22 replies to this topic

[ScubaDadMiami]

Last Summer, our water temperatures hit 89 (some people told me they got even 90 on their gauges) on the surface and shallow zone, which is two degrees warmer than normal for peak. On a night dive on South Florida's version of a cool breeze during the Summer, I elected to wear a hood since there would be no sun to warm me on the surface between dives. That's the first and only time I felt that I was becoming overheated in the water. So, it can happen.

I just made sure to frequently flush water through my hood, and then I didn't wear it for the second dive.

[drbill]

Boy, I'm sure glad that I don't have to dive water in the 80's or 90's very often. Thank goodness for the cool (cold?) waters of the temperate kelp forests. The only time I overheat in my wetsuit is when I see one of those "hot bodies" on board!

[Diverbrian]

The worst temperature issues that I have run across are on the Great Lakes on a boat. At times in the summer it is 90 degrees or higher on the surface temp and forty degrees or less in the water. So, you have to gear up for the water and cold deco hangs. Then it still takes time to get the tanks on and equipment squared away. This makes the boat movement seem worse (think getting overheated in that drysuit and thick undies while sea-sickness is starting) and makes gearing up properly go even more slowly. That time on the surface while waiting to get into the water and until you can get out of your drysuit must have been a torture invented in the Spanish Inquisition.

By the time that I hit the water on some of those days, my drysuit insulation is quite wet and I don't mean from a drysuit flood.

[ScubaDadMiami]

That time on the surface while waiting to get into the water and until you can get out of your drysuit must have been a torture invented in the Spanish Inquisition.

By the time that I hit the water on some of those days, my drysuit insulation is quite wet and I don't mean from a drysuit flood.

That pretty much sums up what it is like here. 90-95F air, devastatingly strong sun and then cooler water on the bottom (though usually not much below 65F).

[WreckWench]

I have a high tolerance for heat...or a low tolerance for cold or both. I dive a thick thermal crushed neoprene suit in ALL waters now. I have now dove it in 49 degrees last week in the Pacific NorthWest and I have dove it in 95 degree in a local quarry near Dallas. I regularily dive it in 78-82 degree water i.e. Cozumel, Figi, Bonaire, Grenada, Florida, NC, etc.

I've dove dry when Walter has been in a bathing suit. I certainly did not overheat. Others may have but not everone will or I would have done so too.

While the theoretical discussion is interesting it all basically amounts to what you and your body can tolerate. Walter can not tolerate high temps yet I can. I can not tolerate low temps and Nicolle can. It is all what your body is acclimated too. Nicolle and Kim were both right in that respect.

[jextract]

There's only one solution ... dive naked!

[jextract]

By the time that I hit the water on some of those days, my drysuit insulation is quite wet and I don't mean from a drysuit flood.

Hey Bri ... they might have missed this in your drysuit class, but you aren't supposed to pee in it.

[Diverbrian]

By the time that I hit the water on some of those days, my drysuit insulation is quite wet and I don't mean from a drysuit flood.

Hey Bri ... they might have missed this in your drysuit class, but you aren't supposed to pee in it.