San Diego: With or Without Wetsuit??

[nerobanchee]

Hello,
I recently got my OW certification on the north coast of California. The waters here require a 7mm suit to keep from getting hypothermia while diving, but what about water that is around 65 deg. F? I am from San Diego and I will be diving there next time I go down. I have never worn a wetsuit there before (even in winter!) when I go swimming/surfing/freediving, but I do get colder when I scuba dive. Would any of you recommend a spring suit? Is a 7mm suit too much? I just want to know what I should bring.
Thanks guys!

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Most of the divers I know who dive San Diego wear drysuits or at least 6mm wetsuits. I've made dives in Carmel and Monterey that were a degree or two warmer than it was down here a couple days before.

 

[limeyx]

Hello,
I recently got my OW certification on the north coast of California. The waters here require a 7mm suit to keep from getting hypothermia while diving, but what about water that is around 65 deg. F? I am from San Diego and I will be diving there next time I go down. I have never worn a wetsuit there before (even in winter!) when I go swimming/surfing/freediving, but I do get colder when I scuba dive. Would any of you recommend a spring suit? Is a 7mm suit too much? I just want to know what I should bring.
Thanks guys!

your mileage may vary but I wouldnt wear anything less than a 7MM in san diego.
Actually, I'd wear a drysuit ...

Temps in the LA area in the shallows were 59-63 last weekend.

 

[Atticus]

I've done a number of dives in San Diego and wear either my DUI CF200 drysuit or a 7mm wetsuit. I'm a big guy and not known for getting cold, and I would not consider doing a dive with less than a 7mm suit down there.

 

[livingstone]

I dove off San Diego in May and in August and neither time was the water near 65 deg. F except near the surface. I used a 7mm wetsuit during my August dive and by my third dive in a row down to 50 deg. waters (prob. somewhere between 50 and 80 feet), I was COLD! When I was there in May a year or two later, I used a drysuit, expecting colder waters yet but was pleasantly surprised at the water temps which only got down to about the mid-50's.

-- Dan

 

[BrianV]

7mm definitely.

 

[Doc]

Always wear thermal protection.

Black.

Looks just like a seal to Mr Grey.

Brrrr.

 

[Walter]

Unless you're part Polar Bear, wear a wet suit.

 

[adrenalineblues]

The water here in San Diego may well be 60-65 on the surface in the summer... Cruise down below the thermocline and its A LOT colder. It can be and usually is 50-55 @ or below 60 feet....

So...

7mm or Dry would be my .02 worth.

 

[radiocraig]

7mm or dry the bottom temp is around 50 all year round