Yet another weighting guidance question...

[Bob DBF]

It’s Sandals (an all inclusive resort that includes "free" scuba) so very little scope for leeway. It’s not a diving holiday so the few dives I’ve had are very much a billy bonus.

Ages ago we went to a Sandles in Jamaica for my Wife's parents 50th anniversary. I didn't know they had "diving" 'till I got there. Nothing special as far as the diving, but I did get to dive. I got up early for the first trip every day, only a few others did. When I got back I always found our crowd at the swim up bar. Overall it was fun, and like you said, the diving was a bonus.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

It’s Sandals (an all inclusive resort that includes "free" scuba) so very little scope for leeway. It’s not a diving holiday so the few dives I’ve had are very much a billy bonus.

Has been fascinating to experience the US-style mass cattle boat diving where DiveMasters rule and a guy on the transom checks everyone’s valve before they jump.

It’s the first time I’ve dived in really warm water, 30C/86F, where no exposure protection is required. The rash vest is as important for sun protection as for warmth or critter protection.

Have very much enjoyed the reef diving as there’s so much going on. Definitely want to experience more of this in other exotic locations, maybe as a diving holiday.

Still not as interesting as rusting metal though!

Just don’t get any big ideas that you’re going to abandon all of us cold water snobs and become “one of them”.

 

[Marie13]

Just don’t get any big ideas that you’re going to abandon all of us cold water snobs and become “one of them”.

You mean what I refer to as “those people.”

 

[ibj40]

It’s the first time I’ve dived in really warm water, 30C/86F, where no exposure protection is required. The rash vest is as important for sun protection as for warmth or critter protection.

So, it appears that you think that a wetsuit is simply for “exposure protection”?

I guess I was taught that a wetsuit was another component of dive equipment to address known issues with Scuba diving.

Personally, my wetsuit is not a crutch to protect me from reef crashing.

My wetsuit allows me to have better control over such other minimalist things as core body temperature.

Maybe rethink your priorities when it comes to what a wetsuit really does.

 

[Wibble]

So, it appears that you think that a wetsuit is simply for “exposure protection”?

I guess I was taught that a wetsuit was another component of dive equipment to address known issues with Scuba diving.

Personally, my wetsuit is not a crutch to protect me from reef crashing.

My wetsuit allows me to have better control over such other minimalist things as core body temperature.

Maybe rethink your priorities when it comes to what a wetsuit really does.

In common with most cold water divers, I’ve never owned nor used a wetsuit in cold water. I "did my PADI" at a Mediterranean resort in a rental wetsuit over a decade ago and remember what a massive faff it was to get the foul thing on and off — and then need a shower. Have only ever dived a drysuit since then, even in the odd dive in the Mediterranean.

Found myself reaching for the drysuit inflator button a couple of times on this Caribbean trip. Old dog and new tricks. Will be back in cold waters soon enough and reaching back for the battery switch to turn on the heated vest.

 

[Ayisha]

...So I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume the boats in Sandals would be similar to US boats aimed at recreational diving. Do let me know if that’s not the case.

That is not the case.

I am not American, but the dive ops I have chosen to dive with in the US didn't put any DG's in the water. Some were small and some were large boats with a lot of divers. Everyone planned and executed their own dives with simply a site briefing.

In common with most cold water divers, I’ve never owned nor used a wetsuit in cold water.

There are lots of cold water wetsuit divers here in Canada. The Great Lakes in the US/Canada can be 3.33 C/38 F during the early and late summer. Most students take their OW and AOW in a wetsuit, and buy their own wetsuit during or after the process. Most who stick with it probably go on to a drysuit, but some continue diving in a wetsuit.

 

[Wibble]

There are lots of cold water wetsuit divers here in Canada. The Great Lakes in the US/Canada can be 3.33 C/38 F during the early and late summer. Most students take their OW and AOW in a wetsuit, and buy their own wetsuit during or after the process. Most who stick with it probably go on to a drysuit, but some continue diving in a wetsuit.

Gosh, Canadians are well hard!

Whilst some Brits use wetsuits in the summer for recreational dives, I’ve only ever seen one guy in a combined wetsuit and shorty in northern waters (Scapa Flow in May) where he was doing 30 mins and jumping into a hot shower whilst we were doing 1h30 or more in the right tool for the job, a quality drysuit with thick underclothes (and heated vests).

Again, horses for courses

 

[Rayk]

There are lots of cold water wetsuit divers here in Canada. The Great Lakes in the US/Canada can be 3.33 C/38 F during the early and late summer. Most students take their OW and AOW in a wetsuit, and buy their own wetsuit during or after the process. Most who stick with it probably go on to a drysuit, but some continue diving in a wetsuit.

I had to wear pair of socks after I read this let alone diving wet on 3 degrees water.

 

[Marie13]

Gosh, Canadians are well hard!

Whilst some Brits use wetsuits in the summer for recreational dives, I’ve only ever seen one guy in a combined wetsuit and shorty in northern waters (Scapa Flow in May) where he was doing 30 mins and jumping into a hot shower whilst we were doing 1h30 or more in the right tool for the job, a quality drysuit with thick underclothes (and heated vests).

Again, horses for courses

And some Americans! I did a season of wetsuit Great Lakes wreck diving in 2018. I got down to 42F on wrecks in northern Lake Huron. I had a good Bare Evoke 7mm, and I layered well.

 

[NorCalDM]

Full-foot fins are terrible in Bonaire. There are very few entrances/exits thar are comfortable in bare feet.

Maybe for you but I wear 2mm neoprene socks and it was not an issue for me on Bonaire. But do agree that most shore diving is better in booties and open heel. I use full foot fins for all warm water boat diving.