Bonaire 7mm?

[pdive]

Anyone every dive Bonaire w/ a 7mil? I would post in the ABC forum but I am guessing no one there knows what a 7mm is
I get cold relatively easily. I was hoping to get away with my 7mm and leave the gloves and hood at home. I did my check out dives in Hawai'i and wearing a farmer john and a couple times I got a little chilled.

TIA

 

[victor]

Far to thick for Bonaire.
At max a 3mm will be enough.
I have always used a skin there and that was plenty.
If you feel the cold then bring a boat coat or windcheater to keep warm on the speedboat ride back from the dive site. most baot rides are very short, 10 to 15 minutes and the water is warm and calm.
It is rare to do a 2 tank boat trip, so you are back on shore 15 minutes after you are out of the water.
Sitting in the sun warming up and planning your next shore dive.

 

[SteveFass]

Victor - 3mm may work for you and me, but I've seen 7mm there. In fact I saw a girl in a 7mm there who was so cold she swore she would come back next time in a dry suit.

Remember, as cold as you were in one check out dive, you will be much colder after a whole week of diving. I think you should definitely bring a hood. Even if you don't use it, it takes up very little space in the suitcase.

 

[DeputyDan]

Depends on the individual.

One of the divers in the group I dive with (a guy) always dives with a 6mm and is always cold.

I dive with a 3mm and let water in to cool off.

 

[victor]

But the pleasure of taking off all that lead when you don't have any neoprene on make the diving so much better.

I accept everyone is different and if you live in a warm climate then your body feels the cold more.

On my first trip I was surprised to see the staff wearing wetsuits, but so frequently dived I doubt they were any better than new 2 mm suits.
After 2 weeks there I was noticing that the boat rides back were chilly thats why I recommend a wind break.

 

[spectrum]

Remember, as cold as you were in one check out dive, you will be much colder after a whole week of diving.

That's one you need to remember.

This past summer I had an 11 day stretch where I made one or 2 dives per day. Towards those last days I could feel my thermal reserves dropping off and it wasn't because the water got colder.

Now given this was in Maine but when you start doing 4+ dives a day the same phenomenon will happen. If you're in Bonaire where the world revolves around diving the last thing you want to be is chilled or lethargic due to beat depletion.

I'm bringing a 3mm suit and hooded vest as well as a shorty and will try to walk the line of balance.

If the OP has a low tolerance to heat loss then they should not hesitate to bring what they needs to be comfortable and safe.

As an aside I think the gloves are forbidden anyway. Bring a good beanie since that will stave off a lot of heat loss without the restrictions of the hood.

Pete

 

[Teamcasa]

If you have and need a 7mm to stay warm, wear it and a hood.
I dove in Hawaii with a waif sized girl that had a full 7mm semidry suit and hood – she was still cold!
I would suggest that if you are cold in tropical waters, get a drysuit.

Dave

 

[dave4868]

Anyone every dive Bonaire w/ a 7mil? I would post in the ABC forum but I am guessing no one there knows what a 7mm is
I get cold relatively easily. I was hoping to get away with my 7mm and leave the gloves and hood at home. I did my check out dives in Hawai'i and wearing a farmer john and a couple times I got a little chilled.

TIA

Might as well be nice and warm! Then again, water temps could be 77-80....

If you don't mind hauling it down, the 7mm might work out for you, and, if it's too warm or cumbersome or makes you feel self-conscious, you could rent a lighter suit.

Here's a thread from BonaireTalk that addresses the water temp and wetsuit thickness question:

http://www.bonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/30/311722.html?1170800694

A recent trip report:

http://www.bonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/1022/311563.html?1170689308

Dave C

 

[skynscuba]

My GF used a 4/3 wetsuit, with a 5mm hood, in Bonaire in early October, and
was none to warm. I used a 3mm full and a beanie, and only felt slightly
cool a few times. You will not be able to use the gloves in Bonaire without
a medical release from your doctor requiring such. I had one, but did not
need to wear them at 82F. In 78F I would require gloves for sure.

 

[CUunderH2O]

Exposure protection is a very individual thing.

I'll be wearing my 7/5 fullsuit when I head to Bonaire in April. I wore that same suit in Roatan last year (water temps were 78-80) and I was very comfortable doing 4 dives/day. People laughed at me at first, but then they noticed I wasn't shivering after 30 minutes (most of my dives were in the 1 hr range). The year before that I wore a 3mm in Cozumel and I was shivering 20 minutes into the dive. I would much rather be too warm (and be able to flush water through my suit) than too cold (and have to end my dive).