ChrisMk
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Has anyone spent extended periods of time in cold water (say, 10C/50F)? How long? What is it like? Thanks.
extended time in cold water?
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In a word, cold.
But it's manageable with a drysuit and the right thermal underwear. If you think about it, most (if not all) of the deep dives that are being done are in water that's at least that temperature, if not colder just by virtue of the depth. Many technical dives can have long decompression hangs (think hours - not minutes) in 40-50'F and body temperature needs to be accounted for. In New England in the spring it's not uncommon to find water in the high 30's. In California we have bottom temps in the 40's and 50's year round. To a certain degree you just get used to it (after you acquire the right equipment, of course).
But it's manageable with a drysuit and the right thermal underwear. If you think about it, most (if not all) of the deep dives that are being done are in water that's at least that temperature, if not colder just by virtue of the depth. Many technical dives can have long decompression hangs (think hours - not minutes) in 40-50'F and body temperature needs to be accounted for. In New England in the spring it's not uncommon to find water in the high 30's. In California we have bottom temps in the 40's and 50's year round. To a certain degree you just get used to it (after you acquire the right equipment, of course).
melanie.
Contributor
That's what I am getting into right now. So thankful I bought a drysuit!
Low 50s are doable in a wetsuit, just not for extended times. I didn't mind reaching them on thermoclines because I knew when I went back up the water was warmer. But for a solid hour in that temp I was getting way too cold to continue. Very bad sign when you have lost all feeling in your feet once back on the boat.
Right now I am doing an hour, hour and half max at 50F. Anything more and I freeze. I try to plan less or no deco, so I won't have to be forced to stay in the cold water. Make sure I am nice and toasty before getting in the water, and enjoy a hot coffee afterwards. I am sure with better undergarments and neoprene suit I would last longer, but for now I just work with what I have.
It's doable.. but you have to have a little bit of crazy in you
If you are West of Montreal you are close to me, come dive the St. Lawrence!
Low 50s are doable in a wetsuit, just not for extended times. I didn't mind reaching them on thermoclines because I knew when I went back up the water was warmer. But for a solid hour in that temp I was getting way too cold to continue. Very bad sign when you have lost all feeling in your feet once back on the boat.
Right now I am doing an hour, hour and half max at 50F. Anything more and I freeze. I try to plan less or no deco, so I won't have to be forced to stay in the cold water. Make sure I am nice and toasty before getting in the water, and enjoy a hot coffee afterwards. I am sure with better undergarments and neoprene suit I would last longer, but for now I just work with what I have.
It's doable.. but you have to have a little bit of crazy in you
If you are West of Montreal you are close to me, come dive the St. Lawrence!
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I did an 83 minute dive in 50F water just last night, wearing a trilam drysuit, Weezle Extreme undergarment, dry gloves and 5 mm hood. Was quite comfortable, despite the fact that me and my photographer dive buddy didn't really move around a whole lot.
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Tigerman
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10c can be anything from warm to dangerously cold depending on your gear.
I have quite a few dives in well under 10c waters in drysuit, which is quite comfortable. I have a couple in 10c in semidry and thats getting me fairly uncomfortable after an hour.
I have also been nude in 10c water and that will get you seriously cold very fast - but its a damn nice feeling to get into some fresh clean woolen clothing afterwards tho..
I have quite a few dives in well under 10c waters in drysuit, which is quite comfortable. I have a couple in 10c in semidry and thats getting me fairly uncomfortable after an hour.
I have also been nude in 10c water and that will get you seriously cold very fast - but its a damn nice feeling to get into some fresh clean woolen clothing afterwards tho..
Scuba_Noob
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I usually spend between 50-70 minutes underwater in temperatures ranging from 7 degrees Celsius to 10 degrees Celsius (46F to 50F). I generally feel pretty comfortable with a couple of thin layers under a thermal inside of a drysuit, but my feet generally get a little chilly after about 40 minutes (thinking of wearing extra socks). Usually I have to urinate more than I am cold.
I wouldn't be able to last with a wetsuit, but I know people who can in this temperature.
I wouldn't be able to last with a wetsuit, but I know people who can in this temperature.
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I used to get cold toes ... started rating my dives by how many toes I could feel when exiting the water, in fact. Then I got me a pair of Weezle booties, and the problem went away ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Below 50 you really want to be diving dry to limit stress and make it enjoyable. Personally I don't consider cold to be challenging until you get below 40F. When I can make dives without dipping to 50F it's peak season! With the right garments it's not really that different though you do have more of a sense that you are surrounded by cold, even if you have very little direct exposure. The fact that you can sense the colder surroundings means that you do have an elevated heat loss. The extremeties are usually the belwethers that will tell when enough is enough. Done right doing justice to a single cylinder should be doable. More is entirely possible.
Pete
Pete
petrieps
Contributor
Around here the winter temps are in the 30's. I usually just add a pair of long underwear under my usual 200 gram fleece for winter dives. My dives are shorter this time of year 40-60 minutes or so. I also tend to swim much faster in the lower temps and use a lot more air but at least I stay worm. Winter is my favorite time to dive.
Mr Carcharodon
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How long is extended? 50F can work for fours in a a day but it takes a drysuit dry gloves and a thick hood. Some people use argon but it is debatable if that works.
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