Wetsuit Recommendation

[GeronimoDF]

Hi,
Never dove in the Carolinas before so I have a quick question. I am planning on diving in the early part of July with Olympus. What wetsuit thickness do you recommend?

Thanks,

Dan

 

[Eastbayfe]

Hi,
Never dove in the Carolinas before so I have a quick question. I am planning on diving in the early part of July with Olympus. What wetsuit thickness do you recommend?

Dan

Dan,
You should be fine with a 3 or 5 mm suit. Bottom temps low to mid 70s. Colder inshore normally. I dive a 3/2 April to November but you can hit a colder thermocline now and then.

 

[rlskill1]

3mm should be fine. Thicker if you're cold natured or a pair of coveralls if you're warmer blooded.

 

[Mike Campbell]

The last several years I have gotten to the point where I dive a 5mm single piece suit all summer long. You can get some cool water upwellings on occassion and every now and again the last twenty or thirty feet of some of the wrecks have a definitive thermocline that drops the temperature several degrees and makes me happy I have the extra couple mm's. That said if you are warm inclined then the 3mm as EBFe and RLSKL speak of is certainly appropriate. Should you be on Olympus and see a grizzled curmudgeon named Mike step over and say hi. I should be on the boat several times the first week of July...well, and the second and third..etal..
Mike...visibility and temps have been really nice this year...wind is blowing like hell outside the door right now though.........

 

[Eastbayfe]

I hate carrying lead so I put up with diving cool on occasion.

 

[Mike Campbell]

I used to not mind the cold quite as much....but the older I get the more the cold irritates me....I'm probably just gett'n crotchety...;-)...going out tomorrow so I hope this 4.5' every 5.5" drops out.....
Mike

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

I did those dives in 3mm and it was fine.