My opinion is to use a 3 ML full, you can always pop the neck to cool off and you have protection incase you run into any jelly fish. Just my opinion.
Wetsuit Question???
- Thread starter adigerol
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Airleron
Contributor
I also agree to have the full 3mil with you at all times. I always dive in a 3 full, and still get chilled at the end of the dive (~ 1 hour). This is in Cozumel in Sept, and year round in South Florida. Like tmac said, also lots of protection from the stingey things...
Bonairetrip
Contributor
What suit is appropriate depends a bit on:
- Obviously, what the water temps are -- including any thermoclines
- Length and number of dives? (More dives and longer/deeper dives tend to make you colder)
- What is your natural tolerance to cold?
- How active are you during the dive? (slow and deliberate is colder than the swim meet approach)
- How much can you warm up (or get further cooled down) between dives? (Can you bask 90 degree heat or will you be on a moving boat?)
Personally, I try and dive with just a t-shirt and shorts if the water temp is 80 or higher. I often wear a beannie as well. On that same dive, my brother will freeze in anything less than a 3/2 full length. I have seen people in those conditions use a 7mm. So it really just depends...
Personally, if I already owned a shorty, I might start with that. But if was buying a wetsuit for the first time, I would buy something like a 3/2.
- Obviously, what the water temps are -- including any thermoclines
- Length and number of dives? (More dives and longer/deeper dives tend to make you colder)
- What is your natural tolerance to cold?
- How active are you during the dive? (slow and deliberate is colder than the swim meet approach)
- How much can you warm up (or get further cooled down) between dives? (Can you bask 90 degree heat or will you be on a moving boat?)
Personally, I try and dive with just a t-shirt and shorts if the water temp is 80 or higher. I often wear a beannie as well. On that same dive, my brother will freeze in anything less than a 3/2 full length. I have seen people in those conditions use a 7mm. So it really just depends...
Personally, if I already owned a shorty, I might start with that. But if was buying a wetsuit for the first time, I would buy something like a 3/2.
Our regular dive group looked at the bottom time we get on identical dives down at Boynton Beach, FL. Suit -vs- no suit. Even at 84 degrees, we get about 10% more bottom time when wearing the 3mm full suit. 65 minutes rather than 59 minutes, for example. It feels nice to dive without the suit, but those are the numbers.
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