76 and 78 respectively.

The air temps were the problem as they were in the low 70's the first part of the week and did not fully warm up until the end of the week to the mid 80's. We also had a lot of wind so people lost body core and had a hard time regaining it...hence the topic at hand.

And yes the DM's and diving staff at Patojos wore only board shorts and rash guards while the diving staff at AquaDives who we dove with for the Blue Hole and Turneffe wore two overlapping 3mil shorties.

I noticed the Chochrain computers that WW provided showed a higher temperature than my computer. John and I both dove an Oceanic DataMax Pro Plus II. I showed temps down to 66 on a couple of dives, but there was a definite thermocline and WW typically stayed at a higher level than I did on most dives. Eric and I discussed the difference in water temperatures we were reading. On one of those same dives Eric showed a mid 70s temp. Patajo then indicated his computer showed high 60s for the water temp matching mine.

For the week I used a 3mm full wetsuit and found it comfortable except when out of the water and we were underway back to the dock. On several of the dives when my computer would indicate low 70s to upper 60s the temp was on the cool side but not enough to effect my diving.

Lynn, since you indicated the 3mm shorty over your existing suit worked good maybe you should pack the body warmer that you have and get a hood. The best choice seems to be a layering that would allow you to remove pieces if too warm, but have enough to cover you and keep you warm if you are too cold.

[shadragon]

A hooded vest will give you less water movement through it than a hood and vest combination and would therefore keep you warmer.

Fit is important. It should be snug, but not tight and easy to put on. I do have Hyperstretch gloves that work rather well, but have never used a hooded vest. Style and color choice, I leave in your hands.

[drbill]

I always wear a hooded vest under my full wetsuit whether it is winter or summer in SoCal. As fingrabber said, it kelps the water from trickling down your back better than most unhooded vests coupled with a separate hood. I do keep a separate hood and I have an unhooded vest as well, but they are not used very often. One of the problems with them is getting the hood tucked under the wetsuit properly. No problem with the hooded vest.

[secretsea18]

Wearing the correctly fitting exposure suit in the water is very important to keeping your core body temperature up during repeated diving.

HOWEVER, even more important is what you do after the dive to keep from getting chilled.

That means you take off your wetsuit after the dive and get yourself dry! No riding back in the boat in the wetsuit and the wind/breeze. If you have a windbreaker put it on top of your wetsuit, or even better after you take off your wet wetsuit. Putting on warm clothes, polartech will keep you warm even if it is wet!, is paramount to getting/staying warm.

So everyone, do not forget what to do between the dives to keep warm, and that will make your next dive much more comfortable.


I personally use a Henderson gold core 5 mm wetsuit for nearly all my diving, from 74 degrees up to 83 degrees. Above that temp, I go to the 3mm Gold Core. The gold core sheds off the water, so the wetsuit is dry (essentially) when I go to put it on for the next dive. SOOOOOOOO much better than putting on a cold wet nasty regular wetsuit. Oh Plus a beanie for every dive. Dive socks (yes they get wet, but not too bad) and dive gloves.

Edited by secretsea18, 20 January 2010 - 11:06 AM.

[peterbj7]

That means you take off your wetsuit after the dive

Only if you're wearing neoprene. The diveskin I use is lined with Polartech and keeps me warm even on the boat ride back.

[secretsea18]

That means you take off your wetsuit after the dive

Only if you're wearing neoprene. The diveskin I use is lined with Polartech and keeps me warm even on the boat ride back.

Hmmmm..... I did say "wetsuit".

[peterbj7]

Well, mine is made for diving and I dive in it, and it gets wet. What else is it?

[secretsea18]

Well, mine is made for diving and I dive in it, and it gets wet. What else is it?

I believe you called it a "diveskin" on your previous post.

However, if you do not need to try to stay warm, and are fine in it, then please, by all means, keep it on.

[lynnlchan]

HOWEVER, even more important is what you do after the dive to keep from getting chilled.

That was definitely part of the problem. I didn't bring a towel with me so drying off was tough. I normally just pull off the wetsuit and put something on that's dry but the surface temps were cool when damp. So, yet more gear to get - a travel towel and something windproof to put on between dives.

Edited by lynnlchan, 20 January 2010 - 09:35 PM.

[peterbj7]

That's right, it is a diveskin and it's made by a company called "Diveskins" somewhere near Los Angeles. It is very warm above water, even when wet, and surprisingly warm underwater. I find it warmer underwater than most 3mm neoprene suits, and dramatically warmer above water than any neoprene suit.

[Greg@ihpil]

HOWEVER, even more important is what you do after the dive to keep from getting chilled.

That was definitely part of the problem. I didn't bring a towel with me so drying off was tough. I normally just pull off the wetsuit and put something on that's dry but the surface temps were cool when damp. So, yet more gear to get - a travel towel and something windproof to put on between dives.

Lynn, FYI ,Not to change the subjectbut,I picked up one of those "Microfibre" towels.Kinda like a squeegee.Holds more water than a towel and is compact.Does a nice quick job getting dry.Fairly inexpensive.