Cold water options for a new diver...

[NEWreckDiver]

Maybe you should consider a dry suit. You will be warm before, during and after without having to dump hot water down your suit. You could even change between dives and suit back up without having to put on a wet and cold suit.

Good luck in whatever choice you make.

 

[capelli]

i dive in north east texas year around .all i wear is a 7 mil semi dri with a hood and vest and 5 mil gloves

 

[PolsVoice]

We were out at Clear Springs last weekend (Feb 1) and the water temp was right at 50F. Wore a 7mm Hyperstretch, a 5/3 Hooded vest, and gloves. Was quite comfortable for over 90 minutes in the water.

Plan on going again in a couple of weeks, it will probably be a tad warmer (51? )

if it's ok with you, I might rent a thick john/overshorty combo and join you. Did my OW checkout at CSSP and loved it.

PM me if you have anything more definite in mind...

- PolsVoice

 

[PolsVoice]

Maybe you should consider a dry suit. You will be warm before, during and after without having to dump hot water down your suit.

I would love to use a dry suit, however, I am a student and it is prohibitively expensive right now.

but someday...

- PV

 

[H2Andy]

ditto, except for the student part

 

[justin-branam]

I would love to use a dry suit, however, I am a student and it is prohibitively expensive right now.
- PV

Have you checked out the BARE nex-gen?? i love mine, paid $515 (close to what you would pay for a henderson semi-dry). you should really think about it if you want to dive more.

 

[Groundhog246]

I guess temps are a relative thing. Around here 68F is very warm. From the mid 50's to about 70F I dive with a Bare Extreme. They call it a semi-dry, but that just means it's wet. It's a one piece suit and I think it's almost as warm alone (with hood and gloves) as my 6.5 john/jacket combo was and a lot more freedom of movement. Once the temps drop below the mid 50's, I add a hooded sleeveless jacket. About the 70 range I switch out to a 3/2 one Mares one piece suit. As previously mentioned getting dried off (out of the suit) between dives is key to being warm on your second dive. When top side temps are cool, I slip on a fleece hood (or hooded sweat) and fleece gloves. I also have very warm (leaves home as hot) water along and can pour over the suit and in the boots and gloves before putting it on for the second dive.

 

[DORSETBOY]

I've only had my cert. for <6 mos. and intend to jump into the water as soon as it gets warm again (>68F). What options are there to get more dive experience when the weather is so cold? I can't afford a dry suit (or the classes) and I think the water in NE texas is probably too cold for even the thickest wetsuit.

any help is welcome,

Thanx,

- PolsVoice

Dont know the farenheight equiv but here in scotland we dive in semi dry 2 pieces in water temps as low as 4 deg c.

 

[PolsVoice]

Have you checked out the BARE nex-gen?? i love mine, paid $515 (close to what you would pay for a henderson semi-dry). you should really think about it if you want to dive more.

Ok, I acknowledge that training is ALWAYS good, but from a legal standpoint, do you have to have a drysuit cert. in order to use a drysuit? or can your training be much more informal (i.e. local friend, divemaster, and fellow dry suitor)?

TIA,

- PolsVoice

 

[SubMariner]

Ok, I acknowledge that training is ALWAYS good, but from a legal standpoint, do you have to have a drysuit cert. in order to use a drysuit? or can your training be much more informal (i.e. local friend, divemaster, and fellow dry suitor)?

The short answer: if you are going to get into drysuit diving, take the course from an Instructor acredited in the Specialty.

You need to learn the right way to dive dry, just not the way someone learned by trial & error. Especially since it can be more dangerous than simply "adjusting your learning curve"!