Going to Fiji soon, how thick does my wetsuit need to be?

[indigoscratch]

Hi there,

Newer diver, always dove cold water. I am off to fiji for a business trip in April. I will be diving, but I've never worn a wetsuit so I have no idea what thickness I will need. I tend to chill easily. Any suggestions? Reasonably priced is best. Happy to buy used.

LM

 

[merxlin]

I wore a 3mm in Fiji last April and was fine doing 3 dives a day. I get cold fairly easily too. You could take a 3mm, and a hooded vest in case you need it. That should keep you warm enough.

 

[Wingy]

I dive in a 3mm but often feel the cold on multiple dive days with a night dive so I add a lavacore vest with hood underneath. Have fun

 

[farsidefan1]

In late March I use a 3 mil shirt. No problem.

 

[j yaeger]

3/2 with 3 dives a day= fine

 

[fiji_diver]

Horses for course. Here is the water temp data the last few years so you can decide for yourself.
I dive in shorts and rash vest during the Summer months and a 3mm shorty in the winter. Others use 5mm all year...
My suggestion is a 3mm full suit and a 3mm hood.
Most resorts will have suits for hire.
If you do the Aquatrek shark dive, they will give you a 5mm full suit.

If you are in Suva, let me know as i run the local club and dive shop.

Cheers
Greg

 

[indigoscratch]

Thanks! I believe the plan is to do Somosomo & Taveiuni. It's a familiarization trip called Dive Fiesta. Thanks a ton for the chart, very helpful.

Thank you to everyone for your replies!

 

[dflaher]

Pretty much what fiji_diver said. Wet suit thickness is a fairly personal thing; I have been on boats where there are divers in shorties and divers in 5mm's...same water.

For me the factors in determining what to bring are:
* Water temperature...contact the dive shop if you are unsure
* How you feel in water of that temperature and what you've previously worn at that temp (as a new diver you may not know this yet)
* Number of dives per day/week. The moe you dive the warmer you will need to be. That's why the DMs always have more on than us tourists.
* Ease of renting/buying a different thickness at the diving locale....the more remote the less chance
* Your attitude toward weights. A thicker suit means more lead and I try to avoid lead wherever possible :cool2:

You will love the Somosomo Straits. I dove there last June and wore a skin under a 3mm and was fine. I was thinking about buying a 5mm at home for the trip, but the shop had them for rent. Since I don't ever really envision needing a 5mm for the kind of warm water diving I do, that was enough insurance for me.

Enjoy the trip. I am jealous.

Cheers
Dan

 

[mike0479]

I was in Fiji from jan 4 to the 21st and dove with just my swim suit on. I did over a dozen dives with the deepest being 159' and I was never cold. The water was great. I felt comfortable with just my T-shirt on.

 

[Liam hemsworth]

I dived the somosomo straits last October - 25 deg C at 20 m - had a short wetsuit but could easily have dived in t-shirt and board shorts (some did) - only reason I kept using my shortie was comfort to prevent my BCD from chafing.