Wetsuits

[porsche060]

For most summer diving (in tropical places)

Is a 2 mm shorty better

or 3mm full suit?

 

[diver 85]

For most summer diving (in tropical places)

Is a 2 mm shorty better

or 3mm full suit?

In my experience, 2 mm shorty over skins is fine for 77 degree & warmer temps........ also bought a chicken hood(~$20) a couple years ago to supplement the 'cooler' days.......IMO a 3/2 full would be too much(ie I have one but NEVER bring it down south).....

 

[Blox]

I dive only warm water. I personally would rather dive a thin full suit (0.5 - 1 mm), than a shorty. I primarily don't wear the suit for thermal protection (because I don't really need it), but as a bit of physical/external protection against jellyfish and similar stuff. For ME a 3mm full suit would be overkill in warm water (25C and better) and for the kind of dives I do (max abt 75 mins). YMMV.

 

[Quero]

It depends on how warm the water is and how easily you get cold. Even in tropical places there are areas of cold current. Here in Thailand, I typically wear a full 2/3 in water 28° and warmer. Partly for the reasons Blox gives--protection from stingies in the water--but also partly for thermal protection. Those of us who dive a lot seem to become fairly intolerant of heat loss in the water. I can remember when, as an OW diver I also wore a 0.5mm neoprene skin in 25° water. These days in water that temperature, I'm in a 5mm. I take my 5mm to Bali for some of the "cooler" water dives, and typically dive Hawaii (21° to 25° when I've been there) in a 7mm. All those places are tropical.

 

[MPR]

It depends on how warm the water is and how easily you get cold. Even in tropical places there are areas of cold current. Here in Thailand, I typically wear a full 2/3 in water 28° and warmer. Partly for the reasons Blox gives--protection from stingies in the water--but also partly for thermal protection. Those of us who dive a lot seem to become fairly intolerant of heat loss in the water. I can remember when, as an OW diver I also wore a 0.5mm neoprene skin in 25° water. These days in water that temperature, I'm in a 5mm. I take my 5mm to Bali for some of the "cooler" water dives, and typically dive Hawaii (21° to 25° when I've been there) in a 7mm. All those places are tropical.

You might want to point out that these temperatures are Celsius and not Fahrenheit.

 

[meesier42]

for me 79 is the break point for me. below, 3mm full suit, above 3mm shorty. If that helps

 

[RJP]

You might want to point out that these temperatures are Celsius and not Fahrenheit.

I think most people would assume that, since 21°F water is called ICE in most places!

 

[Bob Vincent]

Boy thats a good question its all base on how cold you get. I have a 2mm shorty and a 3mm full and a skin for warm water. I hardly ever wear the 3mm full.

 

[texdiveguy]

IMO-- A 3mil full suit is much better for a number of reasons.

 

[Blox]

I think most people would assume that, since 21° water is called ICE in most places!

Especially since the OP mentioned "summer" and "tropical"

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