Bonaire in January

[homerdoc]

Going to Bonaire for the second time in 12 days.

I went in August and the water temp was 82F, it says it is 79F now. I really don't have a frame of reference if 3 degrees is a big deal or not.

I dove in August with just a swimsuit and rashguard and was comfortable. Do I need to take a shorty? I am not cold natured, but almost all of my SC or FLA spring dives, I have done in a 5mm, which for sure I don't want to lug down.

 

[Reidkon]

I would be cold in a shorty. 3 mil all the way for me. Especially if you are doing 3 or 4 dives a day.

Going to Bonaire for the second time in 12 days.

I went in August and the water temp was 82F, it says it is 79F now. I really don't have a frame of reference if 3 degrees is a big deal or not.

I dove in August with just a swimsuit and rashguard and was comfortable. Do I need to take a shorty? I am not cold natured, but almost all of my SC or FLA spring dives, I have done in a 5mm, which for sure I don't want to lug down.

 

[homerdoc]

You know, you are right, I forgot I dove 2 times a day max last time I was there (I had my 12 year old with me and that was about it for her). My brother is going with me this time and he will want to dive 3-4 times a day if not more.

I guess I asked a question I should have answered myself!!

 

[scubadada]

Exposure protection and warmth is personal. At 79 degrees. I would take my 3mm full suit and would have my hooded vest in case I got cold. I assume I would be doing an average of 4 dives per day. My dives in Bonaire tend to be pretty long and I don't work very hard.

 

[mattia_v]

We got back a few weeks ago. I was plenty warm in my 3.5mm full suit, never too hot, only occasionally a little cool (on days with 3+ 80+ minute dives), but comfortable. My girlfriend had a non-hooded extra 5mm vest under that, and still got a little chilly, but she always does. Other times I've been in March, slightly warmer water, wearing a (borrowed) 5mm full suit, which occasionally got too warm for me.

 

[Lorenzoid]

For me, 79F in Bonaire, where we do 3, 4, or even 5 dives in a day, means I will be most comfortable in a 5 mm. For me, just a few degrees makes a difference. When it's 82 in Bonaire, I take the 3 mm. But never a shorty--it only takes one jellyfish sting or a fall onto the fire coral during an entry/exit to be persuasive.

 

[wwguy]

Exposure protection and warmth is personal.

For me, 79F in Bonaire, where we do 3, 4, or even 5 dives in a day, means I will be most comfortable in a 5 mm. For me, just a few degrees makes a difference.

+1 for the above advice. When I first started diving on Bonaire 20 years ago I wore a 3/2 shorty and enjoyed 45 minute bottom times. Over the years I've slowly changed my pace, profile, and physiology (fancy words for I'm getting older, slower, skinnier, and we now dive shallower for longer periods.) Nowadays we both wear 5/4 full suits with 2mm beanies. My wife also wears a dive skin under her suit.

Immersion duration (i.e. bottom time) significantly affects body heat loss. You'll lose a lot less body core heat diving with a shorty wetsuit for 45 minutes vs. 60 minutes. Also, the less body heat you lose the less work your circulatory system and metabolism have to do the replace the lost heat. The warmer your core is the longer you'll be able to dive because your body expends less energy running your internal heater on high setting. Less energy expended results in a much more efficient air consumption rate. Even though a shorty wetsuit, or even shorts and t-shirt, seem like they may "work fine" for you, it doesn't mean it's the most efficient combination.

We've seen our average bottom time increase significantly over the years due in part to better body heat management. This despite the fact that thicker wetsuits create greater drag and require wearing more lead. My average bottom time over the past 3 weeks was a personal record high of 84.5 minutes due to desire to dive shallower to compensate for cloudy days and reduced visibility from recent heavy rains. There's no way I could have stayed in 80 degree water than long with a 3mm shorty!

 

[Doctorfish]

Glad I'm not the only wussy. In winter on Bonaire I take a full 5 with me and have never regretted it. In fact, I take 2 suits so there is always a dry one to put on for the night dive. After 4 dives in a day, one gets cold. I'm always in awe of divers in winter wearing just a rash guard but would never try to emulate them.

 

[drrich2]

I really don't have a frame of reference if 3 degrees is a big deal or not.

Depends on which 3 (e.g.: 83 vs. 80, 76 vs. 73), but yes, it's quite noticeable when you're fully submersed for close to an hour. We could debate the definition of 'big,' but it's big enough to matter.

Richard.

 

[homerdoc]

You guys/gals have convinced me, I am joining the wussy club (no offense intended, based on wwguys post that makes sense it is a reasonable course of action). I pulled my dive profiles from last august with my daughter and we were max 35 minutes down. I am going tomorrow when I pick up my gear from servicing and buying a 3MM at the dive shop. I cant handle my cold freshwater 5mm suit it has a liner and weighs a ton when wet so will add another arrow to the quiver.

Thanks for the replies.