best suits for warm water diving...opinions please

[flounderin]

I will be doing my first diving in tropical conditions in june (82 degree water and hot sun). Do I still need a 3mm full suit or do most folks use a shorty or dive skin? I'm trying to make that 50 pound airline limit!! Thanks for answering my silly question.

 

[Straegen]

If the temps are above 80 at the depth you will be diving, a dive skin would be my recommendation. If you are diving multiple deeper and cooler dives a 3mm will work very well. I am a HUGE fan of full length skins/wetsuits mainly due to jellyfish, Man-o-Wars are pretty common in FL waters.

 

[rongoodman]

I'd take a 3mm, because 82 is still a long way below 98.6. I was in the same temps recently in Mexico in a 5mm, because that's the suit I had with me, and it was like bathwater, but by no means uncomfortable. (and 50 lb. is a lot of luggage!).

 

[Damselfish]

no one can answer this for you. I would be wearing a lycra or 1mm diveskin, but you will see people in swimsuits, 3mm, and even more.

For protection other than thermal, I do think a fullsuit of some sort is always better than a shorty. Personally I would only use a shorty for layering or if I were desperate and needed to rent something. (Shorties are common in rentals, I think because they fit people more easily and cheaper. I rarely see people in the tropics using shorties of their own.)

 

[Carlos Danger]

It depends on the conditions and what you're going to be doing, but 99% of the time I usually wear either a two-piece rash guard (short sleeve shirt and shorts), or just a swimsuit. Either of these allows me to only have to carry 8lbs of additional weighting in salt water. I always pack a 3mm shorty and a 1mm full just in case, but I almost never need them.

 

[mboyd03]

I have been diving in my boardshorts and 1mm chest for about 3 weeks now in Ft. Lauderdale. I'm in the water 4 days a week and used to the water temps. Most people are using shorties on the boat or 3mm full. Bottom line everyone is different.

 

[GeneV]

Flounderin
Do you easily get cold, if so then a 3mm might be more in oder, if not a rash or 1mm. I personally dive a 3mm, and like Straegen, use a full, like the protection. They really don't add that much weight. I always carry my reg and mask in my carry-on, that way less weight to check. And I know they'll get to my destination.

 

[diver 85]

skins & a 2 mm shortie(can maybe get by without the latter).........

 

[Token]

Unless you are diving deep into colder water, a diveskin might be enough. I was overheated in a 3mm suit in Florida in November going down to 30-40'.

 

[Pullmyfinger]

I wear a 1mm for most single dive days. I wear a 3mm for dive trips
And two dive days. Even in warm water, there is a temperature loss.
Don't wear a shorty....just don't. ;-)
-Mitch