Do you use a wetsuit in CZML?

[camkole]

Hi

I'll be diving in mexico next month and have never been there before.
When I did my OW checkout dives we were diving in water that was 70 degrees and I was shivering because I was so cold.
I was wearing a 5mm full suit boots, gloves etc...
i'm 5'7" and 120 lbs.

My questions are:

"What kind of suit do you dive in or do you even dive with a suit at all? "
"If you are the same size as me do you use a suit?"

*I know that it's preference I just want to see what everyone else is doing*​

 

[Ron Lee]

What I do is not relevant. Water temp will be roughly 78-80 degrees F. You probably want a minimum three mil wetsuit and head protection.

Actually it sounds like you may be OK with a five mil wetsuit if the water temp is about eight degrees warmer.

 

[Queen Triggerfish]

I would be totally freezing if I was wearing a 5 ml in 70 degrees, so don't blame you! I get cold easily (I have about 20 lbs on you though). I am going later this week (yay!) and will bring a 3 ml and a 5 ml. I bet I will wear the 3 ml for a day or two and then switch to the 5 ml. I bet most people would be more than happy in a 3 ml this time of year.

And yes, like you said, it is a preference but that's what I do.

(Ron's idea of head protection is a great one. That does help people significantly. I have never adjusted to that feeling of head protection, so go with a thicker wetsuit.)

 

[cicopo]

No I don't, but I'm in the minority. Most will wear at least a 3 mil full suit, some wear a hood too. There are lots of previous threads on the topic. Some like the water temp but get cold on the boat after their dive so take that into consideration too.

 

[gopbroek]

I always use a 3MM, summer or winter. Last winter I started getting a little cold since my old suit is pretty crushed out so I now have a new 'winter' 3MM. Last week the temps I recorded were around 81F (reported temps vary by computer) and I was still confortable with the old suit but in about 5 weeks when I get back I expect around 79F and will switch to the winter 3MM. That being said everyone is different, most folks I dove with last week were wearing 3's a few 5's, some shorty 3's and a couple in just swimsuits. If you have an 'average' range of temperature confort I would go with a 3 and possibly a core warmer, if you tend to be cold blooded I would go with a 5 MM.
.
As Cicopo brought up it can be cold on the boat after the dive if the weather comes in from the North. It is really nice to have at least a windbreaker or light boat coat after a dive.

 

[DjDiverDan]

Everybody is different in terms of tolerance for cold. For a 2-tank dive 2 to 3 days in a row, I'm perfectly comfortable in Cozumel in a full fleece-lined Henderson with just 0.5 mil neoprene. But I'm 6'1", just north of 250, with plenty of my own insulation, and I grew up swimming in lakes in Wisconsin and Michigan. In the summer, when water temps run warmer, like 82-84 F, I'm fine for a day or two in just T-shirt and swim suit. If you are particularly intolerant to the cold, a full 3 mm suit, or a 3-2 suit, still ought to be plenty in Cozumel. Head cover will help, as that os where a lot of body heat is lost.

 

[camkole]

Thank you everyone! how about spring suits? are they viable?

What I do is not relevant. Water temp will be roughly 78-80 degrees F. You probably want a minimum three mil wetsuit and head protection.

Actually it sounds like you may be OK with a five mil wetsuit if the water temp is about eight degrees warmer.

To my question, what you do IS relevant. I asked just to see what everyone else does.

---------- Post added December 21st, 2015 at 06:39 PM ----------

Everybody is different in terms of tolerance for cold. For a 2-tank dive 2 to 3 days in a row, I'm perfectly comfortable in Cozumel in a full fleece-lined Henderson with just 0.5 mil neoprene. But I'm 6'1", just north of 250, with plenty of my own insulation, and I grew up swimming in lakes in Wisconsin and Michigan. In the summer, when water temps run warmer, like 82-84 F, I'm fine for a day or two in just T-shirt and swim suit. If you are particularly intolerant to the cold, a full 3 mm suit, or a 3-2 suit, still ought to be plenty in Cozumel. Head cover will help, as that os where a lot of body heat is lost.

I was thinking of getting one of those neat headscarf things that they sell at some dive shops. I'm diving 12 days 3 days in a row with breaks a day in between. How do you feel about lavacore and sharkskin?

 

[cvchief]

I never wear one year round. The missus never wears less than a 3 and she even broke out the 7 mm last week.

 

[blue steal]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I have always worn a 3mm shorty together with a 3mm fullhood and 5mm booties in Cozumel.
This has works well for me, very comfortable.
What I have observed on the boat is for the most part 3mm fullsuits.
I never seem to get cold, but am used to the California waters. I use my shorty here in the summer when the water temp reaches 66-70, although for surfing.

 

[MMM]

5 mm full suit with 3mm hooded vest underneath in winter for me. I would freeze otherwise.