Keeping warm on the boat between dives--wetsuit on or off?

[Kensei]

I dive as well as wakeboard and kiteboard. I'd recommend a Hyperflex playa surf jacket. Best $85-$100 you will spend. It's windproof and waterproof and will keep you warm. Make sure and get one large enough for layering, over wetsuit, etc... They make one without zipper for kiteboarding harness, but check pricing.

https://www.amazon.com/Hyperflex-Playa-Jacket-Harness-X-Large/dp/B0051IG6VS/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1543508718&sr=1-1&nodeID=7141123011&psd=1&keywords=hyperflex+surf+jacket&refinements=p_89:Hyperflex

I noticed many of the DMs in Cozumel wear these on the boat during the trip home after the last dive.

 

[Esprise Me]

Thanks again for the input, everyone!

My 3 boat dives were supposed to be today, but the trip got canceled. I ended up taking the ferry to Catalina and doing 2 shore dives instead. I did buy and use a Surf Fur, which was totally worth the money. I was able to hang out in the shade, totally comfortable, after diving in 63 degree water (air temp was about the same.) It was a big difference from before, plus I was able to use it to get changed, so thanks again to RyanT for the suggestion!

My dives went well too. It ended up being just me and the DM, which I was happy about. He may have been blowing smoke up my ass for a tip, but he praised my bouyancy control, and we had a nice chat between dives. We saw lots of fish and even a couple little bitty wrecks, and I loved swimming through the kelp. Now I'm drinking a beer outside at a restaurant overlooking the water, so I'm pretty much at the saturation point for happiness. Is there a decompression procedure for going back to work after a day like this? ;-)

 

[saxman242]

Thanks again for the input, everyone!

My 3 boat dives were supposed to be today, but the trip got canceled. I ended up taking the ferry to Catalina and doing 2 shore dives instead. I did buy and use a Surf Fur, which was totally worth the money. I was able to hang out in the shade, totally comfortable, after diving in 63 degree water (air temp was about the same.) It was a big difference from before, plus I was able to use it to get changed, so thanks again to RyanT for the suggestion!

My dives went well too. It ended up being just me and the DM, which I was happy about. He may have been blowing smoke up my ass for a tip, but he praised my bouyancy control, and we had a nice chat between dives. We saw lots of fish and even a couple little bitty wrecks, and I loved swimming through the kelp. Now I'm drinking a beer outside at a restaurant overlooking the water, so I'm pretty much at the saturation point for happiness. Is there a decompression procedure for going back to work after a day like this? ;-)

How were the conditions this weekend? Getting out of the water last weekend was rough because of the surge. Way worse than I've seen it before. Granted, they did cancel several of the boats going out to Catalina due to weather.

 

[Esprise Me]

Obviously I don't have much of a basis for comparison, but per my guide today, conditions were the best they've been for at least a week, though not the best of the year. Visibility was about 30-40 feet and there was almost no current or surge-- much nicer than when I did my checkout dives off a boat near San Pedro and from the shore at Redondo a month ago!

 

[saxman242]

Obviously I don't have much of a basis for comparison, but per my guide today, conditions were the best they've been for at least a week, though not the best of the year. Visibility was about 30-40 feet and there was almost no current or surge-- much nicer than when I did my checkout dives off a boat near San Pedro and from the shore at Redondo a month ago!

Sounds like a good day of diving. Last Sunday, everyone was exiting on the stairs(I assume you were at Casino Point) on hands and knees. Had to crawl out of the water.

 

[Fathom044]

I went ahead and purchased a Surf Fur. Well made and warm! Worth the investment. I would only add a one “improvement”. Instead of the snaps, something like a toggle closing would have been better and I suspect would hold up better. Other than that, outstanding.

 

[Marie13]

I went ahead and purchased a Surf Fur. Well made and warm! Worth the investment. I would only add a one “improvement”. Instead of the snaps, something like a toggle closing would have been better and I suspect would hold up better. Other than that, outstanding.

Love my Surf fur!

 

[Esprise Me]

Thanks also to everyone who recommended the cheap nylon windbreaker over the wetsuit; I decided against bringing my Surf Fur to Mexico and instead wore my regular cheap windbreaker between boat dives and it worked very well for the relatively warm temps (crazy to be fine in a thin wetsuit IN the water and chilly as soon as I get out!)

I'm thinking more and more about a drysuit too. The water where I live seems to be just warm enough that you CAN wear a wetsuit in the winter but cold enough that people who dive regularly find it worthwhile to switch eventually. I went into this thinking I'd just be a vacation diver in the tropics and perhaps an occasional local diver in the summer, but I like it better than I thought I would, even when it's chilly.