Diving in Okinawa in March

[drk5036]

im thinking about going diving in Okinawa in March, and it looks like the ocean temp will likely be around 23c or 73f. Currently, I usually wear a Mako dive skin which has 1 mm neoprene panels on the front and back under a 3 mm Henderson pro back zip wetsuit. I’ve almost just purchased a Henderson aqualock hooded vest, 3 mm with 5 mm hood. I also have 5 mm boots and some gloves (relatively thin I guess?). Does this seem like it’ll be adequate exposure protection? I know everyone is different but I’m wondering if I’m in the ballpark here. 7 mm in the core, 3 mm arms and legs and 5 mm head and feet?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[buddhasummer]

Doubt it'll be 23 at depth, that sounds more like a surface temperature, I'd say more like 20-21. I live up north in Shizuoka, our water temps in March are around 13.

Depends I guess if you feel the cold or not. In those temps (20-21) I'm in a two piece 7mm farmer John and about 1 degree away from getting in my drysuit.

Good luck, the diving in Okinawa can be spectacular.

Contact @busybugs (Adam) he's a good friend of mine and an Okinawian local diver.

 

[ShlamielVik]

i'm also diving Okinawa at the beginning of April(checkout dives), and i feel the cold quite a bit. Our guide is supplying 5mm wetsuits, i'm wondering if thats enough.

 

[toris1968]

I lived in Okinawa for 3.5 years, just left last June, and only ever wore a 3mm wetsuit with thin gloves during the winter. You’ll need felt bottom boots if you are doing any shore diving, if diving from a boat any boots should be fine. I am a bit of a warm natured type person, but my wife didn’t wear any more than I did and she is definitely not like me. The Japanese are a bit cold natured and they wear over exposure even during the summer when I’m in trunks and a t shirt they are in 5mms.