Body Temp Issues -- Freezing...

[ADB123]

I know that I’m likely going to get destroyed on here for asking this, but what can I do to avoid freezing? I did a dive this weekend where the bottom temp was about 42F and after about 25min I was MISERABLY cold.

Details: Was wearing a crushed neoprene drysuit, DUI 300 underwear, Patagonia base layer, Thermolution vest (run on high for the whole dive), wet gloves, breathing Trimix OC, no inflate bottle.

Any ideas besides buying another canister and fully heated undergarments?

 

[electric_diver]

Don't use trimix to inflate the suit.

 

[helodriver87]

Second the inflation bottle. Helium is really good at conducting heat. Beyond that, maybe a thicker hood and dry gloves could help? I don't dive in water that cold, but I can tell a difference between my 6mm hood that's a true 6 and the one I've crushed to basically a 2.

 

[mafi]

I’d start with the wetgloves. Get dry ones.

That will make more difference than you think.

I am not familiar with the rest of your gear, but generally speaking, for these temps, you need the warmest everything if you want to enjoy the dive. I use trilam and the 4E layering: xerotherm, xcore, halo 3d. Warm glove liners+wrist warmers. Xero and arctic socks. 7mm hood, possibly with thermocline hood underneath.

And yeah, don’t fill your suit with trimix. But I’d still start with gloves

 

[rjack321]

Trimix in your drysuit is 100% your problem here.

You need a suitable suit gas, air is fine.

 

[The Chairman]

A rebreather warms you from the inside.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Trimix in your drysuit is 100% you problem here.

You need a suitable suit gas, air is fine.

To the OP, you may want to read the table here: The thermal conductivity of gases | Electronics Cooling to get an idea of what a difference not having helium will do in terms of heat loss.

 

[rjack321]

A rebreather warms you from the inside.

Not really, in this case the loop is still going to be <98.6 in 42F water. Warmer than OC but the loop is not going to warm you, just cool you less fast. My meg has a loop temp sensor, in ~40F water the loop temp is usually about 58F

Even with a full 100W suit heater he's going to freeze putting trimix in his suit. The solution is to fix the suit gas problem

 

[sea_ledford]

Also might not want to run the suit heater the entire dive. Turn it on when you start ascending, much better for deco.

 

[PfcAJ]

Stop inflating with Trimix.

Get a thicker undergarment.

Drygloves.

A proper 8mm+ hood.

Eat before the dive.

Thermolution might not be warm enough for your situation.