Cold at 78

[brocnizer]

When my wife dives with me, when its 78-80 she says she gets cold after 30 min or so. Which would you pick for this temp?

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[fisheater]

A hot tub!

[spectrum]

Since you're only offering her a shorty or rash guard I assume she has been diving in her swimsuit? Her getting chilled is no surprise especially if there is any level of day on day repetition.

Of the 2 suggestions you make the Thermoprene would be the one. She needs some neoprene that will offer some thermal advantage. In any case some sort of wetsuit, not a rash guard or dive skin is what is called for here.

Pete

[twinkles]

78 is cold as far as I am concerned. At 78 I am wearing my 3 mil Marino Wool lined Pinacle PLUS my 3 mil Marino Wool line core warmer. And if it is a night dive after 3 or 4 during the day, I would have on my 5 mil Marino Wool.

You are not giving this poor girl enough clothes, man.

[RJP]

Why only shorties in the consideration set?

[Zeeman]

In general, women don't have as much muscle mass as men, thus don't generate as much heat. My girlfriend needs a 3mm full length suit when I am happy in board shorts.

May be worth getting her a full length suit to try.

Z...

[astrofunk]

I wear a 3mm full-suit in those temperatures, and if I'm doing multiple dives or a night dive, I'll often add a hooded vest.

[fppf]

My wife wears a full 5mm Thermalprene in 78 degrees.
Most people will get "cold" if they spend any amount of time in 80 degree water. Your core wants to be 98.6 degrees, water is a great heat sink.

[brocnizer]

WOW!!!

Awesome Replies.

I thought she was crazy. The last dive I did was in Jamaica at 79 down at 65 feet for 45 minutes and only board shorts and felt so comfortable.

I guess there is a difference between girls and guys, but a full suit for 78-80 sounds over board. When I used to surf, I would use a 3 mil full suit in 65 degree water and be very comfortable. Granted I am not fully submersed, but 3 mil in 80's range seems excessive.

[brocnizer]

Since you're only offering her a shorty or rash guard I assume she has been diving in her swimsuit? Her getting chilled is no surprise especially if there is any level of day on day repetition.

Of the 2 suggestions you make the Thermoprene would be the one. She needs some neoprene that will offer some thermal advantage. In any case some sort of wetsuit, not a rash guard or dive skin is what is called for here.

Pete

Yeah, she is only in a swim suit.

Thanks!

[brocnizer]

Why only shorties in the consideration set?

I figured a full suit for this temp range is too much. Maybe I am wrong.

[fppf]

I would never dive without a full suit. There are so many nice things in the sea that can, sting, scrape, poisen, stab, slice, burn, ok you get the idea. I have never been to warm in a 3mm full suit and I walk around with out a shirt on during ice diving.

[DiverBeth]

I would suggest a full 3mm for temps in the mid to upper 70s. I'm usually pretty comfortable with my 3. I've even worn a 5mm at those temperatures and didn't get overheated until I was out of the water.

Everyone is different but I also agree with fppf about wearing a full suit the protection is nice.

[diver 85]

You're lucky she can make 30 minutes in those getups......

[TSandM]

I dive a 5/6 Scubapro wetsuit with a 2 mm hooded vest in 78 degree water.

[1_T_Submariner]

My wife dives a 3mm full suit.

My son dives a 5 mm full and 3 mm shorty.

I dive a 2mm shorty.

For those temps.

[pir8]

Call me a wimp if ya want, but I'm in my full 3mm in the Caribean. With my micropreen hood on.

[jupitermermaid]

I agree with the rest of the warm water wimps. You can't catch me in less than a 3 mil. in under 80 degree water. I'll use a 1 mil if I'm doing a shallow dive, but anything more than 50' my 3 mil goes on. It can always be peeled off once on land to gain warmth (or not get too hot), but you need to maintain good core body temp when you're underwater. I'd rather overkill than freeze, and peel off layers rather than realize I don't have enough 'prene to keep me warm below the surface.

[fireflock]

I would be in a 3mm suit plus a 2mm hooded vest. I'm not small, and I'm not a woman.

5 years ago I would do the same dive in a swimsuit. Many people find that their cold tolerance goes down as their logbook gets thicker.

[brocnizer]

Man, after reading these replies I feel like a reptile!!!

Maybe I should even consider some suits. I do know 80% of the heat lost is through your head, so maybe I'll just wear a hood :-)

In all honesty, I think I will have my wife wear one of my old 3 mil wet suits in the warm temp and see how she does. I used to wear my 3 mil for 58 degree water while surfing and I would get hot. I know its not a similar comparison, so we'll see how she does.

On a side note, not sure if she thinks its dorky, but I think she wants to wear a shorty for appearance sake. Women, always fashion over function ;-)

[Scubagolf]

I wear a 3mm full-suit in those temperatures, and if I'm doing multiple dives or a night dive, I'll often add a hooded vest.

Same for me. I'm 6'2 and 210#. Second dives in 77-78 degree water in Hawaii I get cold in my 3mm full wetsuit. I added a hooded vest and am perfectly warm. I suggest that she start with a quality 3mm full and if she is still cold she can add either a core warmer vest or a hooded vest. This will give her flexibility in adjusting to water temps.

[Noboundaries]

Yep, 3mm for me and my wife in 78-82* water. One one trip I was diving just a polypro skin for protection, but I often felt fatigued afterward just the first dive. When I started wearing the 3mm on later trips I felt little to no fatigue until after the 3rd dive.

My wife has always worn a 3mil, even in water temps as high as 84*F.

[mruseless]

Ditto what almost everyone else has said. In 78 degree water I am in a full 3mm suit and a 2mm hooded vest, or at least a hood. I am 6 feet tall and 185 lbs.

[ae3753]

Surfing and diving requirements are very different. Surfing in 54 degrees, I wear a 5mm. Diving in 78 degrees, I wear a 5mm. In the odd chance that I'd only dive once or twice a vacation, then I'll do a 3mm.

[MeiLing]

One of the things that you have to bear in mind is that most divers get pretty good at not over-exerting themselves during a dive to conserve air. During surfing, your mostly out of the water, with the hot sun blazing on a dark wetsuit, paddling all over the place with your hands, sucking up a whole lot of air. No comparison!

I'd go with a full suit for the protection from critters, if nothing else. During a trip to the Philippines, I blew the zipper out of my full suit and wound up in a borrowed short sleeve shorty. On one descent, I got nailed by something I couldn't see. Had a nasty, itchy rash all over my arms for three weeks. I think it was jellyfish larvae.

There's nothing wimpy about wearing the kind of suit that keeps you warm, wherever you are. You'd be surprised how many avid divers in Hawaii are wearing 5mm. full suits.

If you have a full suit and start feeling a little warm, you just pull the neck out and flush some off that cooler water across your chest!

[Charlie99]

Typical skin temperature is in the low 90's. So even water in the high 80's is going to be sucking heat out of your body.

Thermal exposure protection is the balance between staying nice and comfy with good thick neoprene vs the hassles of suiting up and the additional weighting and BCD adjustment needed to compensate for thicker neoprene.

Newer divers tend to thrash around more in the water, and also have shorter dives than do experienced divers. This means that newer divers can be comfortable with less neoprene than more experienced divers that are moving less and are down longer. OTOH, experienced divers more easily and automatically handle the more buoyancy adjustments needed for thicker neoprene, so a thicker wetsuit doesn't have as much downside for an experienced diver.

77 or 78F is the point where I transition from a 3/2mm full + beanie to a 5mm full + beanie.

I recommend that your wife start off with a 3mm full or 3/2 (3mm on the core, 2 mm on legs and arms) and add a beanie. If that isn't enough, then move on up to a 5mm.

For me at least, being chilled is a real bummer and one that is easily avoided with the proper thermal protection.

[Damselfish]

I'm one that isn't into wearing much of a wetsuit, all I own is 1mm fullsuits and a 3mm vest. Great above 80, but 78 is borderline even for me. If your wife is cold, she's cold. A rash guard isn't going to do her any good. And surfing is not a useful comparison. I'm not sure how much wearing your old suit is going to tell you either. Are you exactly the same size and shape? A 3mm that doesn't fit her and is old might not keep her warm even when a new properly fitting one would.

I agree fullsuits are a good idea for protection, plus if she's cold at 78F it makes sense. I don't think fullsuits are dorky, one could as easily argue a fullsuit is sleeker looking and a shorty is dorky - but there's no point, wear what makes sense functionally.

Shorties are popular as rentals because they're cheaper for the ops and tend to fit more people easier. But for people's own suits I think I'm seeing more and more fullsuits in the tropics and fewer shorties than I used to. Maybe it's they're getting more comfortable to put on and wear because of better neoprenes and a variety of cuts/styles.

[highdesert]

As a big male, carrying more fat than I need, at 78 degrees I would wear a 3mm full suit and beanie on my first dive, and have a 3mm vest over that on my second. Also, pardon me if I'm straying into territory more involving yours/your wife's positions in dealing with issues like this, but you say ... "In all honesty, I think I will have my wife wear one of my old 3 mil wet suits in the warm temp and see how she does." I am thinking that your wife needs to get involved in the issue too. Ask her if she would like to read this thread, and also do a search for many others that involve the same subject. Allow her to be in control of her diving comfort.

Also, as someone else mentioned, your hand-me-down 3 mil will almost certainly be ill-fitting and not at all warm. And regarding appearance, I think active women who are involved in any sport look great outfitted for the occasion. Nuthin' better than a fine woman in head to toe neoprene ... and I'm not even kinky! In the end ... your wife needs to get comfortable, or say good-bye to your dive buddy.

[prskate2]

Dude, don't get a shorty. That will be torture for her. Get her a nice full suit. Come on! My mom gets cold in a shorty in 87 water.

[Ironman]

I guess there is a difference between girls and guys, but a full suit for 78-80 sounds over board. Don't know, in her specific case, if it is as much a gender issue as an individual preference issue. When I started I was cold-proof - went diving with a 3 mm suit and a 3 mm core warmer, in 58 degree water, and was quite comfortable. Now, I don't dive wet if the water temp is below 73. If she needs a 3mm for 78 degree water, fine. Individuals vary.

[scubadiver888]

Man, after reading these replies I feel like a reptile!!!

Maybe I should even consider some suits. I do know 80% of the heat lost is through your head, so maybe I'll just wear a hood :-)

In all honesty, I think I will have my wife wear one of my old 3 mil wet suits in the warm temp and see how she does. I used to wear my 3 mil for 58 degree water while surfing and I would get hot. I know its not a similar comparison, so we'll see how she does.

On a side note, not sure if she thinks its dorky, but I think she wants to wear a shorty for appearance sake. Women, always fashion over function ;-)

There are a few things to consider...

If you move around a lot you are going to generate heat. Last dive trip I was on I hardly moved from the waist up and only occasionally from the waist down. In 75-80F water I was cold wearing a full 3mm.

Additionally, what kind of wetsuit? How deep do you go? Some wetsuits compress more than others. If you are going deep then a hyperstretch will probably compress a lot more than other types of wetsuits.

I think a good 3mm will not hurt. She might even be okay with a 5mm or a 5mm shorty.

By the way, you are probably a lot more active when surfing then diving and without the depth there would be no compression on the wetsuit.

[redrover]

When my wife dives with me, when its 78-80 she says she gets cold after 30 min or so. Which would you pick for this temp?

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I don’t know it’s a boy/girl thing….I’ve got muscle and fat, and won’t dive with out a full suit - as long as I can help it.
Frankly when I came here (HI) it was suggested I get a wet suit and thought it was absurd. Then there was a sale and I splurged on a nice little shorty and didn’t snorkel w/o it again.

Then learning to dive, still in the pool, was freezing my butt off and again splurged on a full 3ml wetsuit which was the instant true love thing. Then at year 2 was again cold in multiple dives and winter. Rather embarrassed (this was HI and I see people in swimsuits!!!) got a 5ml. Felt like an idiot climbing into it for about 20 dives but realized I never complained of heat or cold and it is now my main suit J.

I say if wifey is often cold, like wears a sweater in AC or when most people don’t; heck, get at least a full 3ml, Hyperstretch. Very very comfy if the thought of wetsuit confinement is an issue (sure was mine.) A shorty is nice but doesn’t cut it for diving – and I’m not the always chilly type on the surface.
Another option is a light wt full suit + the Henderson Core Warmer. It is far less constrictive additional insulation and I can put it on top or under as in add for the second or third or fourth or deeper, whatever dives thing. All my suits are Henderson Hyperstretch, with what I could try on, they are the only kind for my comfort level requirements. And the stretch is amazing; I can layer them under and over each other willy nilly. The size small core warmer I loaned to a guy far taller than I who forgot his suit and was astounded he could get into it and not squeak. (And I was cold down there without it J.)

[MeiLing]

If fashion is the issue with her in regards to prefering a shorty, let her know just how short and fat they tend to make everyone look for pretty much the same reason as those in the know in fashion, tend to not like cropped pants. A full suit creates an illusion of height and black is inherently slimming! Nobody looks sexy in a shorty!;)

[redrover]

On a side note, not sure if she thinks its dorky, but I think she wants to wear a shorty for appearance sake. Women, always fashion over function ;-)
Well for looks, kinky or not I hear a lot of griping about how awful women look in a wetsuit, from women. And if my sister-in-law would get deeper than her knees in water, I bet she’d say that.
No longer eating off my looks, I worried about that, like was it just going to be even worse now!
I think I look better in my Hyperstretch than bathing suit, a bit of the prime time back, think: grrrowl - swipe with claws tight black cat suit.
Does she only dive where there isn’t anything better to look at under water? Bikinis are for the surface, you can’t see envy or drooling behind a mask and reg. Then to, she can milk donning and doffing that suit for all it’s worth. (Come on guys, I see you notice.)

[Teamcasa]

When we were diving in Kona last year, I was comfortable in my 3mm full as was my lovely bride. However, another female diver wore a full 7mm, hood and gloves. When she came up, she was shivering like a wet puppy.

Have her wear what she wants and what makes her comfortable, she will be a much happier buddy!

[Damselfish]

Well for looks, kinky or not I hear a lot of griping about how awful women look in a wetsuit, from women.
of course, and then the guys are supposed to respond appropriately that they look great. highdesert seems to be with the program ;)

[lmorin]

I figured a full suit for this temp range is too much. Maybe I am wrong.
You may very well be wrong. Response to the water temp varies hugely from person to person. I would be wearing a full 5 mm suit at 78 deg; my wife would be wearing a full 3 mm. The point is, what is comfortable to you may be totally wrong for your wife.

[divesmith]

It is really a matter of indivual preference. I usually wear a 5 ml hyperstretch in anything from 72 degrees up and usually add a hood when it is below 80. I dive for fun and if I'm comfortable I'm happy. Below 70 I start adding layers or go dry. If your wife is comfortable she will be more likely to enjoy the diving and you will keep your dive buddy. Remember the old saying if mama is happy everybody is happy, if mama isn't happy NOBODY is happy!

[perdidochas]

When my wife dives with me, when its 78-80 she says she gets cold after 30 min or so. Which would you pick for this temp?

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Both together.