Suit thickness for 19-23 C water?

[Warren_L]

I am going to dive in the Med and then in the Mid East and SE Asia. I got a 3mm suit for use...however, is this too cool for Spring in the Med? Specifically Malta/Sicily in Early May? I heard that 19-22/3 is the water temp then.

Should I get a 5mm suit too?

Don't like the idea of renting suits.....

Depending on your tolerance for cold and how frequent your diving is going to be at these temperatures, I would think the 5mm wetsuit would be the one to go for. 19 can be chilly over long frequent dives.

 

[lancetre]

I am going to dive in the Med and then in the Mid East and SE Asia. I got a 3mm suit for use...however, is this too cool for Spring in the Med? Specifically Malta/Sicily in Early May? I heard that 19-22/3 is the water temp then.

Should I get a 5mm suit too?

Don't like the idea of renting suits.....

Temperatures here average 16 - 20 C. I dive with a 5mm semi dry and a fleece lined sharkskin vest, 2mm gloves and occassionally a hood.
Have never felt the cold with this setup - did three 40 minute dives on Wednesday with temps of 17, 18 and 18 without issue.

 

[Izu]

Tomorrow I molt from my drysuit for the first time this year. Cant wait to finally be wet again and pee at will

We have 16C water forecast and I will be diving a full 5mm with a 2mm vest and 5mm hood and gloves.

 

[MBH]

Thank God my name's not Will.

 

[AaronR103]

I wear a 5/4 even in warm waters and have never been uncomfortable. Don't think you can go wrong with a 5mm.

 

[hvulin]

5mm minimum, 7mm recommended... (wouldn't use dry suit too much since air temps are already around 30C)

if surface is 23C then you can expect 14-16C on 30m

 

[spectrum]

For 19C (66F) Id go either with a 7mm full, 5mm john/jacket for 10mm on the core or a 5mm full with a hooded vest. The latter being my preference.

I'm pretty cold tolerant as divers go and a simple 5mm full let alone a 3mm would not serve me well repetitive diving in those conditions. For a single dive anything will work at that temperature.

Pete

 

[evil_xander]

I dived for the last 5 months with temperatures ranging from 15 C at the surface to 11 C at the bottom (being at 35 m), dressed only in two piece 5mm wetsuit with the attached hood, and 2mm gloves. I was always rather comfortable for 20-25 minutes, then I could feel the cold, but as I dived more I got acustomed to it.

Today the water was 15 C at the surface and 13 at 20m, no problems whatsoever, so I reckon for 19-23 C range, two piece 5mm should do the trick just fine.

 

[SteveAD]

Since you said you already have a 3mm you might consider layering it with a 0.5mm/microprene type suit. the thinner suit will cost less than a 5mm and in my experience a 3mm with a 0.5 is roughly the equivalent of a 5mm, and it gives greater versatility.

 

[Crowley]

I've dived in the med in similar conditions. 5mm semi dry recommended. I had an Oceanic Titanium, 5mm semi-dry long suit with 5mm shorty over the top. No hood but generally pretty toasty!