Water Temperature at Depth

[lolskim2008]

I plan on doing some diving offshore in the gulf this summer and wasn't sure what kind of wetsuit, if any, I should be prepared to wear. So I was wondering if anyone had any rules of thumb for determining the temperature of water at depth in the ocean compared to what the temperature is at the surface. I understand there are many factors that could play a role here but I figured I'd see what the scuba community had to say here.

 

[Mopar]

I am not for shure which part of the gulf you will be diving in but I dive the Panama City area in the summer and fall and the water temps. are usually in the 80's that far north. I usually go late summer. I would call the dive shop I am going out with they can tell you the water temperature. If the water is in the high 70's or 80's I would recommend a 3mm shortie or even no wetsuite. I hope this will help.

 

[BarrelRoll]

We use 3 mm shorties pretty much anywhere we dive in the Gulf. You honestly don't need even that, but it's typically what seems to be the standard.

 

[Guba]

Where I dive in the Gulf (Flower Gardens), the water temp in mid-July is typically 80-85 top to bottom (about 75 feet). Generally, I wear a skin, just for protection against the "sea fleas" that we occassionally run into.

 

[lolskim2008]

I wasn't quite looking for a suggestion as to what to wear but rather as an answer in regards to the loss of heat of the ocean as the deeper you go down. as in if the temp at the top is 85 degrees what would be the temp at say 30 ft what would it be at 60 and what it would be at 90 ft.

 

[captain]

All about the same in summer and fall.
Scroll down and you can see the temp at 88 feet depth at the Auger platform near the Flower Gardens.

NDBC - Station 42361

 

[Mopar]

I wasn't quite looking for a suggestion as to what to wear but rather as an answer in regards to the loss of heat of the ocean as the deeper you go down. as in if the temp at the top is 85 degrees what would be the temp at say 30 ft what would it be at 60 and what it would be at 90 ft.

Where I dive in the Gulf (Flower Gardens), the water temp in mid-July is typically 80-85 top to bottom (about 75 feet). Generally, I wear a skin, just for protection against the "sea fleas" that we occassionally run into.

Temps. 80-85 top to bottom is the correct answer for the gulf. You will enjoy those temps. on your dive.

 

[ben_wilson3301]

Its not like freshwater, the Gulf is more uniform then you might think. Temps dont vary very much in the gulf, top to bottom, spring to fall.

 

[TMHeimer]

I found March dives on the FL panhandle to be 60-65 top to bottom, though some say the gulf can be 10 degrees colder on the bottom.

 

[Steve50]

Meaningful thermocline is deeper than you will be going ....