Question Blue Hole at Santa Rosa NM

[brsnow]

You will freeze in a 5, that place dives cold. We were there in May once and it was also snowing.

 

[bryankwatts]

Okay I appreciate all the valuable advice. I'll go with a 7mm wetsuit along with a hood and gloves.

 

[CycleCat]

I dive there a lot since it's the only diving around within 2 hours (I live near Taos). I'm petty cold-tolerant but I dive in a 5mm all the time and I'm fine. Sometimes with a 1.5mm hooded vest, sometimes just the wetsuit. I did my cert dive there in a 7mm and hate the bulk. Everyone's different but you might be fine in a 5.

EDIT: Temps range from 62-65.

 

[mcohen1021]

It's freaking cold... 7 mil wouldn't be a bad idea, and a hood. 61⁰ water if I recall correctly. I had to get a permit from the city to dive in it, not sure if you have to have one now.

 

[rx7diver]

@boulderjohn,

Is this an altitude dive?

TIA,
rx7diver

 

[mcohen1021]

@boulderjohn,

Is this an altitude dive?

TIA,
rx7diver

Yes. ~5000 ft

If you drive to Albuquerque afterwards, you rise to 8000 ft then back down... so plan carefully

 

[inquis]

Is this an altitude dive?

Yes, 4,600 ft. More importantly, the drive takes you over passes that are significantly higher. However, I highly doubt you can dive a couple single-cylinder dives, pack up, and have issues by the time you get to those passes.

Edit: link corrected to point to thread start.

 

[kinoons]

Yes to the 7mm suit. I got chilled in a 7mm with a beanie and gloves. It isn’t unbearable, but it’s on the colder side of comfortable for me. But I also use a full 3mm suit in Maui for reference.

Where does I40 reach 8000 feet between ABQ and Santa Rosa? Looking at a map the highest I see is 7000 ft.

 

[mcohen1021]

What's crazy is the kids diving into it with just swimsuits lol

 

[Robert H. Diver]

What's crazy is the kids diving into it with just swimsuits lol

As a kid I’d jump into any body of water no matter the temp. Now I just get chilled looking at it…