wetsuit thickness?

[Divenut1959]

I am diving for the first time in Thailand from March 10 - 16 day trips out of Phuket. What mil wetsuit is recommended?

I have dived in the phillipines around this time last year (water temp about 78F) and was comfortable in a 3MM full but I am thinking that might be too much for Thailand temps? I was thinking of wearing a lycra skin with a .5mm full length or the skin and a 3mm shorty. I realize everyones body is different in water temperature but if the water temp is 80Fplus I am thinking of the .5mm? I will do 3 dives per day.

Thanks for your comments
Bernie

 

[MikkelBC]

I dive in Thailand with a 3.5 mm full suit. Personally I don't find "too warm" to be a real concern while diving, but "too cold" definitely is. So unless you are trying to minimize the amount of luggage you have to carry, I would bring the 3mm full suit if I were you.

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

I did not feel the need for a suit whilst diving in Thailand, the water was always 80F+.

I know i might not be the best example because i'm quite a big fella but still i haven't seen many people diving suits in that area.

 

[Divenut1959]

I dive in Thailand with a 3.5 mm full suit. Personally I don't find "too warm" to be a real concern while diving, but "too cold" definitely is. So unless you are trying to minimize the amount of luggage you have to carry, I would bring the 3mm full suit if I were you.

Thank you yes your right it is about being cold not warm...I checked with the dive shop and for a few dollars a day I will rent a shorty 3mm from them and not have to deal with packing mine and allowing time to dry out before packing.

 

[UFOrb]

Many people just dive rash guards and boards shorts out there but it depends on your thermal tolerance and how much you'll be diving.
For the max couple of dives per day that I normally do I use a lavacore vest under a rash guard and O'Neill thermo X shorts under board shorts. This allows some thermal protection whilst not having to take my wetsuit and without getting too hot struggling putting a wetsuit on in tropical heat!!

 

[stevenl]

I am diving for the first time in Thailand from March 10 - 16 day trips out of Phuket. What mil wetsuit is recommended?

I have dived in the phillipines around this time last year (water temp about 78F) and was comfortable in a 3MM full but I am thinking that might be too much for Thailand temps? I was thinking of wearing a lycra skin with a .5mm full length or the skin and a 3mm shorty. I realize everyones body is different in water temperature but if the water temp is 80Fplus I am thinking of the .5mm? I will do 3 dives per day.

Thanks for your comments
Bernie

Agree with Mikkel.

Too hot can never be, just bring your 3 mm and you'll be happy.

 

[String]

Slightly further north but temps have sadly dropped to 27-28c now with sometimes 24c in a passing green monster.
I struggled in my 3mm full with thermocline vest underneath and a hood so now in a 5mm.

 

[Sharkbait07]

I'm a warm-blooded diver and I dove Thailand in January in a 3mm shorty with zero issues. I could have gone with less and think that I might have been a bit warm if I'd gone with 3mm full.
A full rash guard/lavacore and the 3mm shorty should be fine and will allow you to dress down if you're getting too warm.

 

[String]

Remember water temp is dropping since January. Ive never met anyone too hot on a dive, but have met hundreds of people too cold.
We were lending personal full wetsuits a few weeks ago to customers who couldnt survive in the 3mm shorties provided.

 

[Skulmoski]

I would take my 3mm full suit and my 2mm hooded vest if I was diving 3 times per day for 6 or 7 days around Phuket. (Usually at least half of my dives are deep dives within recreational limits so I am exposed to cold water).

If I was diving twice per day, and perhaps fewer deep dives, then I would bring the equivalent to a long sleeve 3 mm shortly and a separate hood (Apeks shorts, 2 mm short sleeve top, with a Fourth Element Thermocline long sleeve outer layer. Two tops gives me 3 combinations of thermal options. The nice thing about the Fourth Element is it is neutrally buoyant and it is mostly wind proof.). I usually have gloves with me too. I would be willing to get a bit chilled on a dive or two, and then get into the sun to warm up during my surface interval and perhaps hot tea. If that did not work, then I could rent a 3 mm full suit and add some of the thermal layers I brought.

Another option would be to bring a 2 mm long sleeve insulation layer and a hood and layer over it a 3 mm shortie (rented from your dive centre).

I try to minimise my exposure suit so that I can reduce the amount of weight I carry on a dive. If you write to confirm your booking with the dive centre you might ask what exposure suits their clients and their dive masters are wearing.

Have a great trip!