4/3 mm versus 3/2 mm full length wetsuit

[OliveDiver]

Hi there,

Still very new to diving here, but the spouse and I are slowly working on getting our own gear. We have a trip planned to shore dive in Kona, HI in April 2018. We are planning to both get full length wetsuits prior to the trip. Overall, we are mostly warm weather divers in tropical places. I have looked at several wetsuits online and at REI, and have a couple of questions:

1. I think most people would say that the best suit for our kind of diving would be 3/2 mm. Simply style wise, I like some of the 4/3 ones better. Is there much of a noticable difference between 3/2 and 4/3? I don't have much experience with wetsuits to tell one way or the other, my only wetsuit experience was a 3 mm shortie in Florida this past May. I felt fine with that, not too hot or cold.

2. Would a vacation diver notice much of a difference between a wetsuit designed more for diving (Scubapro, etc.) and a wetsuit designed for surfing (Roxy etc.)?

Thanks in advance! This forum is the greatest.

Olive Diver

 

[tbone1004]

1. you can always flush water thru a thicker wetsuit to cool it off. You can never make a thin wetsuit warmer

2. a lot of times the surfing wetsuits use less dense neoprene and will be more prone to compression at depth. Diving wetsuits use more dense neoprene to help minimize compression which means you will be comparably warmer when you descend

 

[KevinNM]

I have heard that some surfing wet suits will get crushed at depth and never recover. Never seen it myself, but I have talked to people who said they had seen it.

 

[stuartv]

If you're comparing scuba wetsuits, a 4/3 vs a 3/2, the one that will be warmer is the one that fits you best. A good-fitting 3/2 will be warmer than a poor-fitting 4/3. If they both fit the same, and they both have equal quality seals (at the wrist, ankle, neck, and behind the main zipper), then the 4/3 would be slightly warmer.

Besides the obvious, you want the armpits and the crotch to pull all the way up/into their respective spots and be snug in there.

And, you want glued-and-blind-stitched seams. Or fully taped. Flatlock stitching is what you do not want, if you're want to be the warmest that you can. Those others don't let water through. Flatlock stitching makes holes all the way through the suit, so water will seep through the stitching. Some cheaper 3mm or 3/2 (or others, I guess) wetsuits actually have flatlock stitching.

 

[NorCalDM]

Diving in the Kona area I use a 3/2 with a 2mm vest and my wife and buddy use 5mm with hood. Everybody's cold tolerance is different but that time of year the water temp in that area is around 77F and if you go to the Hilo side the entry on some of the shore dive sites have freshwater springs and it's a little chilly getting in and out. Also I would stay with a dive specific wetsuit for reasons others have already stated.

 

[stuartv]

Yep. I dived Kona last year, April 19 - 22. Temps ranged from 76 to 78F.

I was comfy in my 3/2. Some of the DMs were wearing 7mm. It's all down to personal tolerance.

 

[OliveDiver]

Thanks everybody!!! I so appreciate your advice. If I end up with some useful feedback after buying a suit I'll post it here.

 

[Bruno Genovese]

Temperature comfort is a very personal thing. You really need to try before you buy to figure out what is right "for you". Rentals can help with that.

For me, since I dive at different locations and in water temperatures from 16C to 30C on a fairly Spartan budget I went for a mix and match setup. Full body lycra skin suit (no insulation but gives sun and scrape protection), 5mm wetsuit, 5mm hood, 3mm boots and gloves, and a 3mm sleeveless vest.

I use different parts of that set in different conditions. Having all of it on makes me nice and toasty in 16C. Just the skin suit (no insulation) was perfect last week in 30C water. The skin suit and sleeveless vest is good for 25-27C. And the 5mm with or without hoodie and gloves works in between.

Now, all of that is for 2 dives a day. I'd probably want more insulation if I was doing 3 or 4 dives the same day in temperatures 27C or below.

And yet, all of that is what works "for me". I run pretty warm. I have seen people who would prefer a full 5mm suit in 27C water.

So I go back to my initial suggestion: Rent a few times to figure out what you really need before you buy.

 

[scubadada]

Hi @OliveDiver

I dive in SE FL year round in water temps from the high 60s through the mid 80s. For that reason I mix and match a 3, 5, and 7 mm full suit and a 5/3 hooded vest. I always have the hooded vest with me in case my choice of full suit is inadequate. As I've gotten older, I've become less tolerant of cold water and to being cold. I frequently do 4 dives/day of over an hour and often do not work very hard underwater, particularly on drift dives. I usually dive the 3 mm in the high 70s-80s, the 5 mm mid 70s-high 70s, and the 7 mm in lows 70s and below. I add the hooded vest whenever necessary. The hooded vest generally adds 2 or 3 degrees of warmth. I quit diving plain hoods many years ago. Of course good booties and gloves help also.

I've been to the Hawaiian Islands 4 times, the water has always been in the mid to high 70s. A 3 mm and the hooded vest has been just adequate a couple of times, I've dived my 5 mm the last 2 visits and have been much more comfortable through the end of the day.

Experience will tell you what is best for you, enjoy your trip to Hawaii.

Good diving, Craig

 

[60plus]

First time I went diving the air temp was in high 20s (deg C) and water about 23 at surface. I was struggling to get a full wetsuit on - I was hot and sticky. I then tries a 5/6 shorty with a front zip which was easier to get on but still very clingy to my skin until I had been in the water for a while. it was easy warm enough. I then bought a 3/2 full wetsuit with rear zipper. Not too bad to get into in warm sweaty conditions and comfortable in 18 C water for long periods. However I tore the zip apart at the bottom due to wearing the suit with the top down between dives. By this time I knew I intended to continue diving including in cooler UK waters. I have just ordered a 7 mm full wetsuit with front zipper and zippers at ankles and cuffs. I have ordered a size larger than my 3/2. Hopefully the larger size and extra zippers will make the suit easier to get on and of and the front zipper can be worn open between dives or opened during a dive if I need some cooling. the extra size also means I should be able to get something on underneath in cold water if needed. If the extra size means I get a bit of flushing in warmer waters that will be OK.