Drysuit diving in Tropical

[Herrick]

Hi,

I've did a lot of googling and forum search and I can't find a definitive answer to my basic question. I'm hoping to get opinions from fellow members

I do a lot of diving in Canada (wreck, tec, cold water, altitude, ice, etc) so I have a drysyuit (4th Element Argonaut 2.0) that I use many time per year. I do not own a wetsuit...

I'm planning to take my TDI Cave cert in mexico (about 20 dives) around the month of march and bring the wife for more casual tropical diving the next week. We will do about 15-20 dives during the two weeks with my wife.

For my wife, there is no chance she will dive in Canada so I purchased a 5mm wetsuit for her.

On my side, I'm thinking why would I purchase a 5mm wetsuit when I already own a dry suit so I was thinking I would just bring my drysuit to Mexico... I expect the water to be between 26-28.

A lot of people told me yes, why not, some even told me they do it... (My drysuit is a trilaminate "breathable" for the top part). Other kinda laugh and tell me I'll sweat like a pig and I'll look like a weirdo.

I was wondering if there is a good reason not to do it (some said overheating, premature wear, etc), if I should purchase a 5mm wetsuit just for these vacations, etc.

Any constructive comments would be more than welcome.

I already busted my 10k budget on dive gears, training, dives, etc this year so naturally if I can skip purchasing a wet suit I don't need, I would appreciate

Thanks in advance

 

[Marie13]

I did full cave in MX in August in a 5mm. I dive dry at home (Great Lakes region) and in the FL caves, but MX in August was just too hot/humid for a drysuit. I also didn’t want to fly with it. Got a 5mm for the trip and it worked out well.

March will be much better weather wise.

The 5mm would work for both the cave class as well as the ocean diving. Might as well just get the wetsuit. Your drysuit would be overkill for the ocean diving.

 

[Eric802]

In water that warm I think I'd just wear a swimsuit.

Of course, with that many dives planned, some minimal exposure protection might be good.

 

[Marie13]

In water that warm I think I'd just wear a swimsuit.

Not for a cave class!

 

[Damselfish]

How did you decide on a 5mm? It's possible a 3mm or even less is fine for you and/or your wife, especially being from Canada.
I'd melt in that in those temps Lighter = cheaper, easier to pack, more comfortable. And gives you more room to pack 2 suits if a different one is more appropriate for your class.

 

[Eric802]

Not for a cave class!

Good point.

 

[Marie13]

How did you decide on a 5mm? It's possible a 3mm or even less is fine for you and/or your wife, especially being from Canada.
I'd melt in that in those temps Lighter = cheaper, easier to pack, more comfortable. And maybe gives you you room to pack 2 suits if a different one is more appropriate for your class.

He has to also consider water temps for his cave class. 74-76F freshwater in the cenotes, 80-81 below the halocline, plus dives will be longer, at least an hour.

 

[Grantt]

I did my cave courses in Thailand in a 3mm. I would not have been opposed to a drysuit on a few of those dives.

 

[Herrick]

How did you decide on a 5mm? It's possible a 3mm or even less is fine for you and/or your wife, especially being from Canada.
I'd melt in that in those temps Lighter = cheaper, easier to pack, more comfortable. And maybe gives you you room to pack 2 suits if a different one is more appropriate for your class.

For my wife, she is new to scuba diving (4 dives in her OW course only She was cold and didn't like it. She is the kind of person to wear a battery powered heated vest under her winter coat. She is always cold.
I'm so affraid she might be cold and hate diving because of it that I ended up deciding to purchase a 5mm bare Evoke suit with ultrawarmth technology... I haven't purchased it yet.
On my side, a 3mm would be more than enough but since I do not plan to dive in wetsuit too oftern, I thought why not purchase a 5mm and just add water in when I need to cool down... I felt like a 5mil is more versatile if I need it for something else...
But again, I know a wetsuit is the way to go, I was just thinking of saving a couple of bucks by reusing my dry suit.
If the internet tells me I need more gears than it's fine with me rofl

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

I agree that the 5mm suit is overkill for 80 degree + salt water.. 3mm at the most. For those temps I just wear a swimsuit and rashy top.

For the cenote's you'll probably want a 3mm