Drysuit undergarments for Channel Islands?

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SaltyWombat

Contributor
Messages
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Location
Monterey, Calif.
# of dives
500 - 999
I'm diving in the Channel Islands in March. I never get cold in Monterey, where I usually dive. In fact, I'm prone to overheating. I have a DUI Yukon II trilaminate drysuit.

What undergarments should I consider? And base layer?

I have my eye on 2 piece undergarments from Fourth Element. I guess that's the Arctic or Arctic Expedition. I tend to feel claustrophobic when constricted, so that's why I like the idea of 2 piece undergarments.
 
What do you wear now that you're getting overheated in? I only own one drysuit undergarment, the Polartec 300, which I use for all SoCal dives that I don't want to do in a wetsuit. Diving wet is of course an option if you're worried about being too warm; I did so around the Channel Islands in March before I got a drysuit and lived to tell the tale, even though I'm a bit of a wuss. Anyway, DUI has a chart for this. Expect bottom temperatures between the mid-50s and mid-60s.

DUI | Drysuits & Diving Equipment from Diving Unlimited International
 
I'm diving in the Channel Islands in March. I never get cold in Monterey, where I usually dive. In fact, I'm prone to overheating. I have a DUI Yukon II trilaminate drysuit.

What undergarments should I consider? And base layer?

I have my eye on 2 piece undergarments from Fourth Element. I guess that's the Arctic or Arctic Expedition. I tend to feel claustrophobic when constricted, so that's why I like the idea of 2 piece undergarments.
The AE is no longer manufactured and discontinued, at least as of the last time I talked with FE. All else equal, either a J2 or a merino wool set is recommended as a base layer. Top layer is duration dependent. Anything from a xerotherm to a Halo is appropriate. Hard to go wrong with a standard Arctic. What are you wearing now?
 
I should have clarified that I dive wet, but will dive in a drysuit for the first time in the Channel Islands. In general, I either don't get cold, or it doesn't bother me.
 
Hard to say since we don't really know your thermal tolerance, but most people I dive with when I go to SoCal use Arctic or Arctic Expeditions and they are comfortable. I use a White Thermal Fusion which is very similar and stay plenty warm.
For a base layer I use either the Fourth Element Xerotherm, Under Armour 2.0, or Hot Chily's mid weight.
 
Fourth Element Arctic with a baselayer would probably be great for this. I've been very comfortable in my set for dives of up to 2 hours in 41°F (5°C) water.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/perdix-ai/

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