Carib Snorkel/Dive - skin or wetsuit?

[gandoe]

Hi all!

I'm brand new to diving...I plan on taking a resort dive course during my weeklong Bahamas vacation in 2 weeks, and I'm also taking my snorkel gear (mask/snorkel/fins) and will likely be snorkeling every day!

I'm trying to decide between a skin (e.g., Henderson, AquaSphere, Camaro) or a 3mil or 3/2 wetsuit. I realize that a skin doesn't provide much thermal protection...OTOH, I'm likely to only be diving one day (unless I really like it).

Is a 3/2 full wetsuit too much for just snorkeling? Or is that the better investment (since they are almost the same price), especially if I continue to dive? I'm also a kayaker - I've got a 5m shortie, but certainly could use a 3/2 full wetsuit.

Also - if I get a full wetsuit - I'll also probably have to get a weight belt, right?

Any comments and suggestions about gear selection and/or brand recommendations greatly appreciated!

TIA
Ed

 

[tparrent]

They say the waters of the Bahamas can be cool this time of year but when I went there years ago in the winter I found them bathtub warm. Warmest water I had ever been in. But I'm a Great Laker so that's not saying much.

You can always rent a wetsuit down there but if you are looking to buy one I have a suggestions based on my ASTOUNDINGLY small experience I bought a Henderson 3mm Hyperstretch suit a month ago. WOW! I never knew such comfort was possible. I'd wear it to the office if I could.

For the Bahamas you might look at the Hyperstretch core warmer. It's a shorty by any other name I believe. It should be fine for the diving and nice sun protection for the snorkeling. I will be getting one for my kayaking as well.

The snorkeling there is UNBELIEVEABLE. A 25 year old memory of snorkeling in Freeport finally led me to scuba diving.

Of course you must go rent "Into The Blue" on DVD (released this week) so you will have a good idea of what the Bahameas and diving are all about.

 

[Dave Zimmerly]

Yes, a 3/2 suit would be fine, and a good investment for diving the Carib. Been using a 3/2 for all my trips to Coz, Roatan, Bonaire. Yes, you will be a bit more bouyant, but why do you think you need a weight belt to going snorkling? The purpose of snorkling is to use the snorkle... and that is when you are on the surface. Don't worry about not being able to submerge...just do a knife flip and kick on down.

Dave (aka "Squirt")

 

[spectrum]

Yes, a 3/2 suit would be fine, and a good investment for diving the Carib. Been using a 3/2 for all my trips to Coz, Roatan, Bonaire. Yes, you will be a bit more bouyant, but why do you think you need a weight belt to going snorkling? The purpose of snorkling is to use the snorkle... and that is when you are on the surface. Don't worry about not being able to submerge...just do a knife flip and kick on down.

Dave (aka "Squirt")

Snorkeling or Skin-Diving can certainly involve diving down and using weight. With a little paractice a skind diver can begin exploring bottom in the 10- 15 foot range. With practice one can go well beyond that. In my 3/2 I wear a 5 pounds in fresh and would wear 10 in salt. Here in Maine we really don't have much 3mm seawater.

With those weights I am still comfortably neutral on the surface, can descend without a lot of wasted energy and am quite neutral around 12 feet. A slight upward lick starts a natural ascent. Yes I can get down without the weights but it's a much better experience with them. As with all weights you must establish what works for you. I use the classic scuba test of bobbing upright at the surface. I'm at eye level to the waterline with an average breath.

Note that if you go out for a night skin-dive with a significant light (8 cells or more) you will want to omit some of your belt weight. As a skindiver you want to be in balance with the water, slightly,positive , you cannot ad air to your BCD, unless you wear a snorkeling vest. The extra weight of a big light can be noticable when you kick to surface. BTW a night skindive is awesome and a wonderful primmer to nigtime scuba.

Pete

 

[Monoceros]

I feel the cold a lot, so have a 3/5 - but that's me, however, as long as water is below 98.4 - and you swim, snorkel, dive - long enough you MUST get cold.. however if snorkelling on the surface you will be getting solar heating effect - and only you will know how to balance that by your style of snorkelling/diving. I find 3 dives a day, and I start to feel the chill - even when water is mid 80's. - I told you I felt the cold

 

[midwayman]

I think a 3/2 is a good investment for the carribean. Just got back from Jamaica with 82-78 f water and the 3/2 bare suit ($120ish) was great.