Maui Exposure protection for August/Sept

Xanthro · Aug 25, 2004

What level exposure protection would people recommend.

I dived mostly off Catalina, where the temps are between 60-62 at depth this time of year. I've been reasonable warm in a standard one piece 7mm for up to three dives a day.

I'm sure 7mm would be overkill for Maui, I also have a 3mm shorty, and a thermal body suit which is nearly as warm as a 1mm.

Should this be enough or do I need a full 3mm?

Xanthro

Aerodog · Aug 25, 2004

Since I typically beach dive for extended periods, I wear a 5mm year round. You probably could get by with the 3mm shorty in Sept but if you plan any boat dives, I'd bring the 3mm full.

justleesa · Aug 26, 2004

It all depends on you. I know lots of guys that dive just with their board shorts all year round. Me, I wear my 3mm full suit...but if I live here much longer I think I will get a 5mm for the winter months. I do notice that skinnier people get colder and need a bit more protection.
A full suit would also protect you from brush ups. I see a lot of people come back on the boat with lots of scratches on their legs.

Al Mialkovsky · Aug 26, 2004

I use either a 3 mil shortie or a 3 mil full on Maui, just depends on how much diving I'm doing. If I'm doing several dives daily I tend to get a bit cool eventually.

robstrash · Aug 30, 2004

Do you need need a hood? I haven't seen any mention of it so far. Wife and I live in Bay Area so use to either full 7mm with hood or dry suit with (wet) hood.

We have full 3mm for Maui next week but not sure if we need a hood or not.

Thanks,

justleesa · Aug 30, 2004

Next week? The water is pretty warm and in the past months (June, July & August) I've only had one guy on the boat with a hood...a very skinny teen, but he was cold with a 3mil full and a 3 mil shorty.

Al Mialkovsky · Aug 31, 2004

Recently I started wearing a tropical hood. Just a 1 mil hood. Works great.

Aerodog · Aug 31, 2004

robstrash:
Do you need need a hood? I haven't seen any mention of it so far. Wife and I live in Bay Area so use to either full 7mm with hood or dry suit with (wet) hood.

We have full 3mm for Maui next week but not sure if we need a hood or not.

Thanks,

I always wear a neoprene "baseball cap". Keeps the top of my head warm, the ears clear of a hood, and the sun off my balding head during gear up and surface swims! I think they are called squid caps.

robstrash · Sep 2, 2004

Aerodog:
I always wear a neoprene "baseball cap". Keeps the top of my head warm, the ears clear of a hood, and the sun off my balding head during gear up and surface swims! I think they are called squid caps.

Luckily I don't have to worry about that (yet?). I think I got the good genes as my brother was losing hair at my age.

Thanks for the ideas. I guess we'll hit Maui Dive Shop if we get cold. We're planning on shore dives Saturday afternoon and Monday, boat dive (Ed Robinson) Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night.

This week couldn't go any slower. Plane leaves in 26 hours and counting

kidspot · Sep 3, 2004

I don't know if this helps, but for the past several weeks the water temp in Lahaina has been 81-84 degrees, it dropped to 79 when I was down at 35 feet. So quite warm lately.P.S. a few hours after your arrival I get to start my scuba cert course! So we are both counting down those slowly passing hours lol.

Maui Exposure protection for August/Sept

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