Channel Islands Diving (Sept - Nov) - Drysuit or Semi-dry???

[ewaiea]

I am a resident of Hawaii but am considering a short weekend dive trip with a friend (from Florida) to meet up in California this fall to dive the Channel Islands - it'll be a first time for me. I have gotten drysuit certified in the Pacific Northwest (Whidbey Island - which rocked!) but the water there was about 50 deg F at the time. I'm planning on going to southern California in the fall and I understand water temps will be around 60 or so....

I do not own a drysuit because I would almost never need it. But if I head up to California this fall I might be thinking about purchasing a semi-drysuit. Do alot of divers in southern California use semi-drysuits? Or is the real drysuit the only way to go??? I've always told myself I'll never cold water dive in a wetsuit again, but I think given that southern California is sort of on the border of being cold, but not too cold, maybe a semi-dry would be a good compromise. I think any colder than high 50s/low 60s and I'd definitely probably go dry. I haven't found a shop yet that rents drysuits out.

Your thoughts?

Plus, we'd be diving with Cal Boat Diving on either the Spectre, the Explorer, or the Peace.......assuming they're still in business, feel free to interject any thoughts on that as well.

 

[robint]

I answered your post over on the Liveaboards Forum.

 

[ewaiea]

Thanks Robint, I wasn't sure whether I should post my question in the liveaboard forum or the California diving forum, I figured that people (like me) only check certain forums......**egg on my face**

 

[fnfalman]

Sep-Nov time is a good time for wetsuit diving because the water is still warm.

BTW, semi-dry is like semi-pregnant. You're either dry or you're not.

 

[coldwaterlloyd]

When you say warm , just how warm does it get down there , thanks

 

[USCScubaboy]

Double post deleted.

 

[USCScubaboy]

When you say warm , just how warm does it get down there , thanks

US NODC Coastal Water Temperature Guide

60-70 F. Many of us use a 7 mil + hood. You might want to consider a hooded vest since you're go out on a boat as by the third dive, you might be a bit more chilly than you'd like.

 

[DESERT EEL]

Wants you go dry in cold water you wont go wet again unless you have to.

 

[ewaiea]

I'm really considering the semi-dry option. I know that it doesn't keep you dry and that water slowly does seep into the suit, there is minimal water exchange and it looks like something I'd like to try. But if I'm diving water that gets into the 50s and below I'll still always opt for a drysuit, I just think for southern California in the fall, a semi-dry would be a good option that wouldn't break the bank. Plus, if I ever go to the Galapagos, I could probably use it there too since the thermoclines get kinda cold (mid-60s) there too. Thanks all for your input!

 

[dannobee]

Here's my feeling on wetsuits vs drysuits. If the water temp is under 70 degrees, I'm almost always diving dry. I have enough different undergarments to dive dry from about 75 degrees down to freezing.

If I'm diving off of a So Cal dive boat, I'm diving dry, unless I'm diving for lobsters, in which case I might dive wet. If I'm diving wet, I'll usually end up sitting out one dive because of the cold.

You already have the drysuit cert, just rent a drysuit and be done with it instead of buying a semi-wet suit. Or keep an eye out for a used drysuit on craigslist or fleabay.

Spectre and Peace both have hot tubs to warm you up if you decide to dive wet.

And if I remember correctly from a friend of mine, some of the thermoclines at the Galapagos were below 60 degrees.