Hi Karen,
If you are going to jump into a pool, please do so with an instructor. You've been out of diving for a bit, an you have some difficulties you need to deal with. Trying to do it alone is not the best way to accomplish this. Get your skills and confidence up to snuff before doing anything.
Dry Suit is different than regular diving, but not difficult at all. Many people with an open water certification that a dry suit specialty. If you tend to get cold easily, it's the best way to go. Initially it is more expensive, but from my own, as well as many others experiences, it's the only way to go. If you don't want to go this way, my next suggestion would be to get a semi-dry wetsuit. It's in between the two extremes (totally wet, totally dry) and doesn't require learning new skills other than getting used to putting it on. It costs a little more than a standard wetsuit, but a lot less than a dry suit. The choice is totally yours. Your buddy may not feel the cold the same way you do. As an instructor, I always teach my students that when you feel cold, you're cold - period. It doesn't matter whether any one else feels that way or not - the important thing is that you do.
I always carry a spare mask. It's come in handy when my primary mask got wacked off by a careless diver. I simply put on my spare, found my primary mask, switched back over, and continued my dive. Of course the fact that the careless diver bought dinner also helped!
Let me know how you do Karen. Stay in touch.
Take Care,
George
PADI MSDT
