Cold Water Dives

[m3830431]

I dive that all summer with a 6.5 farmer jon and 3mm hood, 5mm gloves and 5mm boots.

 

[Firediver32]

I used to wait till it was warm enough for my 3 mil (upstate NY, great lakes) once that week was over, I'd wait until next season. Now I have a whites aqua pro dry suit, and the pool's open all year....

Depending on your size, I do have a 7mm full wet suit that may be available

 

[cummings66]

I dive a Viking Sport drysuit and 200 gr thermal undergarment for any temps under 50. Above those temps I can use less undergarment, and I can also dive a 7mm wetsuit down to about 42 degrees. The thing that makes a difference is the surface temps, too cold and it's not fun with the wind in the face sort of thing.

 

[jenkkij]

I have used a Mares evolution 7(full)+5(shorty with hood) for over one year up here in Finland. No ice diving, but early spring and late summer. Coldest dives have been around 40f. Sometimes I felt like my face was frozen, made worse by the fact that the rest of me was quite warm. Not to bad fro a wet suit. Never once felt too cold. Only one complaint, it can be tricky getting the shorty off after the dive.

That said, I would recommend that if your are going to dive a lot of cold water go for the drysuit. Remember the more neoprene you have on, the less mobility you have and the more weight you carry.

 

[kiwiman]

A few weeks ago I was in a lake 38f. With 7 mil farmer john and jacket, 2 mil shorty, 6 mil boots. All of that was fine. But the mistake was, rental hood and gloves. Fingers burn and head went numb. Makes buoyancy a big pain.