Cold Weather Diving

[Daner]

I plan on diving this week in Lake Simcoe. This will be my first cold weather dive. The water temperature wont be the issue but the cold air after the dive will. I will be diving wet and the forecast is calling for temperatures just below freezing. Are there any tricks any of you can share for not freezing to death once I get out of the water and attempt to get my gear off?

 

[jiveturkey]

You're going to be cold in the water if you're diving wet. I guarantee it.

Bring a big *** thermos of hot water. You can make some tea during your SI and then you can pour hot water into your suit before you get back in. It will be cold putting that suit back on. I don't envy you.

Still though, have fun.

 

[Daner]

I will only be doing 1 dive. I can put on a warm, dry wetsuit in the heated confines of my van and I will be pouring some nice warm water in my wetsuite. Its the getting out of the water and getting into dry clothes that will be the tricky part!

 

[Ber Rabbit]

I have a quick-up hunting blind that is big enough to change in and you can put a Coleman tent heater in it before your dive to make it nice and toasty. That's what I bring for my students if I don't have my big tent. I have the ProCat catalytic heater and it works great but for a small area I usually use my BlackCat.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[speedhound]

I use a big wooly hat/beanie when I come out of the water as that's where a lot of body heat is lost, and then put on a dry fleece sweater while I'm getting the rest of gear off and assembled.
The last time I was cold between and after wet dives I used warm water - not hot - in my wetsuit. If the water is too hot then you can get burnt and not immediately realise, and possible increase the risk of further dropping your core body temperature. As soon as hot water hits your skin, more (warm) blood flows to the surface removing it from the core where it's more useful. Hypothermia may be a long way off, but being cold is still unpleasant....

A warm drink soon after diving helps too - hot chocolate is my drink of choice!

Of course, it's amazing how quickly you can get your gear off, and packed when you're freezing your extremities. I don't hang around too long!

 

[Britanicdiver]

The water is not that cold, once you get in you will be fine. If its windy the wind will chill you down, so undress fast and jump in the car.

Britanicdiver

 

[electric_diver]

Britannic has it right.

The key to winter diving is learning to change fast. Both getting in and getting out.

 

[Michael_Lambert]

Drap a Tarp over your rear seats in the van.. Get out drop your gear close to the van and jump in crank up the heat!!!!! Get changed into the dry cloths where you are warm then jump out and disaemble your gear

For me we have a CRV so the wife would be with us.. So she see's me comming she jumps in and warms it up.. i just jump into the back on the tarp and wait a few till i warm up then get changed...

Michael

 

[artw]

thats easier than it sounds, by the time you get out to dissasemble your gear it is usually a solid block of ice.

 

[electric_diver]

thats easier than it sounds, by the time you get out to dissasemble your gear it is usually a solid block of ice.

So? Better your gear than you.
Just put the whole thing in your trunk on a tarp and thaw it out when you get home.