Here we are in the prime dive season, at least in the northern hemisphere and lots of us are feeling the heat. Often when diving wet or dry divers become intolerably hot. This leads to needless stress and can spiral into some nasty effects.
We always keep a stash of 1/2 liter bottles of tap water in the dive mobile. The primary use is for after dive rinsing but they play a critical pre-dive role. When diving wet we will pour one or 2 into the collar of the wetsuit. If the weight belt is in place much of the water will form a jacket around the abdomen and serve to sink lots of heat from your body, breaking the stress cycle. The bonus is that you enter the water with a suit primed with warm water.
When diving dry, don the hood, tip your head back and pour it in above the forehead. This will also break the stress in a big way.
I hope others will post their strategies for gearing up safely in summer heat.
Pete
We always keep a stash of 1/2 liter bottles of tap water in the dive mobile. The primary use is for after dive rinsing but they play a critical pre-dive role. When diving wet we will pour one or 2 into the collar of the wetsuit. If the weight belt is in place much of the water will form a jacket around the abdomen and serve to sink lots of heat from your body, breaking the stress cycle. The bonus is that you enter the water with a suit primed with warm water.
When diving dry, don the hood, tip your head back and pour it in above the forehead. This will also break the stress in a big way.
I hope others will post their strategies for gearing up safely in summer heat.
Pete