Cover yo' head!...

[Sue Sue]

Did you read your own source. here is the last part

Even though head heat loss is less than one-third to one-fifth of total heat loss, that is a good amount considering that your head is only about 7-9% of your body total surface area. (But, some people have bigger heads than others in proportion to their stature.) To reduce heat loss, wear a hat.

So Sharky is right about getting a Cap instead of upgrading your wet suit. your head loses a much larger percentage of heat per area then the rest of your body. So it would make much more sense to try a cap as apposed to getting a new suit.

Ah, and this is why the babies have little caps on...Their heads are the largest part of their body resulting in inefficient body heat regulation. Same principle applies to divers especially when their core temp is off norm. Sue

 

[driftin' by]

By the way Josh.....how was Bonaire? Been looking for a review as we are contemplating there, Roatan or Belize instead of GC in November.

Yeah, really huh?!?! I should be working on it instead of these posts. It was great but I have a lot to say about it and how it compares to Coz but I cannot give any perspective when it comes to Roatan, Belize or GC since I haven't been. But if it was down to Coz or Bon, Coz works best for us while we travel with our 3-year old daughter.... better balance of diving and family time. But when she's older and a diver... Bon will be hard to beat with the "buffet style" of diving and phenomenal shallow profiles.

Sorry for the hijack. Keep an eye our for that report over in the ABC forum.

 

[judydivescoz]

My husband dove the first few years we went to Cozumel in just his bathing suit. He felt comfortable. By the end of the week, he ended up being stung or bit by seal lice jelly's and whatever else microscopic that bites. He got stung on his face hands, chest and legs. It was ugly and painful!! I am thankful (so is he)that he now wears at least a skin if not a .5 mil full suit.

 

[PARADISE HUNTER]

Negative, that's a myth and false. Source Also, you should never need a hood in COZ. A 2-3 mil shorty is optional but recommended on 3 tank dives. I dove 15 dives in 1 week wearing swim trunks. This was in September.
*sigh* If it becomes cool to wear "du-rags" while diving I'll have to quit!

This is just bad advice. Anyone who is considering going to Coz for the first time and reading this, ignore it. There are so many factors that go into what makes you warm underwater, to paint with such a broad brush is ignorant. Many of the folks that have posted ahead of me have been diving Coz for a LONG time and they all are wearing wetsuits and some form of head protection. It's very simple. If you are cold, wear more clothing, or rubber as the case may be.

How much body fat do you have? How long are your dives? How many dives, in how many days? What climate are you used to diving in?

I have yet to see a DM in Coz dive without a wetsuit. Most have a 5mil or better and a hood of some sort.

Sharky, Raul still doubles up on his wetsuit and uses a hood.in the fall and winter months.

It's easy to cool off underwater and very hard to get warmer. Put on the wetsuit you need and don't think twice about it.

PH

 

[OSUcowboyinSPFD]

My husband dove the first few years we went to Cozumel in just his bathing suit. He felt comfortable. By the end of the week, he ended up being stung or bit by seal lice jelly's and whatever else microscopic that bites. He got stung on his face hands, chest and legs. It was ugly and painful!! I am thankful (so is he)that he now wears at least a skin if not a .5 mil full suit.

Judy, thanks for pointing out that the wetsuit is part of the protection for the diver and for comfort. I always wear a 3mm full suit and most often a hooded vest. I am a bit larger (6'2 240), but I do not like being cold. More importantly, I don't like being stung by jellyfish or other things. For me, it is more about the protection to my body as much as the warmth. Also, I think I look really cool in neoprene.

 

[ronski101]

Better to be a bit too warm than a bit too cold. You can always unzip your wetsuit a bit or leak some water into a hood to cool off if you get too hot. It is easier to get cold in Coz with the drift diving because the current is pushing you along so on many dives you don't have to swim much at all. We always seem to have longer bottom times in Coz compared to other Carib destinations because of the current.
I always use a wetsuit but bring along extra stuff like hooded vest, dorag, and skin, so I can match the situation I will be in for that particular week.