diving the keys

[OLE]

Does anyone dive drysuits in the keys? Going down in March to dive the S-G, Duane, Eagle. What is the water temp at 100'+

 

[WreckWriter]

Average would be around 70-72 at depth during that time. Will start warming up soon after.

WW

 

[shellbird]

you need another W in your name...

 

[OLE]

WreckWriter,

Thanks for the reply...I live in NH and I dive year round...don't know if it's worth bring the drysuit with me. Time to get away and relax, though I want to be comfortable.

I've been to Aruba twice and both times only needed swim trunks. But the water temp at depth is 82 constant.

Thanks,

Ole

 

[Roland_C]

If you are cold natured bring a 3 - 5 m wet suit here the 5am bouy report 2-2-03.

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.phtml?station=MLRF1

 

[Bob3]

If you're from New Hampshire, you'll get along just fine in a 3mm jumpsuit, tho you may want to add a hood to that if you're making a lot of multiple dives.
I'm good for 6 - 8 hrs in shallow water during March (end of bug season)

 

[ScoobieDooo]

Hi,
I was just down there (I'm from NY- cold fresh water diver) in Jan 2003 and dove off the Keys. Water temp was 73 degs, air temps were about 74-76 with about a 10-15 mph wind. We wore 3mm jumpsuits and I was warm in the water, however, in between dives I was chilled enough while on the boat to shiver quite a bit. I am fairly lean build, so I get chilled easily. 1 person on the charter had a drysuit and wore it. As soon as I got back to NY, I ordered my BARE ATR Light Tri-Lam drysuit from a Canadian shop. GREAT PRICE!

I have always dove a 6.5mm 2-pc wetsuit up here and it worked well enough - however, kepping warm in between dives can be a VERY real concern. I certainly do not feel that a drysuit is overkill for even warm water temps now. My drysuit will be with me on all future dives, here or in Florida!

Good luck - you'll love the Keys...I did. We'll be moving down in 2 yrs when I am done with college.

 

[seaangel]

I have found that there are a couple of pieces of outerwear that will help. 1)Chamois has great jackets, shirts, shorts and long pants for men and women. They are made for divers, wick dry quickly and are very warm. They are made large enough to pull on over a wetsuit. Great stuff. They can be found online thru
www.chamois.com.
2) I purchased a coat from my LDS called a "warmwind". This is an awesome coat. I love mine. I always take it to the Bahamas on my liveaboard as you never know how that wind will be doing.

 

[ScoobieDooo]

Thanks,
I saw the PADI Bio-Tech Parka's on that trip and they looked pretty nice. Think I'll pick one of them up for cool conditions, along with the new drysuit. I'm trying to determine if a drysuit is 'overkill' on conditions such as 73 deg water temps - but my LDS says that they take their drysuits with them on most all tropical trips as well.

 

[lucid]

I have been diving dry for the last couple of months. My computer shows a temperature of 70 at 130' on my last dive. That was yesterday in Key Largo.