Getting cold

[tddfleming]

Off topic, but Raynaud's runs in my family. Strangely enough, mine is primarily in my knees. Once, both knees turned black and they hurt as if they had been soaking in ice water. I ran to my family doctor in a panic. She said that, even to her, they looked scary, but they were fine. Now, when i feel a severe attack coming on, i throw on one of those chemical heating pads for a few hours, and it stops the attack.

I have never heard of the knees, wow

You can put on as much clothes, gloves, socks, boots, what have you and nothing helps. I have attacks in the middle of the summer in the grocery store or if I go into someones house that has the air set low. I had hand warmers with me last weekend and after the dive I activated them and put my hands in pocket with warmers. Nothing like looking like you are amoung the dead, with purple lips and white and black hands. I have had to put my feet in my husbands arm pits before to get the blood flowing again. :shocked2:

 

[PfcAJ]

The move is to get a proper hood. Something that fits and has some thickness to it.

There is a ton of heat loss from the head, and thick gloves aren't going to solve that, nor is adding a bunch of neoprene to the torso.

 

[diver 85]

I'd get thicker 'stuff'-------but for me, that would be fine-yesterday did a 70 minute dive in 69 degree water with a 3/2 full wetsuit, 2 mm vest & hood, 1.5 mil gloves with 5 mil hightop booties.....just depends I guess.......

 

[j yaeger]

i wear a hood no matter what
keeps me warm,keeps my core warm ...and that makes my sissy hands and feet warm!!!!
also ive found that whether its an eel or just a piece of seaweed on my bare head...
i can scream just as loud!!!!
boot liners and latex gloves-cheap fix and work great!!!!!
have fun
yaeg

 

[W8less]

I dived San Torini, Greece this past spring and needed a 5mm suit to be comfortable.

 

[merxlin]

Try a hooded vest under your wetsuit. Keeps the head and core warm. Most are 3 mil or so and don't add a lot of extra buoyancy, plus the one piece keeps water from circulating as quickly through the neck opening. I like the Pinnacle merino lined.

 

[rcolsen]

Cold feet put on a hat. That the saying here in Minnesota. Most of your heat loss is through your head but that’s already been said. Also as it gets colder your body burns more calories to stay warm so make sure you eat plenty on protein. Crabs get burned to quick.

 

[popo's dad]

Wow, what a lot of great replys, thanks everyone, as i only started divning in June it's my first time in the water at this time of year. I have a hood but hadn't used it as my head didn't feel cold, never thought i would affect my hands and feet, what i'll probably try first is a rash vest and hood, followed by trying the glove and boot liners, just trying not to go to the expense of a thicker suit yet, you know what it's like when you first start, so much to buy and so much cost on a budget, i appreciate everyone's feedback thanks.

And yes i did pick up the deco on the zenobia wreck, engine room at 38mtr, amazing

 

[KeithG]

Please add this to all the other advice: get a wet suit that fits!

I strongly believe in a custom wet suit (thinking warm water here folks!) . If your suit (leaks just a little) you WILL get cold. Considering the price of all your other gear, a made to measure suit is not that much of a luxury.

Some lucky people can be fit straight off the rack. Most of us are malformed and unaverage.

I have seen people in the carribbean using excessive layers of multiple ill-fitting wetsuits ending up in shivering heaps at the end of every night dive. After spending way too much on way too many suits.

Here in Toronto we have a local wetsuit supplier that costs about a 30% premium over the "off the rack" price. I get a very warm & happy 6 year life from a suit.

My world is limited by choicce to warm water diving - no gloves, no hood, but up to to 4 1 hour+ dives per day.

 

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

A hood is great advice. How are you warming up in between dives? When it gets a bit chilly here, we drink hot herbal tea--don't drink regular tea as it is a diuretic. We often have hot soup too. And I have a giant terry bath robe that I put on as soon as I come out of the wet suit if the air temp is cold.