Any last minute tips for first cold dive?

[m3830431]

Late spring we start at about 40 degrees F in Lake Michigan. A 6.5 mm farmer jon works good at keeping your core warm. Hood is a must until the water below the thermocline is above 55 degrees. 5mm gloves mostly for zebra muscles when it gets warmer and 5mm boots. Usually stay nice an toasty. But as said take you wetsuit off and dry off. Place it in the c sun to keep it warm. Mine is black so it obsorbs some heat.

You'll be fine

 

[tparrent]

Thanks for all the replies. Lots of good suggestions.

I booked the trip through Aloha Dive on their own boat and also hired a guide. I figured that was a good idea on many fronts since I have not dove here, do not have the right exposure equipment, have no local dive buddy, am relatively new at the sport AND want to establish a relationship at the LDS. I'll check the details with the guide later this week.

You Lake Michigan divers are making me homesick I hope to get back there and see what's under the water that I sailed on top of for so many years

 

[hvulin]

try to stay warm

 

[Taxgeek]

Hi Tparrent. Welcome to the neighborhood. Most of us have "Boat Coats" - long fleece coats (knee length) with windproof outer layer and hood. Most guys roll down their wetsuit to the waist and put on teh boat coat between dives. So whatever equivalent sort of clothing you have would be good.

Those of us who run cold also:
1. Stay inside the boat out of the wind during SIs.
2. Drink more than our share of hot chocolate.
3. Bring 4 fleece beanies to put on during the SI - totally helps keep your head warm.
4. You def need booties. Some folks put wool socks inside them - make sure your fins fit any rental booties you get. And a hood, you need a hood.
5. I have started wearing a dive skin under my suit - encourages me to get the suit off, which helps me alot in warming up.

For the ride home, you want sweats. Unless the boat has a hottub, and if it does, it's my new favorite boat! Spectre does, Peace does.

Water up there July 4 weekend was running 59ish.

I don't know where on Anacapa that captain likes to take you, but when I go on the Spectre, we rarely dive deeper than 50 feet or so - Anacapa is mostly pretty shallow (or else I've just been hitting the same spots over and over I guess.) Because the viz ain't so great (expect 20-40'), it would be good to make sure your console has a compass on it.

You're a guy though, right? The guys on our trips don't seem to shiver too much so I wouldn't worry, you'll be fine! ;-) Us ladies are the ones with our teeth chattering all the time.

Have a great time! Anacapa is beautiful. Look for the nesting garibaldis.
Taxgeek

 

[bgi]

Ever try a semi-dry suit? You don't get very wet with a good one. It makes a big difference. There are several on the market. I'm happy with my mares isotherm. It keeps me warm down to about 50 degrees unless I go really deep. The hood seal is fantastic.

 

[TheHobster]

I had an isotherm - biggest problem was you can't equalize - if you didn't adjust just right you could be an octave higher at 90' - as happened to me at Gilboa once

 

[Allison Finch]

Hmmmmm.....lotsa warm water to put in the suit for the first dive,

Lotsa water to drink during SI. You will be able to store 98.6 degree water to warm up suit for second dive. The only real advantage of diving wet over dry.

 

[cummings66]

With a P Valve that advantage for a guy at least is gone because you can hydrate all you want, of course that's good for your medical health no matter what.

 

[bgi]

I had an isotherm - biggest problem was you can't equalize - if you didn't adjust just right you could be an octave higher at 90' - as happened to me at Gilboa once

Hee hee... :lol: Yea, it's different. I've used mine to 125' at 55 degrees several times with no problems. It sometimes gets me an octave higher when I'm walking down to the water. Much more streamlined than a drysuit, though, so I can move fast while wearing it.