What to wear diving in the Caribbean?

[LMac8806]

Thanks so much for all the replies so far. For reference, I’m incredibly hot natured (I take down my Christmas lights in the Midwest in shorts). Also, we’ll only be doing one day of diving, 2 tanks.

 

[Addicted2H2O]

Then I'd strongly recommend a dive skin simply for sting and abrasion protection. And they make getting a wetsuit on/off a little bit easier, too. And they're a bit thinner than your typical rash guard. I think I paid $25-$30 for mine with Amazon Prime. They aren't flattering and look like a really thin wetsuit but they're wonderful. And I could be wrong, but they might help you glide through the water a little easier, too since they cover up things on your body that would create drag like hair, etc.

Not the most flattering picture....and please excuse my distressed diver buddy but here's what they look like on.

 

[dmaziuk]

Thanks so much for all the replies so far. For reference, I’m incredibly hot natured (I take down my Christmas lights in the Midwest in shorts). Also, we’ll only be doing one day of diving, 2 tanks.

Heat exchange in water is much more efficient... but with one 2-tank day I'd dive in shorts and maybe put on the upf/rashguard top.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Heat exchange in water is much more efficient... but with one 2-tank day I'd dive in shorts and maybe put on the upf/rashguard top.

Makes sense. If the OP is only doing one day of diving (and only 2 tanks at that) out of a longer vacation, it seems like a waste of luggage space/weight to bring along a wetsuit just for those two dives. Slightly chilled at end of first dive, no problem--will warm up on the surface interval. Chillier by end of second dive, no problem--no more diving.

 

[Mr. Manfrenjensenden]

Makes sense. If the OP is only doing one day of diving (and only 2 tanks at that) out of a longer vacation, it seems like a waste of luggage space/weight to bring along a wetsuit just for those two dives. Slightly chilled at end of first dive, no problem--will warm up on the surface interval. Chillier by end of second dive, no problem--no more diving.

Agreed, but I'd add two things: 1) Underwater stings are not fun and can snap you out of the Zone of Bliss while you're diving, so I'm always in favor of covering up even if it's with something thin. 2) If you're too warm while diving it's easy to fan water through your suit to cool down. You have no such options if you're too cold.

 

[ScubaJCBS]

I've dove in that area with shorts and no shirt, a sharkskin, and a 3mm. All worked just fine but I wouldn't suggest just swimsuit for the reasons mentioned above a run in with fire coral or jellyfish turns your vacation in to a pain.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Agreed, but I'd add two things: 1) Underwater stings are not fun and can snap you out of the Zone of Bliss while you're diving, so I'm always in favor of covering up even if it's with something thin. 2) If you're too warm while diving it's easy to fan water through your suit to cool down. You have no such options if you're too cold.

Oh yes. I didn't mean to imply not to wear something along the lines of a rashguard. That takes up negligible luggage space/weight compared with a wetsuit, and it can be useful for other water activities as well, such as snorkeling. I'm not sure how to cover legs, though--I have always worn a full wetsuit. But if it were me, for just two dives I'd take the risk of exposed legs.

 

[Dogbowl]

You will get every answer under the sun because it is such an individual thing--we all tolerate temperatures a little differently. At one end of the spectrum, some people dive in rashguards and boardshorts. (Think Canadians.) At the other end of the spectrum, there are people who would use nothing less than a 5 mm full wetsuit in 82F water. A 3 mm full suit is probably the most common for the warmer months in the Caribbean. In winter months, you may see more people with a 5 mm, or with a combination of a 3 mm plus a vest. I don't care for shorties because they leave skin exposed to possible stings and abrasions.

I'm Canadian and I wear a 5mm in 80F water. In Belize this past April, I got cold on some dives. Brrrrr. Maybe I'm not a true Canadian.

 

[Snoweman]

You will be plenty warm in a rash guard (under armor shirt) and shorts. If it was February or March, I might add a shorty, but anytime before January should have warm water. You're going to love T&C.

 

[caydiver]

I wear a skin. Rest of the family rash guards. We have one Caymanian DM who is always cold. Sharkskin + for him.