3mm or 5mm for Tropical Diving

[LynnB]

I bought a 1mil suit before going to Roatan last June. I was plenty warm in it. The only time I added my 3mil was on the night dive. I am one that is always cold and that worked for me.

On the other hand my husband only wore a rash guard and bathing suit and he was fine. I would have been cold and also like to have some protection.

I like that my wetsuit goes on a lot easier over my 1mil skin also.

 

[k ellis]

Believe it or not, Hawaiian water is not warm. Especially for someone who's 6'2" and 169lbs and doing 5-6 dives a day.

I dive dry in Hawaii, Caymans, Bonaire, Curacao, Truk Lagoon, Red Sea, Galapagos, and anyplace else where the water is colder than a heated pool.

:shocked2:

The water doesn't need to be "cold" to be "dry."

True but to me Hawaii is best enjoyed in a shorty. Im 5'9 209 and find it inviting to just relax in the water as its usually about 74 degrees.

This goes back to my earlier statement about how its hard to advise someone what suit is needed because each person is diffrent.

 

[PatW]

Since you get cold, I would think that a 5 mm would be your choice. Now I have little trouble with cold. At below 78, I go from a skin to a 3 mm (I am not over weight either).

 

[mclougs]

Wow got some great advise to consider. K ellis if i dove a shorty in 74f water id be frozen, i dove the cenotes in mexico, in march 71f-72f with my 3mil and a 3 shorty over it and i was plenty warm might even say a hare too warm. I guess i have some thinking to and i'm even considering layering a 3 with a 2.5 hooded vest. Like one of the previous posters said dive shops dont let u try them on in the pool or anything, so i dont wanna buy the wrong suit again. Also to consider is the seasons i dive like i said march or april and november so im in that 76f-81f range. Who knows if that will change, I hate decisions like these.

 

[k ellis]

True Mclougs very true. Just an idea but shops dont let you try on the suits before you buy but on the other hand they do rent out older suits. It may be way for you to try to see if a 5 mil will work or not.

I use my 5 mil up to 70 degrees but if you find lower 70s cold then a 5 mil should be good for you up to 80s or better.

Check with the dive shops to see if they can rent you the diffrent types of dive suits.

 

[k ellis]

:shocked2:

The water doesn't need to be "cold" to be "dry

Sorry just realized I missed that last line. While this is for the most part correct it does also require you to be comfortable. I myself am not comfortable in a dry suit when I sweat so much I feel like Im more wet then when I dive in a wet suit.

Diving dry isnt 100 percent about diving cold but I have seen more then my fair share of dry suit divers go to the Emergency room from heat exhaustion and stroke.

 

[elan]

Sorry just realized I missed that last line. While this is for the most part correct it does also require you to be comfortable. I myself am not comfortable in a dry suit when I sweat so much I feel like Im more wet then when I dive in a wet suit.

Diving dry isnt 100 percent about diving cold but I have seen more then my fair share of dry suit divers go to the Emergency room from heat exhaustion and stroke.

I bet the suit that he is wearing is DUI 30/30 which let the prespiration out and you do not overheat even in a warm climate....

 

[k ellis]

I bet the suit that he is wearing is DUI 30/30 which let the prespiration out and you do not overheat even in a warm climate....

Very true and possibly could be. There are diffrent types of dry suits. I wear a dry suit on the occasion but I guess me being cold tolerant I just see little need to wear one in most conditions above 50 degrees.

DUI does make some wonderful dry suits and many are tropical variants. The downside to these are though they tend to cost a significant amount more then a wet suit. Also with dry suit it tends to in my opinion take on more things to monitor and keep track of such as significantly more weight and having to monitor air levels in your bcd and dry suit.

Dont get me wrong I love to drysuit dive its just I prefer hassle free diving with as minimal gear as possible.

 

[RJP]

I bet the suit that he is wearing is DUI 30/30 which let the prespiration out and you do not overheat even in a warm climate....

Yup...

 

[RJP]

Just an idea but shops dont let you try on the suits before you buy but on the other hand they do rent out older suits. It may be way for you to try to see if a 5 mil will work or not.

Check with the dive shops to see if they can rent you the diffrent types of dive suits.

What shop doesn't let you try on a suit before you buy it? Not a shop I'd return to, that's for certain.