Help me!

[CSD1129]

Hey guys,
Living in NJ and doing check-out dives in Dutch Springs Quarry (in PA) I froze in my rental 7mm wetsuit (the water was 48 degrees). So after becoming a certified diver (nearly 3 years ago) I immediately got my dry suit diver certification. Now, I'm 17 years old and heading to college in 2007. I have easier acess to diving now that I can drive/have a car and I'd really like to dive a lot more. However, I've been renting drysuits since 2003. It costs me nearly 100 dollars everytime I go diving (hence why I haven't been doing loads of local diving). I don't think it would make sense for me to buy a drysuit at this time. I hope college takes me to South Florida(Miami!) where I won't be needing a drysuit, but at the same time I'm still here in the North East until August of 2007.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do? I'm thinking a semi-dry wetsuit might be a good idea but I'm really not sure.

Thanks in advance!
- Christine

[spectrum]

Well given what have spent so far do you realize you can get into an Atlan or Oneill Neoprene drysuit for no much more that $500.?

A semi dry will approach that cost.

Pete

[lorien]

Having done quite a bit of diving at Dutch Springs I agree it can be cold. When the water is that cold, before I got my drysuit, I always wore a 2nd piece in addition to my 7 mil. Either a hooded vest of a core warmer can add to your wamth. That gives you 14 mil over your core area instead of just 7 and it makes a huge difference. I dove for 2 years with a 7 mil suit and core warmers before investing in a dry suit and I got in about 100 dives a year that way most in the NE. I have to admit the time I went to Dutch Springs on the last weekend that they were open in the fall I was cold but we still got 2 dives in each day and I was colder with the air temps during SI's than I was when in the water. Give the 2nd piece a try, if you are renting wetsuits then just get a 2 piece one with a farmer john.

[CSD1129]

thanks for the help! Dutch springs is more cold than I'd like it to be...I'm done with renting wetsuits...I think it's time to invest in a 7mm. The only wetsuit I currently own is an o'neill 3mm for caribbean trips!