Wetsuit choice for Southern California diving

[monkeygod290]

Hi everyone,

I just purchased a Mares 7/5/3 trilastic wetsuit and was wondering if this suit would provide sufficient warmth during the winter in SoCal? If not, do you guys think upgrading to the Mares 8/6/5 would be good enough to keep me warm and cozy?

Thanks

 

[Captain Lawson]

I dive a Xcel SCS polar tri-density 9/7/6 and i am usally fine in San Diego.

 

[RJP]

Hi everyone,

I just purchased a Mares 7/5/3 trilastic wetsuit and was wondering if this suit would provide sufficient warmth during the winter in SoCal? If not, do you guys think upgrading to the Mares 8/6/5 would be good enough to keep me warm and cozy?

Thanks

"Sufficient warmth" and "warm and cozy" are probably unrealistic expectations of either of those suits.

 

[drbill]

Of course it all depends on your personal body build and physiology as well as the prevailing temperatures at the sites you dive. SoCal has a bit of thermal diversity!

I used to dive in a 3mm shortie all the way into December... until I started videotaping and noticed all the camera shake. I now dive a 7mm vest and a 7mm full wetsuit (admittedly with "ventilation") year-round since I often encounter temps down to 50 F at the depths I occasionally dive, and as a videographer I am often very still filming or waiting to get a shot.

 

[RJP]

I now dive a 7mm vest and a 7mm full wetsuit (admittedly with "ventilation") year-round

Now Bill, I've seen your "7mm" suit, and have to agree that calling it a "full" wetsuit is a bit of a stretch!



PS - I seem to recall that you were the recipient of a dry suit not long ago. Still haven't come over to the dark (warm) side yet?

 

[jgeldin]

So far I've been comfortable in a 7mm full suit with a 4mm hooded vest. Although I've had dives in the low 50's where I was OK, I've had other dives at higher temps where the cold was an issue.

 

[Teamcasa]

I dive with a custom 7mm full, hood and gloves. I start getting cool if it's below 55 or on the third or more dives. I may start wearing a 3 mm shorty over it this winter.

 

[stefusa]

I am using a semi-dry two pieces 5.5 pants and 7mm vest for freediving. I am almost dry during the whole dive.
With those semi-dry suits, in could be a pain to don on and off but i think they are worth it...
Wetsuit thickness is only a component of the isolation. I favor the fit of the wetsuit over the thickness. A 7 mm is not gonna be better than a 5 mm if you have liters of water entering the suit.