Brand new to diving- just doing my online PADI stuff. Losing weight- can I only rent equipment?

[Salamandra]

OK Salamandra I am a little confused about the terminology so let me ask a question. I just got this from Amazon and the quality seems very high to me. I guess I didn't realize that it would be so thick/heavy duty, and the only kind of technical fabric that I've owned is for running and that is very thin polyester.

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Are you saying that I need another layer either below or on top of this? What if I take one of my thin technical fabric shirts for running and wear that on the bottom and this thing that Amazon calls a "rash guard" on top? Or the other way around? What is a "dive skin" and how does it work and where does it go?

I was always the guy who was never cold but as I get older and lose weight at the same time, not sure how that will hold up!!! Seems like I am more sensitive than in the past. So maybe a shorty wetsuit from Amazon? Something to keep the core a bit warmer than without?

I don't think you need anything other than that, at least for your top. . A dive skin is basically just a full body suit made of some kind of bathing suit like material. A one piece.

 

[Subcooled]

am down to 265 right now and could well get to my "finished" weight of 180 or 190 at some point. It seems like I won't even be able to buy my own wetsuit at this point

The water at Cancun might be 26.7°C / 80°F
Do you need a wetsuit for that???

I am skinnier than you and I've been diving for 30 mins in 22C to 16C in swimming trunks.
I am used to the cold, though.
With your weight, you might have a good shape to conserve heat.

Without a diving suit that loses buoyancy at depth, less weight and less buoyancy compensation is needed. You might actually be able to do this:
Water temperature was +22C at the surface and +16C a bit deeper (where I dit not want to dwell).
If this is doable in Finland, it's surely doable in the Caribbean!

 

[HamTrainChickenLaser]

The water at Cancun might be 26.7°C / 80°F
Do you need a wetsuit for that???

I am skinnier than you and I've been diving for 30 mins in 20C to 16C in swimming trunks.
I am used to the cold, though.
With your weight, you might have a good shape to conserve heat.

Without a diving suit that loses buoyancy at depth, less weight and less buoyancy compensation is needed. You might actually be able to do this:
Water temperature was +22C at the surface and +16C a bit deeper (where I dit not want to dwell).
If this is doable in Finland, it's surely doable in the Caribbean!

I think I will not, and the company that we are diving with supplies them anyhow. But when I get back home to cold water I'd say to continue progressing with my skills I will want to keep diving in the local quarries right away.

 

[Subcooled]

I think I will not, and the company that we are diving with supplies them anyhow. But when I get back home to cold water I'd say to continue progressing with my skills I will want to keep diving in the local quarries right away.

Drysuits can be more baggy and comfortable and can thus accommodate a diver that looses or gains weight.
They are expensive though, and complicated to control, until you master the skill.