3mm wetsuit vs Sharkskin T2

[RyanT]

Yes, the outer skin of the sharkskins is pretty tough. They'll definitely provide more abrasion protection than a rash guard.

 

[lairdb]

I just did several dives in 69 degree water with a two piece T2 suit. It was warmer than my 3mm wetsuit, only issue I found was I should have gotten a size smaller lower. […].

Overall I love the Sharkskin, the front zipper is easy to use, it is easy to put on and take off. Turn it inside out and it drys quickly. It is also a lot easier to pack! I am selling my wetsuit!

It’s posts like these that confuse me about Sharkskin (Lavacore, etc.). If they’re really this good, why haven’t they completely replaced 3mm wetsuits?

Call me a skeptic, but I find it hard to believe that a Sharkskin suit would be as warm as my 3mm Bare Reactive. But, I will try to keep an open mind, so if anyone owns both, I would love a report.

This; exactly this, right down to also having a Bare Reactive 3mm I like.

Update after living with a Sharkskin for a few months. It was great on its own in Costa Rica. I noticed thermoclines but did not get cold. I was doing three dives a day, along with sitting in a moving boat for several hours before, between, and after dives. The neutral buoyancy was great. I cut down to six lbs of ballast and probably could have dropped to four. We go to Mexico in a couple of months, and I will try that.

At home, it is a bit less useful. I wear a thin full length one piece rash guard under the drysuit undergarment. Adding a sharkskin was too warm and created buoyancy surprises.

It has to start out tight. If it feels like it fits when you put it on, it will get baggy in the water. I used a sleeveless polyester shirt and polyester boxers under the sharkskin. It was plenty for whatever the water got down to. Not especially cold. Maybe 70.

@WillieJustice any actual numbers on temps? Any update from your Mexico trip?

@PamelaH you promised a follow-up as well; please?

 

[PamelaH]

It’s posts like these that confuse me about Sharkskin (Lavacore, etc.). If they’re really this good, why haven’t they completely replaced 3mm wetsuits?



This; exactly this, right down to also having a Bare Reactive 3mm I like.



@WillieJustice any actual numbers on temps? Any update from your Mexico trip?

@PamelaH you promised a follow-up as well; please?

I could not love my 2 piece T2 more. I wore it in Socorro in Feb (water temps in the low 70s) and most of the time it was fine. There were a couple of dives where I wore my Sharkskin hooded vest under the top, mostly to have the hood. The Hood fills with air which is problematic but I'm thinking of putting some holes with grommets into it to solve that problem.

I also wore this suit in the Philippines in April and Palau in May (water temps in the low to mid 80s) and really loved it. I was comfortable on all dives although occassionaly we'd hit some too warm water but you can just unsip the jacket a bit if needed.

I recommend this suite 10/10 - it packs easily, it easy to get on and off and it's really, really comfortable.

 

[chaad]

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[chaad]

I just did several dives in 69 degree water with a two piece T2 suit. It was warmer than my 3mm wetsuit, only issue I found was I should have gotten a size smaller lower.

It’s posts like these that confuse me about Sharkskin (Lavacore, etc.). If they’re really this good, why haven’t they completely replaced 3mm wetsuits?

@thomschoon experience points to the subjectivity of comfort in the water. I have a T2 full suit that I love but I'm not comfortable below 75 degrees in it. And I'm don't generally run cold. For comparison, in 68 degree water, I wear my 3mm with a vest or my 3/4 semi-dry and I'm comfy.

 

[scubadada]

From Sharkskin:

I have not dived Sharkskin. These are fairly aggressive claims.

 

[WillieJustice]

It’s posts like these that confuse me about Sharkskin (Lavacore, etc.). If they’re really this good, why haven’t they completely replaced 3mm wetsuits?



This; exactly this, right down to also having a Bare Reactive 3mm I like.



@WillieJustice any actual numbers on temps? Any update from your Mexico trip?

@PamelaH you promised a follow-up as well; please?

I looked at the log my computer keeps. The surface water temperatures were 82 to 84 F in Costa Rica last May. Bottom temperatures got down below 80. 78 was lowest. That is not exactly cold water. It felt fine, and it felt like I could have been plenty warm in cooler water.

Temperatures in cenotes about 9 months ago were 72 to 73 F. I didn't have the Sharkskin yet and dove in a one piece rash guard very comfortably. That makes me think 70 or maybe lower would be fine in a T2 suit. I run a little warm - consider the source when thinking about this.

I have not been in water between 55 and 72 yet. I don't know where those temperatures are, since my limited experience has all been either Mexico and Costa Rica or Puget Sound.

 

[thomschoon]

I have several dives in Florida springs at 60+ minutes, Crete where it was 65-75 according to my computer, and Canary Islands which were 68, I have found it plenty warm, better than my 3mm. The real bonus for me was that it is easier to put on, much more comfortable, and a front zip top I can open of getting too warm.

Everyone feels the cold different, for me I either use Sharkskin or go dry, seems to work……

 

[fred32176]

I have a t2 bottom, top and hood. I use hockey suspenders to avoid a gap between the top and bottom. I wear the top, bottom and hood in 72 degree springs and I am fine. When I dive water in the mid 80s I don't wear any thermal protection.

Besides thermal protection I love how easy it is to don and doff and how flexible and comfortable you can be on a boat or dragging your gear. Way better than wetsuits.

 

[Wants2divemore]

@PamelaH and @thomschoon plus anyone else with the T2. How fast does it dry? If you wring it out, does it completely dry in 12 hours so it's fine for the next day of diving?