Bare 5/4 or 3/2 Velocity for Florida Springs?

[rockinrebel]

Hi everybody,
My wife and I are going to Crystal River in November. My wife is needing a wetsuit and has narrowed it down to Bare wetsuits (Velocity-Progressive). Now the hard to answer question. 5/4 or 3/2? She is pretty cold natured. Anybody have experienxce with these suits in 72 degree water?
Thanks for any input.

 

[rockinrebel]

Anybody have experience with 3mm vs 5 mm in 72 degree water?

 

[ScubaSarus]

Ide go with a 5 or 7 mm in 72 deg water. Bares are good suits if you are just boat diving and dont give it high usage. But for shore diving and rocky entrances and exits, Ide get a Henderson suit thats more rugged in the knee areas and last 5 times longer.

 

[DiverDave65]

I used my 3/2 with a 3mm hood to snorkel with the manatees there last Feb on a cold and overcast day and was pretty chilled after 30 mins.....it was a very "non-active" kind of dive with lots of floating motionless while watching the manatees. I had just returned from a Bahamas live-aboard with similar temps (around 72-74) and found the 3/2 to be a bit chilly after a few days. My 7/5 was too HOT for those temps but the 3/2 with a hooded vest was PERFECT.....so, I think for a recommendation I would go with the 5/4....should be warm enough, and if too hot you can always vent it with cool water.....think the 7mm would be overkill.
My two cents.
Have fun!!

 

[ScubaSarus]

Ide lean towards a 5 mm suit in a warm climate were you don't lose a lot of bodyheat before and after a dive.

 

[Gelinnus]

I have the Bare 5/4 velocity and love it. I mostly dive springs and I wouldnt want to go with the 3/2, too cold for me. Bare makes outstanding wetsuits, and i also bought their gloves and boots. If your going with a hood, go with the henderson hyperstretch, the bare hoods are that great.