Looking for wet suit advice for Cozumel

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

LowDrag

Contributor
Messages
1,052
Reaction score
174
Location
Portland, Oregon
# of dives
100 - 199
Good evening, my wife and I are going to be in Cozumel in April and are wondering what everyone else uses for wet suits. Here in the Pacific Northwest we dive dry suits and have no idea what to get for 80°+ water. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Lowdrag
 
It varies greatly with individuals and respective cold tolerances, with women often more likely to be chilled. Do you wear shorts & tees later in the year than anyone else? I don't like feeling cold but I did okay in my 7 mile over 1 mil jumpsuits in Puget one Labor day weekend.

I am generally comfortable in Coz waters in a one mil jumpsuit, sometimes adding a light beanie. I do drink warm liquids before and between dives, carry my own vacuum bottle, and carry a hooded jacket just in case of a cool boat ride. I often take a 3 mil jumpsuit just in case, or a 5 mil if I am going to dive mainland cenotes - but you can rent those usually. Wearing a used suit over your own suit isn't so personal.
 
As DandyDon said, it's a tough question because of the individual and unique cold tolerances. If you have to choose one, I'd go with a 3mm full. If you find that too warm, you can always go nekkid.

I think most people would be comfortable, (not too cold), with that suit on, unless you're particularly sensitive to cold, or very thin.

We'll be there from 4/1 - 4/12. I panicked and gave United too much money, but like our flight times.
 
I can dive the Puget Sound in a 7/8 mil wet suit but only for a couple of dives. Most of our diving here is done in the fall, winter and spring so cold temps are the norm. I like my dry suit for diving up here so that I can do more than a couple of dives and stay warm. My wife stays pretty warm as well when we dive. She is wondering if diving a 5 mil will cause her to over heat. As for me, I work outside all year long so cold is not a huge issue and my wife runs pretty warm.
 
I'd still go with the 3mm full. I do a 3mm full, and my wife does a 3mm shorty. I used to do a shorty, but lost some natural insulation --- never was fat --6'1" and 190, now down to 170. At 170 and at the 50 minute mark, I started to get too cool. Wife is 4'10" and 110 - 115.

Re-reading your post, yes, I think your wife will be too warm in a 5mm. Frankly, from the sounds of it, I think you'd both be comfortable in a 3mm shorty.
 
If you dive shorties only, you'll be more exposed to the floating hydroids. A mix of benadryl & hydrocortisone creams seems to work well.
 
I have been twice to Cozumel, once in November-December and the second time in late March a few years later. I dived in a Cressi 2.5mm shorty on both occasions but while I was comfortable throughout the first time, I changed to a 5mm full suit midway through the March trip (and promptly managed to lose that suit somehow at the end of the trip).

The other thing is that a shorty is not the best choice for a drift diving destination like Cozumel. Exposed elbows and knees can take quite a beating!

Therefore, my suggestion would be to have at least a 3mm full suit for April in Cozumel but if you or the wife are susceptible to cold, go for the 5mm full suit.
 
If you dive shorties only, you'll be more exposed to the floating hydroids. A mix of benadryl & hydrocortisone creams seems to work well.

The hydroids I get without a wetsuit were all attached and on the bottom near a picture I was taking. Not that it doesn't happen, I guess but it is seems rare to find them floating.
 
Never used over a 3/2 shortie from then on thru 'winter time'--then I would consider --& have used-- a 2 mm chicken vest with that shortie......

EDIT.:........'all' this over skins........
 

Back
Top Bottom