Cold water diving - we LOVE it!

[Simpel]

Today´s Dive
Baltic Sea 82min 4°C

 

[MB NZ]

I learnt to dive in warm water and stayed in warm water for about 200 dives. After that, it was cold water, generally low visibility drysuit diving. I found it a challenge at first and was pleased with myself that I could manage in those conditions and with the extra gear required. Did about 200 dives in cold water. It certainly made me a better diver. Now I live in an area with temperate seas (14-21 degrees C). I prefer warm water diving, can tolerate the temperate stuff, but can't see myself ever doing proper cold water diving again.

 

[grantmac]

So long as the vis is good and the currents are manageable I'll enjoy either one.

That said cold is just harder and will absolutely make you a better diver.

 

[TMHeimer]

I dive only in cold water now (mostly Nova Scotia, some in NY/CT over summer). We used to snowbird for years but that's too costly now. I don't mind the cold water but have cut out my wetsuit winter single dives per day at age 70. I do prefer the warm water locales mainly because I'm a life-long shell collector and they are of course more varied and attractive than our local shells.

 

[USdiver1]

I dive only in cold water now (mostly Nova Scotia, some in NY/CT over summer). I'm a life-long shell collector and they are of course more varied and attractive than our local shells.

Unless, of course, those local shells are stuffed with lobster.

 

[grf88]

The majority of my diving is cold water in the Great Lakes, Newfoundland and BC but I also enjoy the occasional warm water trip. I had a really great diving trip to Greenland and Labrador.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I don't know if I could handle warm water diving, I might freak out! I'm not a hot weather high humidity fan.
I don't like feeling like I can't cool off, I feel choked out. Hotter than a Las Vegas sidewalk topside only to jump into an ocean as warm as a hot tub, I don't know man, sounds sketchy

 

[Rilelen]

I prefer warm water, because I get cold easily, even in a drysuit. That said, I dive our “cooler” (72 deg) Florida springs and caves 3-4x/week because that’s where I live and what we have!

 

[Litefoot]

I thought you weren't a "real" diver unless you dive dry. I've never dived in water colder than mid 50's, but I was comfortable. To get colder, I would have to dive past the 40' thermocline. But it's dark and there's nothing really to see (freshwater reservoir). So I honestly I don't know. I want to get to NoCal or the PNW to find out.

 

[Dan]

I voted for happily diving in both warm & cold water. However, the coldest temperature I have dove is 15C (59F) with 7mm in Channel Islands, Galapagos & Isla Guadalupe.

I would like to try ice diving with drysuit someday.

Here’s a fun dive in Galapagos with Marine Iguana at 17C (62F) with 7mm wetsuit.