How much wetsuit

[spthomas]

I've been very lucky. Been diving since 1978, but almost all in warm tropical water. So I've not worn heavy wetsuits; I have a 3/2 full-out and a 3mm shorty I use in warmer water. But a lot of cool places to dive are, well, cool! So if I'm off to some really fun place a long way from home, I want to have the proper wetsuit.

Any guidelines or rules of thumb on what type and thickness of wetsuit for different temp and conditions?

 

[TMHeimer]

Everyone is different regarding cold. My list is:

75 (F) + --body suit for protection only.
65+ -- shorty.
60-65 -- top only to my farmer john 7 mil (don't have a 5 mil or 3 mil).
below 60 -- full farmer john. 5 finger gloves.
40-50 -- full farmer john--2 dives in a day only. 3 finger mitts.
32-40 -- full farmer john -- 3 fingered mitts, one 20 min. dive only.
Don't own a drysuit. I do well with cold.

Renting stuff so you can see where you stand may be a good idea.

 

[rivers]

28*C shorty
less than 28*C- drysuit. Vary undersuit as needed

 

[mathauck0814]

75'F + Board shorts/3mm shorty
65-75'F - 3mm full
<65'F drysuit

 

[yle]

Steve, I live in So California but when I visit Florida or the Caribbean I use the same wetsuits you mention in your post (a 3/2 full or a 3 short). At home I use a 7mm for temps ranging from 50 to 65 through the year, with hood at the colder end and without in the warmer water.

 

[Imla]

Above 26C -> Boardshorts/1mm rashguard
Below 26C -> Drysuit

Keeps it simple

 

[spectre184]

Living in Indiana it's mostly quarry or old strip pit diving. Places we go to above thermal is 80's and below is mid 40's. I have full 5mm with 5mm hood and gloves. If I stay below thermal to long I'll get cold. Wife was full 7mm with 5mm hood and gloves and she doesn't get as chilled as me. I used my 5mm in Key Largo in May and Pensacola this month and I was fine. I didn't over heat.

 

[scubadada]

Many people seem to tolerate cold better than I do, with some overlap:

High 70s and up: 3 mm +/- hooded vest
High 60s to high 70s: 5 mm +/- hooded vest
50-high 60s, 7 mm +/- hooded vest

I always have a hooded vest with me in case I get cold, especially 3rd or 4th dive of the day, or the water is colder than expected, works well for me
I don't dive dry, yet, high 40s is pretty cold though I've done a few dives with the 7 mm and hooded vest

 

[Lorenzoid]

I always wear a full suit for protection against jellies, etc. No shorties for me, ever.

80+ -- 3/2 full suit
78-80 -- 3/2 full suit plus 3 mm vest or Lavacore vest underneath
75-78 -- 5 mm full suit
72-75 -- 5 mm full suit plus hood and gloves
70-72 -- 5 mm full suit plus 3 mm vest underneath plus hood and gloves
65-70 -- I've only dived water in the 60s a few times (in Southern California), in a rented 7 mm, and I tend to avoid water this cool.

If there's ever something I really really want to see in water below the low 60s, I'll get a drysuit.

 

[boulderjohn]

everyone is dramatically different in their needs. I know people who wear 7 mm suits in Cozumel when others have no suits or simply skins. Hearing what other people wear will not help that much.

I suggest you describe how you feel in what temperatures of water you have experienced. We can then use you and your needs by your experiences more than just ours.