diving in guam-need advice

[leanne20]

I will be getting my certification here soon for my trip to Guam in March. I'm having a problem picking out a wetsuit because I'm getting different stories. The dive shop here in Iowa recommends a full wetsuit 3/2mm for protection. I emailed an instructor in Guam and he recommended a shorty 2mm or 3mm. I'm just wondering if the full is too much? My friend over there does not wear a wetsuit at all. I'll be taking the class here in Iowa and then do the open water dives in Guam to finish my certification. I do want to be comfortable in the pool also for the class here. Not sure what to do.
Also, is the half foot fin more versatile? I'm getting diffent stories for that too. Guy here says half foot fin and guy over there says full foot fin for diving off boats. What are your recommendations?

 

[webjr]

There are 2 aspects to consider when buying a wetsuit .
1 Thermal protection .
Everyones different there . My wife can be cold in a 3m when I'm perfectly warm in shorts and a tshirt . How easily do you get cold ? Be conservative here . Getting cold during a dive really spoils a good dive .
2 Coverage . (protection from scratchs and stinging critters)
In salt water I like full coverage . If you're in real warm water and don't easily chill , you might consider either a microprene (1.5m) or just a dive skin .

 

[DandyDon]

I hate shorty suits - never wear them. As a newbie, you will be even more likely to scratch your leg or arm on the boarding ladder, and some very bad salt water bacteria can enter. That can get very bad in some cases, with fatalities every year. I just do not understand why people suggesting shorties, or why they exist.

Okay, some divers don't wear any protection on the arms and legs diving. Fine for them, not for me. If you get a scratch, treat it well with alcohol and antibiotic ointment. If it gets worse, you need to get to a physician knowledgeable in salt water infections that morning. (I treated and lectured a diver on Key Largo boat like this last month, only to learn that he was a physician - who did not now about this.)

I like to wear a long skin jumpsuit even in the warmest water, and under my 3 mil if I wear it, as it makes it go one easier. I'd suggest those two suits.

Fins with adjustable bindings would be my suggestion for boat diving, as you will be taught to remove the fins and hang them on your arm while on the drift line waiting your turn to board. If you have full-foots, you have to remove them at the ladder, and if it's bouncing in the waves, you are more likely to be injured. You wear these with booties, and you can buy low cut ones for warm water.

Hope this helps. And welcome to SB. Why not go to Introductions & Greetings and post one for yourself so we can welcome you appropriately. Click the Greet A New Member link below...

 

[Damselfish]

It's true strap fins are more versatile - you can't use full foot fins if you were to dive at home or anywhere cold, but you can use the strap fins for cold or warm. They probably are suggesting strap fins at home because in local diving you would be wearing booties and can't use full foot fins. Of course just in a pool they would be fine. Full foot fins are used in tropical places where people are doing mostly boat diving, as they don't need booties and it's one less thing to mess with.

Strap fins have a couple advantages over full foot fins in warm water. As Don says they can be easier to hang onto if you need to take them off or carry them. And if you ever go shore diving you will probably appreciate having booties to protect your feet while getting to the water. You can get thin tropical booties and not use heavy cold water ones, just make sure the fins fit with them.

I also prefer full suits, good to have the coverage against sun, bumps, and stingy things. I've never worn more than a lycra skin or 1mm in the tropics, but as mentioned this is a very personal thing.

 

[Davetul]

Congrats (early I know) on your cert. You'll have a blast here in Guam diving. Note my limited experiences, but I think this is one of the best places to dive you can go to. The water's always warm (80-85F), and except for the occasional typhoon, it's always relatively calm.

I have yet to wear anything here but a t-shirt and swimsuit, with booties and I carry gloves in my BC pocket in case I want to touch something that gives me the heeby-jeebys. I would recommend a pair of felt bottomed boots though, as the coral will tear up the rubber bottoms of the other ones. If you want to wear a wetsuit, I'd recommend the thinnest you can find up there, and full or shorty depends on what you like to wear, as it's not really necessary unless you plan on going down a couple hundred feet. I think the coldest water I've seen here was 78F, and that was at 100'.

For fins, also your choice. I use half foot, while someone else I know uses full foot. I think it's all a matter or your comfort. If you're going to be doing shore dives, however, I'd definitely say get the booties (with felt bottoms) and half foot fins.

On a side note, I'd recommend getting your open water dives in before you get here if it's possible, so you can fully enjoy your diving time here without having to do the skills portions underwater. There's a lot to see and do, and never enough bottom time to do it.

-Dave

 

[Iruka]

Hi Leanne...I just replied to your "introduction" a few minutes ago, and then came upon this question from you. Water temp here is in the mid to upper 80's most of the time. Being a brand new diver, you don't HAVE to buy all your gear right away...if you are here for a short time, it might be cheapest/easiest to just rent an appropriate wetsuit (I never wear one...if you decide to use one here, I'd recommend 3mm or less. Most Asian tourists wear wetsuits, a lot of the military & local people don't. Bouyancy control is much easier with as little wetsuit as possible. If you plan on doing a lot of diving in the midwest, you'll need a thick wetsuit, but you really don't here.

As for fins, the full foot ones are okay for boat diving, but not very good for beach diving (and there are some nice beaches to dive.) I'd say 90% or more of the people I see use the "half foot" fins for boat dives. Most of the beaches require a walk of 50~80 yards over old coral, occasional sea urchins etc....so you absolutely will need boots (unless you forget your boots like I do once in a while....wear sandals out until the water's deep enough to put on your fins, then tuck the sandals in your BCD pocket, ha ha.) Once you're certified, you can do (easy) beach dives very cheaply...just rent gear & a tank....a good way to brush up your skills for a low price.

 

[yakivet]

As a female, you'll probably want a thin, full suit, or maybe a skin. I know my wife gets chilled when the water is 85 F. and I'm warm wearing a swimming suit and T shirt. Remember, a dive shop in Iowa, in December, when its 30 degrees F, is in the business of selling gear. There probably isn't a whole lot of local diving going on to support their business. My advice, either buy a skin (around $40.00) or rent a suit there. Save your $$$$ till you're certified, expienced more diving, and know what you want.

 

[IslandHopper]

Different strokes for different folks.

Majority of the divers here don't wear anything other than swimsuit and t-shirts. (jellyfish stings are not a concern here).
Personally, I wear a full 3mil and occasionally a hood... but I HATE getting chillled.

Both of the major dive shops here rent wetsuits, so that's always an option.

If you plan on doing any shore-diving while you're here, then definitely go with open-heel fins that fit over booties. The walk out to the deep water is on hard/sharp reef and rock. If you have full-foot fins you'd have to walk out barefoot or carry your shoes with you while diving (fins can be rented as well ... both varieties)

 

[DORSETBOY]

I hate shorty suits - never wear them. As a newbie, you will be even more likely to scratch your leg or arm on the boarding ladder, and some very bad salt water bacteria can enter. That can get very bad in some cases, with fatalities every year. I just do not understand why people suggesting shorties, or why they exist.

Okay, some divers don't wear any protection on the arms and legs diving. Fine for them, not for me. If you get a scratch, treat it well with alcohol and antibiotic ointment. If it gets worse, you need to get to a physician knowledgeable in salt water infections that morning. (I treated and lectured a diver on Key Largo boat like this last month, only to learn that he was a physician - who did not now about this.)

I like to wear a long skin jumpsuit even in the warmest water, and under my 3 mil if I wear it, as it makes it go one easier. I'd suggest those two suits.

dude, you must be joking - where on earth have you come up with fatalities from salt water bacteria, were these people diving in a sewage pipe?!

Having taught for a year diving a min of 4 times a day in the sea and gotten numerous minor cuts and scrapes I have never gotten ill nor never known any one who has from this.

 

[DandyDon]

dude, you must be joking - where on earth have you come up with fatalities from salt water bacteria, were these people diving in a sewage pipe?!

Having taught for a year diving a min of 4 times a day in the sea and gotten numerous minor cuts and scrapes I have never gotten ill nor never known any one who has from this.

I've wondered why Instructors didn't warn new divers about this, and against wearing shorty suits? I guess the agencies are not including it in their programs.

It's not common, but happens. We lose a few Texans to Vibrio bacteria ever year - most from ingesting infected oysters, but some from infected injuries that get worse, and by the time the injured seeks medical help, it's too often amputation time. One Texas dentist lost two legs this year, and still died. And there are other salt water bacterias, as described in a DAN magazine a few months ago.

An old cowboy treatment for a wound on dry land is to add salt to the wound, but that's dealing with other than saltwater bacteria. I think these are more likely in warm waters - exactly where one is more likely to wear a shorty or no protection.

Such are rare, true, but they happen. Why wear a shorty when a light weight long jumpsuit is just as comfortable, but more protecting from injuries as well as sun. If I want to catch some sun, surface intervals provide plenty of opportunity. If I wear low cut booties, I still wear long, nylon socks, as the ankle is vulnerable to injury walking on the boat.

Here's one DAN article: Necrotizing Fasciitis; A DAN Member's Brush With the Rare Flesh-Eating Disease Ends Well http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=67

Another: http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=10

Ear infections are more common, of course, as are sting & puncture injuries. At my age, I guess I'm learning to be more careful, having survived this long.