Changing Wetsuits Between Dives?

[darylm74]

Doing that many dives a day, once you start losing body heat you won't be able to regain it. Start out with whatever is going to keep you warm.

That is what I prefer, and point taken. I was just looking at options. I was worried the 7mm would be to heavy in the beginning. I have thought about taking my drysuit with minimum undergarments but I would prefer it wasn't damaged by the luggage handlers. I still think that the 3mm with a shorty over it would be best. That should be more than enough and a cheaper solution than a brand new suit. When I dive in the tanks at the zoo, most of them are around 70 to 75 and I do well in the 3mm for a couple long dives, though I am coming back up into a heated environment, not back onto an open boat. Just have to remember to bring a polar fleece pullover for in between dives.

 

[nvert]

I too have a similar question. My last liveaboard I was diving 5 dives/day in 79 water in December. I wore a BARE 5/4 with a 1mm hooded vest and I still got chilled by the late afternoon and night dives. So, would the BARE 3mm vest with 7mm hood added to the 5/4 fullsuit be noticably warmer than the 1mm vest and hood for my lliveaboard diving in March - again probaly temps in the upper 70s, 5 dives a day.

Another point I found about the chill factor is during your SI, warm your core by drinking warm/hot liquid such as herbal tea or gatoraide. I drank lots of herbal tea with honey and lemon between dives when I was getting cold and it seemed to help.

What liveaboard are you doing? I'm doing a liveaboard that week too - the CE1 in the Bahamas.