Wetsuit needed for Southern California

P House · Mar 20, 2012

Hey everybody! I've only been diving in warm water before (gulf coast, florida, carribbean). However, I'm going to be going to grad school next year for fish biology in southern california and was wondering what type of wetsuit is best for diving out west. I've been told that in the winter you want a 7mil full body, but what about summer? Any insight would be great. Thanks!

aceupmysleeve777 · Mar 20, 2012

7mm, hood, gloves, booties all year. It's not uncommon for it to be 75 above water and at depth mid to high 50's in the summer. In the winter and through the year people dive 8mm and drysuits also most of us use of mix them diving through the year.

DandyDon · Mar 21, 2012

The Caribbean is warmed by the gyre that picks up heat all the way from the Sahara, whereas the gyre that serves California's entire coastline picks up cold all the way from Siberia, rounding at Alaska. :cold: All the wetsuit you got or can get is good.

Thiad · Mar 21, 2012

Brrrr..... 7mm.

freewillie · Mar 21, 2012

7mm with hood, gloves, and booties. The water doesn't vary much and is still in lower 60's at best in the summer. One year did get into the lower 70's, but wouldn't expect that warm of water.

bpotkin · Mar 21, 2012

7mm wetsuit, gloves and hooded vest- or all year around drysuit.

Steve50 · Mar 21, 2012

drysuit

Hatul · Mar 21, 2012

I use a 7mm rear zip suit, with 5mm hooded vest, 5mm boots and 3mm gloves year round. That's a workhorse suit you'll need here. If you're doing long scientific dives you'll probably want eventually a light-weight drysuit.

Sheri SGR · Mar 21, 2012

7mm with hooded vest for winter or drysuit for me and during the summer 7mm with a hood, you can get away with a nice 5mm with hood during the summer for single dives or more if you tend to feel warmer. i would dive 7m with jooded vest even during the summer for a 3-4 dive day off the boat.

Scubagolf · Mar 23, 2012

Summer: 7 mm, hooded vest, 5 mm gloves.
Winter: dive dry or stay in the library.

Just my 2 cents.

Wetsuit needed for Southern California

Please register or login

P House

New

aceupmysleeve777

Contributor

DandyDon

Colonoscopy Advocate

Thiad

Contributor

freewillie

Contributor

bpotkin

Contributor

Steve50

Contributor

Hatul

Contributor

Sheri SGR

Contributor

Scubagolf

Contributor

Similar threads