Cold Weather Gear for Lake Michigan

[busther]

Texas Swamp Diver Here,
Thanks for the info, keep it coming! I will be diving Lake Michigan/Chicago at the end of June, any recommendations on cold weather gear. I dive a DUI Trilam with a 200gram Thinsulite jumpsuit. My coldest dive was right at 50, not too bad, but it looks like the lake profile is going to take us into the low 40’s real quick…
Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Busther

 

[bladephotog]

Well, I don't know about Lake Michigan, but I dove Lake Huron yesterday and the temp was 41 at about 90 feet. Thermocline was at about 25-30 feet. I wore a Weezle Extreme Plus under my Bare trilam suit and was comfortable. I think a 200 gram suit might be a bit thin for me but maybe you're tougher than me.

 

[SwimJim]

You'll be diving in the mid forties at the coldest. What you have now should be adequate. I use a Unisuit which is neoprene and just wear sweat pants and a t - shirt underneath. That takes me down to the mid thirties in April. The Dui has a good rep. You can always throw a sweat shirt on if you think you need a little more. After all, it is a dry suit.

Jim

 

[MgicTwnger]

Thermal undies like polartec or thinsulate would me nice too.

 

[drl]

I was in Lake Michigan off Chicago (diving the Straits of Mackinac) on Sunday. The temp at depth was 42-45 (depending on whose computer you believe) and the thermocline was around 30 feet. The weather topside has been hot but is expected to cool off sharply (only 60s at the lakefront) for the next week or so, so I don't know how much additional warming can be expected.
Exposure protection is a highly individual thing, since cold sensitivity varies, but you might want to consider polypro long johns under your fleece, and make sure you have adequate gloves. Reduced dexterity due to overly cold hands is not only uncomfortable, but potentially dangerous.
Just my 2 cents, since I was there 2 days ago.

Deborah

 

[jcm996]

Last week Saturday, the temp at 50 was 42. We are 3 hours north of Chicago by car. So I would suggest you plan for 40 and add just a T-shirt or sweatshirt more than you think. It gets hot suiting up, but once your down you'll be glad. I was so hot suiting up (I don't have a jumpsuit) that I only wore a t-shirt and a light sweatshirt under my crushed neo and was getting cold after 25 min. I did have an extra sweatshirt with me, but didn't put it on. Will from now on.

 

[MgicTwnger]

I was in Lake Michigan off Chicago (diving the Straits of Mackinac) on Sunday. The temp at depth was 42-45 (depending on whose computer you believe) and the thermocline was around 30 feet.
Deborah

I dove the Straits on Saturday and had almost unbelievable viz. How was it Sunday?

 

[netmage]

Last season a trilam w/ 200 wt was fine for me. This season I'm in 400wt and I get chilled after 40 mins in Lake Michigan or any quarry for that matter - below the thermocline.... I just don't have any of the 'natural insulation' anymore....

 

[diverbrian]

If you are planning to add a sweatshirt or other type of material to your 200 gr. of insulation, you may want to consider the added buoyancy that this will add. "Airy" materials like those used in sweatshirts will add more buoyancy than you might think.

Also, make sure to that the material won't fluff and plug up your vent valve. I actually saw an experienced drysuit diver try a winter coat on as extra insulation and he wound up having to flood his drysuit to prevent from turning into a polaris missile.

Oh, and Netmage?, welcome to the rest of the world. I normally chill with two sets of undies in Lake Huron or deep quarries after so long. Breathing mix does not improve that either, LOL.

 

[Juls64]

I used my old military issue wool long johns. They were warm, dried nice when I had a minor leak, and I didn't have that airy bouyancy problem.

Just another idea.

Julie