How to get warm in 57-degree Fahrenheit water

[LowDrag]

I dove two weekends ago for OW and can attest to rental suits leaking at the seams. The water was real cold in the Puget Sound, snow on the ground and cold air temps. After I got into the water and started to move around my temp came back up rather quickly inside my 7 mil Farmer John with step in 7 mil shorty jacket. I felt like I got most of my water exchange at the seams and not necessarily the neck, wrist and ankles, I could be mistaken about that. The water was stabbing cold where it touched bare skin to. I do believe that everyone talking dry suits are correct and I am very seriously thinking about committing the money for my wife and I to go dry.

 

[spectrum]

7mm with 2X on the core it's a simple as that. Oh and it needs to fit. In near 60F you should be entirely comfortable for 60+ minutes of leisurely diving.

Starting with a sloppy 5mm you're lucky you did not reach the point of shivering.

Go dry if you care to.

Pete

 

[phillybob]

Drysuit.

 

[Whatevva]

Well, the first thing (other than the mask issue) that I noticed is that your buddy must be really good at navigation so there's no need for long surface swims, since he seems to have forgotten his snorkel....

considering the dive plan, he's fine...you need to have a keener eye to catch the big one

 

[gcarter]

considering the dive plan, he's fine...you need to have a keener eye to catch the big one

Not quite sure from the picture, but is there a split in those fins?

 

[freewillie]

I have multiple dives 50 degree water. At 57 degrees should be quite comfortable with proper exposure protection.

Recommend good 7mm with 5mm hood and booties, 3-5mm gloves. Wetsuit fit is essential. Quality neoprene is also important. It is generally trade off between warmth and comfort. Generally regular neoprene more warmth, stretchy neoprene more comfort. These days there are lots stretch neoprene with lots of warmth as well.

Bare and Waterproof also make suits with fitted panels to increase proper fit and minimize water entry. Henderson designed wetsuit Aqualock has special fitted hood, gloves, booties to minimize water entry. Dove 52 degree water and felt just slightly chilled in 7mm with 3mm vest, dive partner said he was quite warm in his 7mm Aqualock.

 

[TMHeimer]

Variations of this question routinely pop up. And I always say you really have to figure it out yourself, as eveyone's cold tolerance is different. Many say a safe way to go is the 7 mil farmer john (I use that from 60F down to low 30s). Then there are those who use a drysuit year round, feeling 60F water is cold. I did a half hour in my shortie at 57F one summer and started to shiver a bit. Sometimes, at about 60F, I only use the top to my farmer john and adjust trim. Lower than 42F I use 3 fingered mitts. Trial and error.

 

[chs8084]

I would definitely be going dry, but then in 68-70 degree water, I get cold with a 7 mm wetsuit and a 5/3 hooded vest by a second day of diving.


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[laurin]

A drysuit is really the only proper answer, 57F water is warm for a drysuit diver... Thick wetsuits are cold, heavy, hard to put on and introduce a host of problems with suit compression at depth. They don't last as long as a properly cared for drysuit, and by shopping around it's fairly easy to find a good drysuit (used maybe) for the price of a high end cold water wetsuit. While the cold tolerance may vary a bit from person to person, for the most part it's just some people toughing it out - they're still negatively affected by the cold.

 

[gcarter]

A drysuit is really the only proper answer, 57F water is warm for a drysuit diver... Thick wetsuits are cold, heavy, hard to put on and introduce a host of problems with suit compression at depth. They don't last as long as a properly cared for drysuit, and by shopping around it's fairly easy to find a good drysuit (used maybe) for the price of a high end cold water wetsuit. While the cold tolerance may vary a bit from person to person, for the most part it's just some people toughing it out - they're still negatively affected by the cold.

Heartily disagree. A dry suit may be warmer, but it introduces its own quirks and trade offs. It may or may not be the "right" answer for the OP - only the OP can decide that after weighing the pros and cons. It is hardly the "only proper answer" though.