Any last minute tips for first cold dive?

[tparrent]

Going out Sunday on the Great White to Anacapa Island (SoCal). Decided to rent a wetsuit, gloves and hood rather than buy any wet or dry gear. Need to see if I actually like this cold water, California, takes all day to dive stuff!

I have a pair of heavy, thick soled boots but I do not know how well they insulate. Iw ould guess that they are either 3mm or 5mm. I thought about putting on some kind of water socks to help but the boots are already a real hassle to get on and off. SHould I rent boots or just risk cold feet?

What do people do during the surface intervals on these all day trips/ In the Caribbean, I would either keep my wetsuit on or roll it halfway down whiel waiting for the second dive. That was in warm weather with a 3mm fullsuit. At Anacapa it is likely to be about 70 degrees and I'll be in a 7mm, uncomfortable out of the water suit.

Do people actually take their wetsuits off and get dressed between dives? I can't imagine it's much fun getting back into a cold, wet 7mm but it's probably not too comfortable sitting around in it for an hour either.

Also, I have never done more than two dives in a day. This will be four cold water dives. I should bring some WARM clothes for the trip home, right?

Any and all suggestiosn appreciated!

 

[Tatakai]

I have been told that some will take warm water and pour into their suits before a dive. Don't know about in between dives if that would work or not. Dove on Saturday and the water temp at surface was 74, 1st thermocline was at 18 feet and was bearable. Second thermo was at about 40 temp was at 66. Was told the next thermo was at about 65 to 70 and was unbearable with hood gloves and a farmer john 5mm with the shorty as well. Have fun diving

Tatakai

 

[Zaffy]

I'll go out on a limb here and assume you booked the dive through Aloha Dive?

I've just started going to them for all my scuba needs, and they seem really good. TJ at the simi valley store really seems to be service oriented. So I'd suggest that you talk to them. I haven't done any boat dives yet, so I don't have much else to offer on that front. I get the feeling that they won't try to seel you gear that you don't need. The SoCal forum is chock full of good info too.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forumdisplay.php?f=88

 

[blatter]

May be a good idea to talk to the dive operator to ask their advice and find out what their clients usually do between dives. They should be happy to answer such questions.

When divng wet in cooler conditions I often just take off the top part of the suit and put on a dry polarfleece top, windproof jacket and warm hat/beenie (between dives).

Some boats won't let you in the warm cabin without getting out of your whole suit - some boats don't care - some boats don't have a cabin - check with the operator.

Maybe worth bringing something to eat and drink (especially) unless this is supplied. Many people I dive with really like a thermos of warm drink. Probably also good to bring too many warm cloths rather than too few if you are concerned about the cold.

If it is too cold this time, a drysuit may be the way to go. I dive a wetsuit in summer and drysuit in winter in temperate waters.

Diving cooler waters is great. Have fun.

 

[Jake]

I've been in water off CA as cold as 51F in the setup you talk about, with 3mm taped gloves and 5mm boots. It wasn't great, but it was bearable for a dive. If you're reasonably healthy and the water temp is north of that, you should be ok, especially if the weather is warm during your SI.

Temp at the surface, according to NOAA, should be in the low to mid-60s about now. Hopefully that will translate to warmish depth temps.

I would definitely recommend wearing boots.

Also, I would advocate against pouring warm water in your suit. It tends to leave you colder than warmer once you get back into the water. Something about constricting blood vessels or capillaries or some such....

As for whether to take your suit down or not during the SI, that's your call. If the air is warm, you'll probably be glad you took it down to your waist. Getting back into it just before jumping back in isn't all that bad.

If the weather is on the cold or windy side, I think you'll find that leaving the suit on isn't all that bad either. Just unzip it and leave it up and you should be quite comfortable. I left it unzipped diving off Catalina Island in January though, and was pretty sorry when I got in the water! Make sure you get that back up.

Definitely bring layers for the trip home. It shouldn't take you long to get back, but again, if it's windy, you'll want at least a windbreaker.

Have fun!

 

[nexusone]

I did 80something NorCal dives in a 6.5mm suit. I always wore hood, gloves, and boots. Scarcely ever even got cold. In fact it's not uncommon for me to pour literally steaming hot water out of my boots. I know, I'm a freak of nature. If you're worried about being cold I have 2 suggestions... 1) make sure you have clothes/blanket/whatever to keep you warm before/after the dives. 2) wear something underneath your wetsuit like under armor or the like. I have friends that swear by it for cold water.

Watch yourself between dives and keep your core temp up and you will be fine.

Cold and warm are all a matter of perspective. Anything over 55 is like bath water to me.

 

[diverdan214]

Perhaps the best advice I've recieved about cold water dives: Get multiple sets of hoods/gloves so you have a dry or dryish set for each dive, really makes cold dives much more bareable than having to get back into cold wet ones.

My other tip would be to get thinner gloves (relatively) but warmer core layers. I find that keeping my core warm does more to help me retain dexterity than putting on gauntlets. As I'm sure you know if your core gets cold then it starts to take blood from extremities, once it does that I don't think even 20mil gloves will do you any good.

Also if you drink cold liquids make sure you don't do so right before you go back into the water as this will make you colder from what I've been told. I was told this was high school physics but I don't really remember my high school physics and so just take the advice, I'm sure there's some physicists on here that can fill us in on the details.

I dive dry so dunno about the between dives in a cold wetsuit. If its a short interval I will fold down the top of my suit and either stay inside or put on a jacket and hat (wooly hats are critical!). If its long I actually find it more comfortable to change completely out of kit. If you have a wetsuit I would think this would be best as you dry the suit out best you can for the next dive.

Whatever you do, do what you can to stay warm, any fool can be cold.

 

[CheddarChick]

Boy, we just finished 2 boat dives in Lake Michigan on Sun. Air temp 72* Water temp under the thermocline was 43* at the coldest. About 75-80' of water. We wore 7mil full suits, a 5mil hooded vest, 5 mil gloves, and boots. One the first dive I got cold at 30 minutes, second dive at 22 minutes with a 70 minutes surface interval. I WAS BLUE-LIPPED after the second one. Our DM said to at least pull the suits down and towel off between dives. A sweatshirt felt really good.

 

[divingjd]

You probably don't want to stay in the wetsuit between dives, particularly if it is windy. Water will be evaporating from the suit, which has a cooling effect. Now, if it's raining or there's spray all over the place, leaving the wetsuit on is probably the best idea. If it's warm and dry on deck, you want to get warm and dry, too.

 

[TheHobster]

Having made more than a few of those SoCal boat dives, a couple thoughts:

1. Typically you will make 3-5 dives, so staying warm in between is a must. Unzip to the waist and bag some rays, or put on a shirt/sweats etc;

2. in summer like this the thermocline is usually pretty deep. It is summer and if temps in mid 60's, for me thats the break even point for wearing a hood or not. I wear a hood with a polartek beanie underneath - very toasty. None of my SoCal dives were with my DS, all were with a 7mm farmer john so I would assume you will be fine;

3. The typical SoCal dive boat I have used you boarded at 5 AM, it left at 5:30 and at 7:30 they were anchoring and ready for dive 1. Check and see if thats correct. They have bunks on board to sleep on and a compressor to refill tanks. Usually air only. Check and assure this is correct;

4. Make sure you are weighted properly as this is a boat as opposed to a shop, they don't have extras of everything. It sounds like you are not experienced in the suit you are renting. Try to get in salt water with it BEFORE the excursion. This will let you know if sizing is correct, if weighted properly etc;

5. Drink lots of water, and when full drink some more. Keep hydrated to help keep the bends away. Anacapa has some deep areas, as well as very shallow areas. Both are fun, but you could possibly be diving your brains out so watch your 'puter and be hydrated. If overly hydrated you have to pee, is that a bad thing in 50 degree water?;

6. Have you dove in a kelp bed before? It is fun, absolutely beautiful and frustrating. Surface swims in a kelp bed are no fun, so do your best to know where the boat is and keep the surface portion of your return swim to a bare minimum. Keep your "danglies" to an absolute minimum. Kelp will get tangled around anything and it does not break easily at all;

7. Be prepared to see seals, otters, angel, horned and blue sharks, sheepshead, garibaldi and more garibaldi, eels, rays, maybe whales and/or dolphins on the boat ride, calico bass, barracuda, or none of the above except thae darn garibaldi

8. Many SoCal dive boats have spearfishing customers that snorkel to be sporting. Many times these folks get off at the first site you dive and get back on at the last. They are interesting to watch. Also, many SoCal boats do not operate like caribbean boats in terms of buddy teams etc. "Same ocean buddy team" has been the norm, so don't be surprised if you see some solo divers;

9. Last piece of advice, California is different diving. It is beautiful under a kelp bed, like walking thru a redwood forest, life abounds. Ignore the gear and temp and let yourself enjoy it. I go back every chance I get. I envy you!