jonhall
Contributor
Will it be too hot in a 7mm in Hawaii?
As other have replied, no one can answer this type of question for YOU or anyone else but themselves. Everyone is different. Having said that, you sound like my kind of traveler, so I'll share my experience.
Big Island in February: Spent 1 week - three 2 tank dives in 4 days. Water temps 75-76º F. Wore my 3mm and was okay.
Kauai in April: Spent 1 week - three 2 tank dives in 3 days (1 of those days was shore dives.) Based on what I was reading here on SB and elsewhere about water temps, I decided to leave my wetsuit at home and rent a 5mm. A plus was not lugging my wetsuit along with the rest of my gear; the negative was that the water temps were 76-78º F. Could have easily used my own 3mm instead of the ill-fitting one I rented - I'm 6'4", 225 lbs - and been comfortable.
Big Island in Oct/Nov: Spent 2 weeks - five 2 tank dives. Water temp 82ºF. Wore 3mm wetsuit and was comfortable. A shorty would have been fine for me.,
normally dive when I travel warm water areas like Hawaii, Caribbean, Mexico (Cozumel, Cenotes).
As this is my type of diving, I have both a 3mm full wetsuit and a shorty. I like to travel light, so the only thing extra I take on trips that I could wear under my wetsuit if I felt a little cold is a rash guard. There have been a few times I've just worn a rash guard and swimsuit depending on the conditions and ease of dive.
is there an option for me to use the wetsuit for both warm and cold water so I dont have to have 2 set of suits?
All I think I know about Monterey, CA is that the water is colder. If I could only get one suit, I guess my thinking would be to get one for the conditions where I will do the most diving and rent for places I go where a different suit would be better. I would also consider getting a shorty (they are pretty cheap $$) for the Caribbean locations - I take mine most places and it's fine for me - usually traveling between the months of Oct. - April. Personally, I would rule out the 7mm for all of the places you say you travel to, but again, if you do 30 dives a year and 26 of them are where you live, get a wetsuit for those conditions.