What wetsuit for the Keys?

[THRILLSEEKER]

Anyone have a good reccomendation for a wetsuit for the Fl. Keys in the winter months?

Mind you Im a scrawny puzzy when it comes to cold.

 

[abskw]

It's not THAT cold down here...a 5 mil (maybe with a hood if you are really prone to cold) should keep you plenty warm!

Send me a PM if you have questions about Keys operators/hotels/restaurants, etc. I'm glad to help you out and no, I don't work for a dive shop.

 

[jupitermermaid]

I use a 3 mil most year round around here (south FL), a 5 or 7 mil when in northern FL springs. Being from Ohio, I wouldn't think you would need anything more than a 3 or 5 mil. Do you have a farmer Jane that you could slip over to provide extra warmth when needed? Or, as abskw mentioned, a hood would help conserve warmth also. When are you planning on coming down?

 

[THRILLSEEKER]

Il be down in a few weeks, Ive done plenty of diving down there but have always rented a wet suit and never paid attention to what it was. As many times as I have paid to rent one I could have bought a few.

Thanks guys.

 

[Capt Gary]

Hey Thrillseeker,

The water is hanging right around 78. We're diving full 5mil with a hood which keeps us warm enough. When it hits 75 we break out the dry suits. We're warm water wimps down here.

Good Diving/Hunting,

 

[jupitermermaid]

Did you get your wetsuit yet? If you know your size, there's a lot of good bargains on the internet, and you could even get varying thicknesses to use when conditions warrant a thicker or thinner suit.

 

[diver 85]

Anyone have a good reccomendation for a wetsuit for the Fl. Keys in the winter months?

Mind you Im a scrawny puzzy when it comes to cold.

a full 3 mm(possibly just a shortie) with an additional chicken hood & you should be fine--that would cover you down to the mid 70 degree water temp.............

 

[Walter]

Unless you get cold easily, a 3/2 should be enough in the winter (approximately mid November through mid May) and a swim suit is plenty in the summer (the other 6 months).

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Depends on when and where. I've used 5 mil and a polartech(equiv to a 3 mil but with no added buoyancy) and been fine with up to 5 dives a day on the 5 and three on the PT. That was in Key Largo and Tavernier. The 5 was in the first part of may with temps around 78-80, the PT mid may with temps of about 80-82. I have dove my 5 down to about 68 but after that it's dry suit.

 

[THRILLSEEKER]

Thanks for the reccomendations, I ordered a full 3mil this morning. Pretty sure thats what Ive rented most of the time in the past.

Dry suits in SoFla!, man I thought I was a puzzy.