28° is hot or cold?

[Prudent_Rabbit]

Its Obvious from the posts, its a personal preference (and also your current normal temps) I live in Bangkok and the average daily temp is 33+ C, originally Im from England and diving in 28 C water, I would have been in board shorts and a smile, nowadays, I need a 5mm semi dry or Im just to cold, and the water needs to be 33 before Im in boardshorts and a smile now

 

[vkalia]

Yeah, I'm with P Rabbit - used to dive in North Atlantic, dry suit, dry gloves, dry hood, 4-5C water.

I recently got a 3mm suit for our local diving (26-28C) and after freezing for a while, have gone back to my old 5mm suit - the 3mm is fine for the most part, but leaks a lot more water through the zippers than my old Cressi 5 mil. And the 5mil looks like a real diver's suit as well - faded, torn, patched, permanent pee smell

Basically, you dont need a lot of thick insulation in water of that temperature - but what you do need is a way to prevent heat loss by conduction. So I'd suggest that if possible, think of a well-sealed 5mm and a hood as opposed to a 7mil 2-piece.

Vandit

 

[Zeeman]

28 C is like bath water. I dive in shorts and a rash shirt when it's that warm...

Z...

 

[Diver0001]

We're all different, some chill more than others, but really want to dive.

It's also about how much you move around, I think. Years ago I would have found it warm in 28C with a 5mm shorty but I was diving for 45 min and was fairly .... er.... active (read I flapped around a lot and chased after things). These days I'll make much longer dives at a much slower tempo. Apart from my ankles most of my body doesn't move much at all during the dive (which is the reason i can make much longer dives...) and I need more exposure protection as a result.

R..

 

[miketsp]

I can't believe some of these answers.
28/82,4 as found in most of NE Brazil at this time of year certainly doesn't need a 7mm!
Why would anyone want to dive a 7mm which needs a lot of weight when they can enjoy the freedom of diving with much less?
At these temps I normally dive a 3mm shorty and when doing a night dive (3rd dive of the day) I'd just put a full skin under it.
When wreck diving it may be convenient to use a 3mm full but more for protection against scrapes than thermal protection.

 

[terrasmak]

Summers here is 80 to 82 degree water and i wear a 3/2 full and am fine , actually i could easily trunk it. I get cold easy and swap to a 7mm in 75 degree water the 7 is actually a little warm for that water .

 

[Karen Es]

I can't believe some of these answers.
28/82,4 as found in most of NE Brazil at this time of year certainly doesn't need a 7mm!
Why would anyone want to dive a 7mm which needs a lot of weight when they can enjoy the freedom of diving with much less?
At these temps I normally dive a 3mm shorty and when doing a night dive (3rd dive of the day) I'd just put a full skin under it.
When wreck diving it may be convenient to use a 3mm full but more for protection against scrapes than thermal protection.

Hi Mike,
As you see, every person has a different opinion, something really interesting. I'll dive in 7mm, I tend to chill in no time, and I know in Brazil the water is warm at surface, but colder when descending, so, what should I take the risk of getting cold, if I can prevent it?
Most of the guys who answered are used to 1) cold water 2) wear 3mm or 5 mm. I could also add, that men in general are used to colder water than women. When I take a bath, my water is extremely hot in winter, and a bit more colder in summer (let me explain that in winter days of average temperature of 5/8°C I wear 2 or 3 sweaters if required!).
Two years ago I've been in the S of Brazil, Florianopolis, (Arvoredo), the water was 18/20°C and I had to wear 11mm. In my first dive I tried 5mm, and I could say I was cold. So, in my second dive I knew this and, therefore, needed more neoprene. My reasoning at the moment was that it was supposed to be a enjoying my dive, but I woudn't if I had to abort due to my mistake.
The other important fact is that I tend to be very relaxed when diving, which means that I need to be warm.
This time I think that in case I feel it's very hot I'll open the suit a bit, or even wear the jacket instead of the pants. And, if after my fist dive I feel it's still too much, I'll rent a 5mm.
I'll let you know once I'm back how everything worked out!
Obrigada,
Karen