Diving Hawai'i - wetsuit choices

[DiveMaven]

Yeah, I won't dive in less than a 5mm full anymore in Hawaii. Might have started with a 3mm shorty years ago, but have definitely decided I like being warm, so it's a 5mm full for me!

 

[Charlie99]

Another vote here for the 4/3 full instead of the 3mm shorty.

I normally use a 3/2 plus a beanie until mid-January, and then switch over to a 5mm for the cold month of February.

3mm shortie works well for newbie vacation-only divers that thrash around excitely and have short dives. If you aren't swimming very hard, then you don't generate as much heat and more wetsuit is needed.

 

[crab lover]

I am a bigger girl and in the summer, if I wear anything more than my 2mm shorty I overheat, and I don't thrash around like a dying fish on the shore... not anymore anyway. I have my own insulation and don't need much more than that normally. Night dives on the other hand, I drag out my 3mm full and while everyone else is shivering, I am nice and cozy! Sometimes it pays to have a little extra blubber!

 

[Daiika]

Nov. I dove with a 3mm full and was comfortable on 2 dives a day.- no hood. If it is overcast and cold (air temp. below80F) then maybe a hood and rash guard too. I don't like to bring a 5mm traveling.

 

[mofongo_max]

Resurrecting this thread... topic title is clear, advice is good.

Diving Oahu and Kona area beginning of July. Probably two manta night dives in Kona! Can't wait!

Since I'm usually fine with my 8/7/6/5 in Monterey, 3mm full in the summer in Hawai'i should be plenty.

 

[mofongo_max]

Duplicate post :|

 

[Black_3000psi]

lol i remember when a 3mm or no suit at all was fine all day long, four dives. now its like i live in my 5mm or my 5 4 3 actually the later dont fit no more (at the moment) but even with the extra um insolation ? i still like my 5mm.

 

[DiveMaven]

It was fun to read through the thread and watch my own progression from a 3mm shorty to a 5mm full.....and now I'd say that the only time I'd wear a 5mm is in full summer, with a 7mm being the choice for the rest of the year.

We dive at least 2 tanks daily while on Maui and with the water being 75 degrees in December, even the 7mm can get a bit chilly by the 10th dive day. However, my husband now dives in a 5mm Merino lined full suit, and he's perfectly fine. Guess I tend to be chilly...

 

[Michael Folise]

we usually dive Maui in July/ August . A 0.5 mm full suit works well for us. Water temp. is usually 80° F. If my daughter gets cold she puts on gloves and that is enough,

 

[Downing]

I'm taking both my 2mm shorty and my 3mm full suit for a 10 day stay on Oahu starting in late July (two weeks one day and just over nine hours till takeoff but who's counting). Will dive two to four tanks a day most days, including a night dive or two.

I'm pretty warm blooded, so I'm hoping the shorty will do. If not, then the 3mm will be pressed into service and will just have to be enough or else...or else...or else I'll just have to shiver 'cause I'm not getting out till 500 psi no matter what. :blinking: