I was curious if there is any break down of mm to thermo protection. In others words 1 mm will give this amount of protection 2mm this amount. The reason I ask is because I have a 14 mill suit and freeze the twins while doing photography. Water temp is 52. I could go dry but what is the ideal wet suit thickness for this temp water? Keep in mind I often barely move in a 1 hour period. Sorry for the poorly worded question.
mm and thermo protection.
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fisherdvm
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I think a well fitting wet suit vs a loose fitting one screws the thermo protection factor completely.
An 11 mm wetsuit that slushes water around is probably no better than a 3 mm well fitted or semidry wetsuit. I'll bet your 14 mm is leaky?
I know that when you are stationary, you're going to get cold. Perhaps if your hobby is photography, you might need a drysuit.
If you have no fat like me, you probably freeze faster than someone who has insulation.
An 11 mm wetsuit that slushes water around is probably no better than a 3 mm well fitted or semidry wetsuit. I'll bet your 14 mm is leaky?
I know that when you are stationary, you're going to get cold. Perhaps if your hobby is photography, you might need a drysuit.
If you have no fat like me, you probably freeze faster than someone who has insulation.
Many active wetsuit dives can enjoy diving to 50F in a 7mm suit with 2X on the core, self included. As a photographer you are sedentary and I'm surprised that you can even find the twins. You are a drysuit candidate.
Pete
Pete
It's been a long time since I've dove in a 7mm wetsuit, but I seem to recall that it was fairly comfortable in waters in the 50s. But then again, the deeper you go, the less it will insulate too.
Thanks. I have the green light from the wife to get a dry suit but I think I'm looking at over 2k. My wet suit fits good and on active dives I'm fine. It's just the Macro photography that kills me. I was hoping there was a cheap fix by adding another mm or 2. Sounds like I have to bite the bullet and drop some cash.
dschulte
Contributor
uspap:
You can get a solid dry suit for around $800, Bare NextGen. As far as thermal protect per mm goes, it depends a lot on the brand of suit; some compress more than others and some let more water in than others. I dive a 7mm SucbaPro Everflex with a 3mm hooded vest. This provides excellent thermal protection for depths to 130' and 42° water. We dive every weekend wet and have not had an issue; typical dive is to 100', 42-48°, 1 hour. Other suits the guys I dive with are the Pinnacle Artic, Xcel 6.5mm and Akona 6.5mm Farmer. It also depends on your tolerance for the cold. My wife would need 200mm for 40° water
. When I go to replace my 7mm, I am probably going with the Xcel Hydro Tri-Density 7/6/5, the seaming and thermal protection is phenomenal. You barely get wet.:monkeydan
b1draper
Contributor
Look into a Semi-dry 7/5MM. I love mine. I'm taking mine on a dive in 56 degree water this weekend. Last time I was pretty dry, only a few small spots were damp. I was toasty the whole time.
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=177327&highlight=semi-dry
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=177327&highlight=semi-dry
Many posts and little science so here is something to feed the brain...
Short answer:
Uw = Suit Conductance (Heat transfer coefficient)
Rl = resistance to heat flow through thin film of water
Rf = resistance to heat flow through foam neoprene
Rconv = convective heat transfer between suit and surroundings
as seen here:
from:
Nuckols, Marshall L. Life support systems design : diving and hyperbaric applications / M.L. Nuckols, Ace J. Sarich, Wayne C. Tucker. Needham Heights, MA : Simon & Schuster Custom Publ., c1996.
Since your wife has loosed the purse strings, make sure you consider that insulation must work when flooded as well has have a proper fit.
from:
Proceedings of the DCIEM Diver Thermal Protection Workshop.
Edited by Nishi, 1989
RRR ID: 3922, DCIEM 92-10
Short answer:
A method to calculate the insulation value as a function of depth and foam density and table of values for wet and dry suits:Lew Nuckols:
Uw = Suit Conductance (Heat transfer coefficient)
Rl = resistance to heat flow through thin film of water
Rf = resistance to heat flow through foam neoprene
Rconv = convective heat transfer between suit and surroundings
as seen here:
from:
Nuckols, Marshall L. Life support systems design : diving and hyperbaric applications / M.L. Nuckols, Ace J. Sarich, Wayne C. Tucker. Needham Heights, MA : Simon & Schuster Custom Publ., c1996.
Since your wife has loosed the purse strings, make sure you consider that insulation must work when flooded as well has have a proper fit.
from:
Proceedings of the DCIEM Diver Thermal Protection Workshop.
Edited by Nishi, 1989
RRR ID: 3922, DCIEM 92-10
mfalco
Contributor
Funny this comes up now. just the other day my little brother (who is getting certified) was asking me wetsuit questions. i told him it all depends upon the person. I wear a hyperstretch 7/5 ( which isn't as warm as a regular 7/5)in 50 degree water taking pictures, and I'm fine. I'm also fairly skinny, so I don't have much built in insulation. Then again I know someone that dives the same water who has a lot of built in insulation. He wears a 9mm farmer john with a 7mm top and is still cold.
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