Wetsuit or not?

[akivisuals]

So I'll be on O'ahu in less than two weeks! I'm bringing my BCD, fins, mask & snorkel, and was planning on bringing my wetsuit since I tend to get cold easily. In SoCal at the moment I'm diving a 7mm suit with a 5/3 hooded vest and am warm enough. Obviously, I won't be needing anything like that in Hawai'i but was thinking about bringing my 3/2 fullsuit. What are the temps in Feb? Wetsuit needed? 3/2 fullsuit too hot? Mahalo!

 

[DiveMaven]

Think 74-75 degree water, factor in how many dives + how many days, then decide how much exposure protection you'll need.

 

[Rustydiver]

You will want at least a 3/2 for more than 1 dive. First dive feels pretty good but, next one you will be cold. I dove in April with my Bare 3/2 and was just fine.

 

[iamrushman]

i just left Oahu Hawaii Jan. 18th and the water temp was in the low 70s...so the 3/2 or more will work.

 

[RJP]

If you get cold easily a 3/2 won't cut it. Consider a light hooded vest under it? I wouldn't dive less than a 5/4/3 suit in Hawaii in Feb.

 

[stuartv]

If you're diving in 58 degree water with a 7mm + 5/3 hooded vest, I would think you'd be comfortable in 72 degree water in a 3/2 + 5/3 hooded vest.

 

[dytis-sm]

The first time I visited Hawaii in Dec/Jan I brought my 7mm (nothing else under it) and boy was I overdressed! Not to mention the extra weight you have to carry between that and the aluminum tanks. I have not been back during the "winter" months but if I would have gone back that time of the year I would do a 3mm. Worst case scenario with a hooded vest. In the summer (around 78) I wore a 3/2 shorty and no hood and was nice and toasty, definitely the way to go for me.

 

[stuartv]

Also, I dove off Maui in Feb of '13. The dive company's rental suits were all 5mm, so I guess that's what they figure most people need in order to be warm enough. Just another data point for you.

Since you said you get cold easily, I would definitely not go without taking your full 3/2 and your hooded vest. You *might* decide you don't need the hooded vest, but I reckon you'll probably be glad you have it. A hood makes a big difference.

 

[akivisuals]

This fall was unseasonably warm in SoCal with water temps in the low 70s. I dove a 7mm suit with no hood and was fine, actually a bit on the warm side. I'm hoping the 3/2 will be adequate, but I'll bring the 5/3 hooded vest to be on the safe side. Good point of reference! Thanks!

 

[geoff w]

We usually go to Hawaii for a week each year during the winter, and planning to go to the Big Island in mid-February. So Cal water temps are still a little warmer than usual for this time of year; I had 61° last weekend, but others reported mid-60s at Casino Point. We usually plan for low 70s in Hawaii, which isn't bad for one dive, but for two or more dives a day on multiple days you definitely start getting more and more chilled as the days go on. We usually dive 5mm full suits with hooded vests underneath, and gloves. If we're down for over an hour most dives and not kicking much, I'm definitely cold part way through the second dive, and my wife getting cold is usually the limiting factor for bottom time

You didn't say what kind of diving you do here. One shore dive with a hike while fully geared up to the water and a reasonable surface swim keeps you a lot warmer than riding out on a dive boat first thing in the morning (possibly in the rain), and then getting wind blown between dives. I found a big part of getting cold with diving in Hawaii is how much you can warm up between dives. The food most of the dive boats serve in Hawaii between dives always seems to make me colder on the second dive

Personally, I'm planning to take a 5mm full suit and hooded vest for diving, with a long sleeve Lavacore top to wear underneath if I start getting cold