gerryw
Registered
Most of my diving to date has been in 11-12 deg (52-54F). I find that for one dive, I have no problem with a full 7mm with 7mm jacket. I have never tried colder, but I think I could stand several degrees colder.
However, for the second dive, I was always cold with the wetsuit. Even in what passes for winter in northern Chile, we have only small open boats and got seriously chilled in the wind and cool air heading back to the beach. We could not replace the lost heat during the surface interval and tended to enter the water already chilled for the second dive. The drysuit was the solution.
When the water in summer rises above 15C or so (60F) I consider switching back to the wetsuit. I prefer to sweat in that than the drysuit. Between the warmer water and the intense sun here, the drysuit is more than required.
Gerry
However, for the second dive, I was always cold with the wetsuit. Even in what passes for winter in northern Chile, we have only small open boats and got seriously chilled in the wind and cool air heading back to the beach. We could not replace the lost heat during the surface interval and tended to enter the water already chilled for the second dive. The drysuit was the solution.
When the water in summer rises above 15C or so (60F) I consider switching back to the wetsuit. I prefer to sweat in that than the drysuit. Between the warmer water and the intense sun here, the drysuit is more than required.
Gerry