Does damp underwear increase heat loss?

[mello-yellow]

August 17 I did one dive on Chester Poling (a 90' deep wreck) in 48 F water, and was quite warm. August 25 I did two dives. At first one water was 62 F. At the second it was 54 F, and I felt very cold -- much worse than in the objectively colder water a week earlier. Could it be because by the second dive my drysuit underwear was soaked with sweat?

 

[bradells]

August 17 I did one dive on Chester Poling (a 90' deep wreck) in 48 F water, and was quite warm. August 25 I did two dives. At first one water was 62 F. At the second it was 54 F, and I felt very cold -- much worse than in the objectively colder water a week earlier. Could it be because by the second dive my drysuit underwear was soaked with sweat?

It sure can.

Although I've done dives with completely soaked thermals and not been cold as well ....

In those cases, I turn my valve a few clicks back to keep more air in on the bottom portion of those dives (or when we go through a bunch of thermoclines). Of course, on the ascent, the valve gets opened up all the way.

BRad