Wetsuit, How Cold?

[Notso_Ken]

2 pc 7mm - water 40deg, air temp 45 deg. 40 minute dive New Years day at Gilboa in Ohio.

Ken

 

[Chummer]

Water in low 40's and air around 60.
I wear a 7 mil farmer john with step in jacket and hooded vest.
Second dive is always a test of endurance for me when the water in the 40's.
Someday I will get a new drysuit.

 

[Puffer Fish]

39 degree water/-5 air, ice dive in Lake Mendota (Wisconsin) in January. Two piece custom 1/4" suit (they had not invented the metric system at the time), with 1/4 hood and mittens. Had tent and heated water for changing and between dives. Bought dry suit as soon as I could afford one. Don't remember it being that bad, but I most likely am blocking the pain.

 

[PAdiver93]

Last Sunday - 43 mins of BT, 16 feet deepest, 12mm of neoprene, 44 b temp.... Honestly wasn't bad at all - about 50 on the surface wasn't a killer either... May be I am cold blooded ?

 

[eh!diver]

A group of us did an ice dive about 15 years ago in wet suits. We're talking February or March up here in Canada. We had to cut a hole in the ice so the water temp would have been slightly above freezing - maybe 34-36F. Air temp would have been around 10-15F. It was definately a unique experience - but I'm not in any hurry to repeat it. We were only in for 20 to 30 minutes and did not get overly cold. I think the topside safety diver was probably colder.

 

[adurso]

3mm suit no hood 52 degrees F fresh water. Forgot my other gear, air temp below 32 F, 30 min 2 dives was numb for days...

 

[DiverBuoy]

Catalina Island - 58 degrees F with full polartec + 3mm farmer john and jacket + polartec hood.

Scuba Luv rentals off Casino point.

 

[ba_hiker]

I dive montery regulary (well semi-regularly) in a 7mm one piece in hte low 50s hi 40s regularly with the air tems in the same range. Sometimes I wear a hooded vest. Did a fresh water dive in a 7mm farmer john with a seperate 7mm hood in 38 degree water, and 36 degree air. Was way too cool. My buddy needed 15 min of hot water to stop his shivering. I did a bit better...

 

[mcclete22]

I did a dive in a 7/6 in water that was mid 50's until the thermocline. I was trying to stay at the thermocline because it felt a little nicer. Surface temp was probably high 60's low 70's. Wetsuit was way too hot on the surface, but not bad at the thermocline. Stayed down for a full tank.

 

[ghostdiver1957]

While I own a drysuit, I usually just dive in my wetsuit... it is a one piece 7mm Henderson Hyperstretch. I have worn this many times in water as cool as 42 F.
My general rule is that if the water dips below 40 F, I put on my drysuit.

My rules of thumb are simple

Water above 80 F - Skin
Water 65-79 F - 3mm
Water 40-65 F - 7mm
Water below 40 F - drysuit

I have decided the 5mm suit is an unnecessary investment and jump from a 3 to a 7.

Happy Diving...

What is the coldest water you have dived in a wetsuit? It would be interesting to know the air temperture, as well.

Just curious about this. Of course the total thickness of the wetsuit would also come into play.

Jeff