Finding a vest/hood combo that works

[elemeno123]

I just started diving in cold water for a scientific diving class I'm taking. (My previous dives have all been in warm water with a 3mm suit). Right now I have a Bare Arctic 7 mm fullsuit with a 7mm step-in hooded vest.

The fullsuit by itself is a little on the tight side, but okay, but with the 7mm vest included it becomes pretty unbearable. I had to actually abort my last dive because the restriction across my chest was making me nauseated. I can't really go up another size because it will be way too big.

So, I guess my question is how do I find a balance between not having the chest constriction and being warm enough (water temp on the last dive was 50 degrees).

The options I'm considering are:

1) Trying to break in the fullsuit more by wearing it a lot. The problem is that I think the vest is unsalvagable and there's now way even with more breaking in, I'll be able to get a hooded vest underneath. Therefore I'd have to look for a different hood that fits over and I'm worried that I'll run into the same problem.

2) Buying a different suit/ hood combo that's more forgiving. I was thinking of getting a stretchier suit (Pinnacle elastiprene or the Mares Trilastic 8-6-5) with the pinnacle elastiprene hooded vest underneath. Any opinions on these suits? Will it be warm enough?

3) Custom suit. This is a last resort as it'll cost me a lot of money and I probably won't be diving cold that much after the class is over (my research is on tropical fish).

4) Alterations. Getting my current or a new suit altered might give me a better fit. I got some priced out and it looks like it might get pretty pricey with my current suit to get it fixed and I think I'd need to buy a new hood no matter what.

If anyone could give me any advice, that would be great. Wetsuits have been driving me crazy and a drysuit is not an option.

Thanks!

 

[CMAN]

The best way to stay warm is to buy a drysuit. If the cost is too high for your budget, then I would look into a Henderson Hyperstretch Hooded Vest. It is 3mm on the core and 5mm on the hood. When I dive wet, that is what I use. It is not too restrictive under my 7mm two-piece (or 3mm) and it works (for me) as cold as the low 40's.

 

[Thalassamania]

I just started diving in cold water for a scientific diving class I'm taking. (My previous dives have all been in warm water with a 3mm suit). Right now I have a Bare Arctic 7 mm fullsuit with a 7mm step-in hooded vest.

The fullsuit by itself is a little on the tight side, but okay, but with the 7mm vest included it becomes pretty unbearable. I had to actually abort my last dive because the restriction across my chest was making me nauseated. I can't really go up another size because it will be way too big.

So, I guess my question is how do I find a balance between not having the chest constriction and being warm enough (water temp on the last dive was 50 degrees).

The options I'm considering are:

1) Trying to break in the fullsuit more by wearing it a lot. The problem is that I think the vest is unsalvagable and there's now way even with more breaking in, I'll be able to get a hooded vest underneath. Therefore I'd have to look for a different hood that fits over and I'm worried that I'll run into the same problem.

2) Buying a different suit/ hood combo that's more forgiving. I was thinking of getting a stretchier suit (Pinnacle elastiprene or the Mares Trilastic 8-6-5) with the pinnacle elastiprene hooded vest underneath. Any opinions on these suits? Will it be warm enough?

3) Custom suit. This is a last resort as it'll cost me a lot of money and I probably won't be diving cold that much after the class is over (my research is on tropical fish).

4) Alterations. Getting my current or a new suit altered might give me a better fit. I got some priced out and it looks like it might get pretty pricey with my current suit to get it fixed and I think I'd need to buy a new hood no matter what.

If anyone could give me any advice, that would be great. Wetsuits have been driving me crazy and a drysuit is not an option.

Thanks!

Where is it that you are diving? What are the conditions? How deep are the dives? How many dives in a day?

 

[elemeno123]

For the course, we're diving mostly in Monterey and Catalina, though we might spend a day somewhere on the North Coast. All of our diving is in March, so water temperatures will probably be in the low 50s (maybe up to mid-50s in Catalina). Most dives planned are 30-40 feet max, though we have a few deeper dives scheduled (~80 feet). Usually 2 dives a day.

 

[smoothfin]

i was using a pinnacle hooded vest under my 7mm when i was still diving wet, and it worked out pretty well. not as well as dry when it gets really cold, but i managed until i got my dry suit. i think it was a 3mm with that merino lining (not sure if that makes a big difference or not, maybe just enough to slow some water movement).

 

[ba_hiker]

Another option is to go to otter bay, in monterey, and get a custom wet suit. It will fit well, and be warm. In the mid 70s to mid 80s they were required equipment for the Berkeley marine bio classes.

 

[Thalassamania]

If you can afford a new suit, Otter Bay in Monterey is a great choice, and the Berkeley suit is the best design. Alternatively, you could rather easily have any custom house expand your existing suit a dash so that everything would fit right.

 

[ba_hiker]

Cricket (at otter bay) is also a good choice for alterations, or a new custom hooded vest. Also their custom 12mm hood is great.

 

[merxlin]

I recently bought an Arctic step-in vest to go over a Large 7mil. I had to go from an L to an XL, even though the size chart and the people at Bare told me the L should be fine. The XL is still a bit snug from shoulder to crotch, but that should loosen up a bit with wear. There was not a big jump is size between the two. I would see if you can exchange the one you have for one size larger. I was very warm in this combination in mid-50's water for 60 minute dives.

 

[smoothfin]

.... Also their custom 12mm hood is great.

Looks like this is worth checking out. 12mm sounds nice and toasty, and that style for the drysuit looks better than what I currently go with.