1st Wetsuit for region....

[bvmjethead]

I've searched the forums.

I've read the forums till my eyes feel like they're bleeding.

If you want to participate in my thread please do, if you want to be a smart alec, please go somewhere else.

I'm looking to get the most mileage out of my first wetsuit purchase.

I will be diving Lake Rawlings in February and or March to get open water certified, then on to shallow reefs/wrecks whatever can be found off Virginia & North Carolina's coast's. Eventually diving deeper wrecks off shore, Lobster hunting and occasionally getting back to the Carribean.

I have a 3 mil shorty suit for warmer waters or for layering.

Have seriously been considering a Mares Istherm 6.5 mm semi-dry first then later a Henderson 7/5 for "warmer" water dives.

Thanks for your serious thoughts and advice based on your local experiences.

 

[fireflock]

I dive a 3mm full suit for almost the entire season off the NC coast. I have a 3mm shorty that I wear on top of the 3mm full early and late in the year.

Rawlings will be fricken cold in Feb/March, so I would consider renting a 7mm farmer for that occasion.

The VA coast is quite a bit different from anywhere south of Hatteras in NC (much colder up there, different currents)

You can find a lot of perspectives from a group of avid NC divers over here:
http://www.ncdivers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=935&highlight=wetsuit+shorty

Rich

 

[BigWhiteSquare]

What Rich said.

3mm jumpsuit is pretty standard for the Morehead City / Wilmington areas, and you'll be able to use it 6 months out of the year at least. The rest of the time I use a 7/5 jumpsuit. I wouldn't spend the money for a Henderson though. Neosport or Akona is a much better bargain.

 

[bvmjethead]

Thanks guy's for the responses.

 

[LindaBluedolphin]

Hi BVM

I will third what Rich and Frank said, this time of year at Rawlings or Fantasy lake for that matter you probably need a minimum of 7m as the water is really cold unless you have a high tolerance for cold (some people do), I am not one of them.

In the summer months you would probably be fine with a 3m as long as you stay above the thermocline.

I would also suggest you rent one for now and decide later if a 7m puchase is a wise decision based on your diving needs at that point in time.

 

[Bob_B]

Great advice so far and I agree..

Don't spend too much on a wet suit.. Another brand to look into is Tilos.. Before going dry, year round, I dove a Tilos 7/5 semi dry for the winter months, and it worked great.. ~ $150. My daughter uses the Akona 7mm suit.. It's not sold as a semi-dry, but IMHO it should be... ~$150 for the Akona as well..

For the rest of the season, the 3/2 suits are perfect....

Good luck and let us know what you end up with and what you think...