Drysuit during the warmer weather?

[pastorjared]

I am considering a drysuit and currently dive with a BARE 7mm wetsuit top and bottom. I am going to be switching to a drysuit for the winter months as soon as i buy one.

My question is (from a new guy) do you who dive with dry suits typically use them during the warmer temps as well? or do you switch to your shortie?

Just curious!

thanks

 

[Kronek]

You can always use less or no undergarment in the summer months.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I generally dive wet in the summer unless the water is cold/deep enough to warrant diving dry (less than 50F, deeper than 75').

It tends to be a personal choice. Some like to dive dry if they can, because the can. Some have fewer options of different wetsuits and by varying their undergarments can adapt to diving dry in warm water. My personal choice is based on liking the simplicity of diving wet and having a rather large selection of wetsuits from a 2mm shorty to 7MM FJ/Jacket.

 

[spectrum]

I much prefer to to be diving wet when it's comfortable. Locally in the ocean I think today was the last day I'll go wet. Temps are back to 55F and below though 5 dives and about 7 hours of bottom time in the last 3 days may have taken a toll too. I have gone dry on some of our hottest days (90F+ in sun) and survived. Keep in mind that in some locations it can be hot topside but once at depth you can still need significant thermal protection, you can't dress down just for the surface. Where and how you dive then makes a big difference. If the water is near the staging location you have a better shot than if the hike is significant. Also a bottle of water poured down the hood to soak the neck can buy you some time. Think the whole scenario through.

In local fresh water I have enjoyed trunks or a shortie on occasion. We have 3-4 week window where this is really feasible if you stay above the 1st termocline.

Pete

 

[krawlings]

I dive dry and wet in the warmer months. I consider the time of day. air temps and water temp/ depths . If i am going to do a dive that is going to take me into water in the low 60* or less i will dive dry w/ the correct thermals for the temps . if I am diving in shallow or warmer temps I will dive wet . All so if the dive is going to be deep/ cold the dive will be planed for early be for air temps get to warm for donning gear . Thing can get pretty HOT in the dry suit before you get in the water. you will need to do some planning . if you choose to dive dry all the time /all year you will have to just change the thickness and thermal characteristic of your under garment for the conditions you are diving in . (now if you have a dry suit that is a neoprene dry suit . that will be a different thing . you will be limited with how thick of neoprene it is )

 

[rhwestfall]

Went DS only years back when I outgrew my WS. Mostly the diving we were doing was on the fringe of needing the DS. Did find it a bit too much in the shallows. Again tried it last year (water hit 75). Shorts and a wicking t-shirt. Ended up buying a WS for the stuff above the thermocline. When I was in Tobermory this summer, surface was 75.... thermo was enough to make me glad I went dry. Shallow dives were too warm though.... actually got uncomfortable doing the safety stops.

The bulk of the DS makes me appreciate the WS in the heat of summer and/or the shallow dives.

I have used both quite a bit, alternating depending on my destination.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

After 800 dives in wetsuits I finally went dry. I now wear a drysuit all year long in Southern California, where the water temps range from 46° to 65°. Most of my diving is offshore where the temps rarely get over 60° but the air temperature can be in the 90s. I try to gear up as fast as possible and get in the water to cool off.

 

[Tigerman]

I dive a BARE CD4ProDry suit and I dive it year-round locally, but the water temp here rarely exceed 20c/68f.
When it does peak out at about 20c I dive it with no undergarments but a shorts and a t-shirt.
It really is not much of a problem under water, but it can be unpleasant on land with air temps in the 25-30c range. I do personally think trilam suits is a bit better in that way while on land (Ive used that too a few times).

When the option is there I do actually preferr diving wet as I feel a bit more "connected" to the water in a wetsuit compared to a drysuit..

 

[promocop]

Hey Max... Just exactly where in CA is the water temp 46*?

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Hey Max... Just exactly where in CA is the water temp 46*?

I hit 48F in San Diego, in the summer. Weird currents (up welling) can do that on occasion. I drove up the coast to Laguna Beach the next day, it was 57F.