What do you do over the winter?
- Thread starter Marie13
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My winter diving is simple. In Nov & Dec. I dive wet maybe one dive every week (or two, depending on storms).. Gear up in the basement, walk maybe 100'- to our shore. Then a 20 min. (+?) single dive and back to the house. Coldest thing is getting the wet stuff off outside in January. But most Jan.-Feb. & maybe March we snowbird on the N. Gulf of Mex., so there is no need for a drysuit just for Nov./Dec. I'm lucky in that I can (kinda) keep something going all year. I'm retired from DMing and have no use for a pool that's 50 miles away. Probably wouldn't use it if it were next door. Our NS Atlantic can reach close to freezing a couple of winter months. I have dived wet in 33F water from a boat.
Jealous? Me? Hell yes. Would love to have a diving spot on my doorstep. Nothing wrong with diving cold water providing a) you are equipped for it b) acclimatised to it and c) you can get out and get warm pretty quick afterwards. A lot of folk forget B - acclimatisation can make water seem a lot nicer than it should be. We have quite a few lunatics that do the "looney dook" in little more than swimming costumes or fancy dress or go wild swimming in locks at 4-5C.
OP
I'm going to a quarry 5 hours away the first weekend in December with a dive buddy. A coworker rearranged her days off (nothing planned) to allow me to do this. 
. I owe her! Got thicker dry suit undies last night ( Fourth Element Arctic). Already have dry gloves and a good Waterproof hood, so I'm all set.
. I owe her! Got thicker dry suit undies last night ( Fourth Element Arctic). Already have dry gloves and a good Waterproof hood, so I'm all set.
Chip Elliott
Connecticut Yankee
Does your face get cold?I'm going to a quarry 5 hours away the first weekend in December with a dive buddy. A coworker rearranged her days off (nothing planned) to allow me to do this.
OP
The coldest water I've been diving in so far was about 60F. Cheeks were fine. People have said they can get chilly, so we shall see! This will be an Ohio quarry.
This will be an Ohio quarry.
Chip Elliott
Connecticut Yankee
Aha! I was always wondering about folks who dive dry, I know that most of the body is warm, I just wonder about the face.
OP
Mind you, I'm a Midwesterner born and bred and I LOVE winter!
I'll report back after the dive weekend!
I'll report back after the dive weekend!
Like a lot of committed UK divers (or should I say we should be committed to an institution), I dive all year round.
The big difference, especially for those of us away from the coast, is we end up diving quarries and lakes. The weather s to unpredictable to plan sea dive if you have to travel.
The advantage for most UK divers is that we dive dry 12 months of the year anyway. The dives just get shorter, or you add more thermal layers. Anyway I cheat these days, I have a heated vest.
Gareth
The big difference, especially for those of us away from the coast, is we end up diving quarries and lakes. The weather s to unpredictable to plan sea dive if you have to travel.
The advantage for most UK divers is that we dive dry 12 months of the year anyway. The dives just get shorter, or you add more thermal layers. Anyway I cheat these days, I have a heated vest
.Gareth
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