cold blooded diver- what wetsuit addition?

[opalobsidian]

Hey everybody!

I just got back from diving Grand Turk in water temps averaging 83 F, wearing about 6mm of protection, and still get chilly at the end of the second dive! I took a lot of poop for wearing so much (a 1mm skin under a 5mm suit) but a gal's gotta do what a gal's gotta do! It was so helpful to my trim and air consumption not to be constantly fighting with my body's wanting to curl up in a ball and shiver!

It was so nice to be warm and now I am spoiled and want to be warm all the time.

My question is, for locations with water cooler than the 80's, do you think I should invest in a 7mm, or just get some sort of something to put on top of my other 6mm of layers?

My 5mm is already so tight (short in the crotch) that I dare not try and fit something else underneath.

Thanks so much for your non-judgemental advice!
Pamela

 

[pupdiver]

Wow! In 83 degree water I would be wearing a skin. I guess from your location in your profile we should know that you are a warm weather person!

Were you wearing a hood? A lot of people think that if they feel cold in their bodies a hood won't help, but a lot of heat escapes through your head and it makes an amazing difference. That would certainly be a first addition.

A hooded vest would give you another layer on your torso, but also more buoyancy.

After that, you are probably in dry suit territory.

 

[PerroneFord]

Get a drysuit. Seriously.

 

[zach5150]

I'm thinking about getting this semi-dry suit....should work better than a 7mil wet, but not as warm as a dry suit....but also without the cost and complexity of a dry suit either. I was looking at these at my LDS and was very impressed w/ the design and build quality.
Good luck whatever you decide! My Girlfriend is not so fond of cold water either. I'm think we both may end up w/ one of these semidry suits...

http://www.waterproof-gear.com/taurus.asp

 

[PerroneFord]

Get a drysuit. Trilam. It's as hot or as cool as you want it to be.

 

[opalobsidian]

Thanks so much for the info!

And now, a little more interrogation regarding the semi-dry suit....

$$$?

Urine flow-ablility?

Is this the same sort of wetsuit being complained about in another current post?

Thanks again!
Pamela

 

[PerroneFord]

A semi-dry suit is a wetsuit, with seals at the wrists and ankles. That's all.

 

[spectrum]

opalobsidian, Pamela,

I'd suggest going dry. A semi-dry will give you an edge but the cost can be on par with an entry level drysuit.

A trilaminate or even a crushed neoprene drysuit will let you adjust the insulation through a wide range of conditions.

A semi-dry being just that will not allow you to wear a "diaper" for the relief issue nor will it allow nature to do the flushing.

If need be finding a used drysuit or rental to try is far more likely.

Pete

 

[Paco]

my vote is for the hooded vest

 

[crlavoie]

A wise instructor once said to me, "semi-dry suits are semi-great".

Your profile says you are a vacation diver. If that's the case and you're not doing 100+ dives a year, Bare has an entry level bi-lam for about $650-700 WITH and undergarment. Most shops will let you upgrade to the 200 or even the Polar Extreme undergarment for the difference which is about $50.

Honestly, if you're that cold in 83 degree water, I wouldn't consider anything less. By contrast, I dove 82-83 degrees this past summer in a 2 mil shortie and found it to be more than adequate. I have very little body fat so I'm generally cold well before the other 3 guys I dive with.

Damn! 6mm in 83 degrees? Are you sure you weren't overheating and it triggered some sort of natural cooling response?