41 replies to this topic

[Cmdr. Clownfish]

Turks and Caicos is the southern end of the Bahamas and the sharks are similar to the Bahamas but less numerous. Some say TC is in Bahamas and some Caribbean. If you didnt have a problem there then you are golden.

[John57]

.  Looking forward to a trip dedicated to diving!

 

A live-aboard is eat, sleep, and dive. My kind of vacation!!! 

[WreckWench]

The S Florida dives have much more intense shark activity with much bigger and more sharks that are being chummed in the water column. Anything stands out and they are more aggressive by nature. I have worn yellow fins on the TC boat with the sharks and they dont care. They are smaller reef sharks and are looking for injured fish. They dont care about humans and wont even notice you.

 

Thanks Scott!

 

And he is right!

[WreckWench]

 

.  Looking forward to a trip dedicated to diving!

 

A live-aboard is eat, sleep, and dive. My kind of vacation!!! 

 

 

Yes it is!!!

[James from DC]

happy turkey-day-week fellow T&C divers. 
 
i took my bc and reg to get serviced this week... and while i was there i was talking with the owner about renting a wet suit.  i said i think i need a 3mm full suit.  the owner was almost adamant that i should take a 5mm full suit. 

i found this little chart that says water temp is 75-77 in January.  scroll down on the web page below. 

http://www.wherewhen...on/weather.html

 

however, i thought i read somewhere else on this forum that the water temp is 79 which would make a difference. 

 

anyway, with a "husky" guy like me who has a fair amount of built-in insulation... i still think a 3mm full suit will be fine.  wouldn't i be too hot in a 5mm... is that possible?
 
I'M WONDERING WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS BRINGING/RENTING?  other comment welcome!

 
have a great holiday,
 
James

 

ps im renting a wetsuit from a local shop cuz i need one of those XL-S sizes that might be kinda hard to find on the boat.

[John57]

I will be bringing a 3/2 mil full suit. I have always found it good for Caribbean locations. Other people want a thicker suit because a thin one would be ok for 1 or 2 dives in a day but when you are doing up to 5 dives a day your body core temp might not come back up to normal quickly enough. I am pretty sure Kamala dives a 5 mil lavacore type suit. 
You can always let water in to cool a too warm suit but if you are too cold you are pretty much screwed. 

[James from DC]

yeh john i think that was the owner's point as well.  multiple dives per day might require more.  

[PiscesTX]

happy turkey-day-week fellow T&C divers. 
 
i took my bc and reg to get serviced this week... and while i was there i was talking with the owner about renting a wet suit.  i said i think i need a 3mm full suit.  the owner was almost adamant that i should take a 5mm full suit. 

i found this little chart that says water temp is 75-77 in January.  scroll down on the web page below. 

http://www.wherewhen...on/weather.html

 

 

 

5 dives a day, water temps between 77-79 - I'm bringing a 5mil. I rather be warm than cold. 

[MusicalDiver]

I am bringing a 5mm plus a hood, I tend to get cold I do hope this is enough!  I will be doing a two tank dive in Nassau next week and plan on testing it there!

[dive_sail_etc]

I am bringing a 5mm plus a hood, I tend to get cold I do hope this is enough!  I will be doing a two tank dive in Nassau next week and plan on testing it there!

 

Christie if this is a full 5mm especially with the hood you should be in great shape even with multiple dives per day, but it is an excellent (and enviable) ;-) idea to test-dive in Nassau in Dec, the temps should be identical to what you will have in Turks & Caicos. Good luck!

[WreckWench]

yeh john i think that was the owner's point as well.  multiple dives per day might require more.  

 

It depends on how sensitive you are to the cold. Most men are NOT sensitive...even with repetitive diving but most women are. And YES its better to be too warm (you can always flood the suit or leave the zipper unzipped) than it is to be too cold.

 

OTOH... using a 5mil will require a whole lot more lead so also a consideration. You can also layer...the boat will have a good assortment of 3mm shorties...that is it. No vest, no long sleeves.

 

So if if there are any xmas deals and consider layering vs 1 really think suit. Just remember to reconfig your wt belt to accommodate add'l neoprene if you layer as the week progresses.

 

Water temps should be high 70s and low 80's depending on the site.  Here is the captain's logs for our week last year...

 

Turks & Caicos Captain’s Log 13 - 20 January 2018 Our Conditions Air temperature: 75° - 78° F Water temperature: 78° - 80°F Visibility: 40 - 80 feet Thermal recommendation: 3mm/5mm full wetsuit

[Diver Ed]

It often helps to bring along a hood if you are going to be doing 4 or 5 dives a day.  I rarely get cold, but on days when I used to do 5 dives a day, a hood made a big difference on the last dive or two.  Ed

[WreckWench]

It often helps to bring along a hood if you are going to be doing 4 or 5 dives a day.  I rarely get cold, but on days when I used to do 5 dives a day, a hood made a big difference on the last dive or two.  Ed

 

 

OUR MEMBERS ROCK!!! They are soooooooooooo helpful !

 

Great suggestion Ed! Tks! kamala

[James from DC]

you are spot on that i am not particuarly sensitive to cold.  if the water temp is 78-80, i should be fine in 3mm.

 

 

yeh john i think that was the owner's point as well.  multiple dives per day might require more.  

 

It depends on how sensitive you are to the cold. Most men are NOT sensitive...even with repetitive diving but most women are. And YES its better to be too warm (you can always flood the suit or leave the zipper unzipped) than it is to be too cold.

 

OTOH... using a 5mil will require a whole lot more lead so also a consideration. You can also layer...the boat will have a good assortment of 3mm shorties...that is it. No vest, no long sleeves.

 

So if if there are any xmas deals and consider layering vs 1 really think suit. Just remember to reconfig your wt belt to accommodate add'l neoprene if you layer as the week progresses.

 

Water temps should be high 70s and low 80's depending on the site.  Here is the captain's logs for our week last year...

 

Turks & Caicos Captain’s Log 13 - 20 January 2018 Our Conditions Air temperature: 75° - 78° F Water temperature: 78° - 80°F Visibility: 40 - 80 feet Thermal recommendation: 3mm/5mm full wetsuit

 

Edited by James from DC, 10 December 2019 - 04:47 PM.

[MusicalDiver]

Went for dives in Nassau, Freeport and Keywest last week.... very glad I had a 5mm.  Probably will need a hood on the trip as I’m sure my core temp will get colder as the dives go!