3½mm or 5mm suit diving Komodo, Alor and the Banda Sea in September?

[Topper1972]

End of August I am heading to Indonesia for a long diving holiday.

But it is 8 years since I last dove Indonesia, so I am a little unsure what wetsuit to pack.
I am usually comfy in my 3½mm until 22 degrees Celsius. Below 22 degrees Celsius I prefer my 5mm.

Option A) 3½mm full wetsuit + separate vest with hood.

Option B) 5mm full wetsuit + separate vest with hood.

What do guys recommend...3½mm or 5mm wetsuit?

 

[borisphotosafari]

Last year, in Komodo I used 5mm and a hood. In the south, I added a hooded vest. It was a little warmer in Alor as I can remember. I hate being cold, my 5 mm is my go to wetsuit.
If you stop in Bali for Mola Mola on the way, Nusa Penida had really cold thermocline. I wished I had my 7mm.
It's better to be warmer then cold.

 

[runsongas]

north and central will be mostly 26C+, south 22 to 24C or so.

 

[Adelaar Cruises]

It depends how cold you get in general. But for a long diving holiday, your body would probably thank you for option B since South Komodo and Alor can be quite cold.

 

[davehicks]

I did Komodo & Alor in June with an old 3mm suit and found I had to borrow a Hooded Vest for about half the dives. Fortunately, my boat (Damai) had lots of gear available. I used a 1mm hood when I didn't wear the hooded vest. Next time I go I'll be picking up my own hooded vest and a newer 3mm. This provides the flexibility to shed the vest if you hit warmer conditions. If you tend to get cold on many dives you might be better with a 5mm and a light hood or beanie.

 

[Topper1972]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

I used my 5mm, my hooded vest and gloves for diving South Africa this March....in False Bay off Simon's Town the water temperature was only 11-12 degrees Celsius.
So with that combo I think that I should be pretty toasty in Indonesia ;-)

 

[Mike Veitch]

11-12C in a 5mm? as we say in Indonesia... Gila I am in a 7mm semi dry at 22 and under haha, once it hits 17 I get out

 

[Topper1972]

I only had 8 dives inside False Bay where the temperature is 11-12 degrees Celsius...so I did not want to invest in a dry suit for that ;-) It was okay as long as you kept active...dives were maximum 45 minutes.
Amazingly the local dive guides also had no dry suits....even though they dive in these temperatures months on end.

 

[nudisusie]

definitely option B... i can survive most dives in indonesia in a skin with hooded vest (pic is in raja) - but not southern komodo or alor if you want to do 3 - 4 long dives a day (wicked thermoclines!) banda you'd be ok in a skin given your comments about ZA... definitely need full suit as there are plenty of floating stingers and big hydroids that love to brush up against bear legs!

 

[Wingy]

5mm full ... sometimes with a lavacore vest on night dives works well for me.