Drysuit diving in Tropical

[306dive306]

I did full cave in MX in August in a 5mm. I dive dry at home (Great Lakes region) and in the FL caves, but MX in August was just too hot/humid for a drysuit. I also didn’t want to fly with it. Got a 5mm for the trip and it worked out well.

March will be much better weather wise.

The 5mm would work for both the cave class as well as the ocean diving. Might as well just get the wetsuit. Your drysuit would be overkill for the ocean diving.

I also live in Canada and cave dive in MX.

I literally almost die every time I'm in MX between June and September. I'm really lucky that I can dive with a 3mm wetsuit + 5mm hooded vest on a short cave dive. For stage dives, I wear a 5mm + 5mm hooded vest.

 

[jjmochi]

I have the full suite of 3mm, 5mm, and 7mm wetsuits, and finally caved for a drysuit after freezing midway through every single trip. I only dive warm water places 90% of the time. Having dove in all combinations of temps and suits, my primary question now is if the boat will have a bathroom, if yes I take my drysuit including in 28-29 degree water. It’s more comfortable, I like being toasty, it’s easier to put on and take off, and I only need like 2lb more lead then with a wetsuit. I have never overheated or felt uncomfortable in the dry suit, even in the Philippines >30 degrees surface temp. Just rinse with cold water after you put on the suit and I’m fine. With a wetsuit I may not be cold going in but I’m definitely freezing by the time I make it through the 5-10min windy boat ride back. If I can’t pee in between dives because the boat goes out for 2 tank dives and there is no toilet on board, I will reluctantly take my wetsuits, but otherwise it’s dry for me all the way now.

 

[Beau Holden]

If I can’t pee in between dives because the boat goes out for 2 tank dives and there is no toilet on board, I will reluctantly take my wetsuits, but otherwise it’s dry for me all the way now.

Get a pee valve and put it in. Makes all the difference.

 

[halocline]

Not for a cave class!

I've been diving wet in Mexican caves for years, I would say at least half the divers I know down there dive wet. Most of the students I've seen taking classes dive wet.

Back to the OP, occasionally you do see people diving dry in Cozumel but the vast majority are in 3mm suits; occasionally 5 mm, sometimes just a shorty or diveskin. For a week of diving, it's probably worth getting a 3mm wetsuit. I wouldn't get a 5, unless you're tempted to dive wet for your class. But assuming you are completely comfortable and confident in a drysuit, that's what you should do for the class. More important in this case than the wet vs dry argument is what you feel most comfortable in. There are many new skills and an increased expectation of precision in buoyancy, trim, position, etc. So use the set up you feel you dive the best in. I'm sure you'll want thin undergarments if you don't have them.

 

[jjmochi]

I’ve read up on the she-p and decided to take out the pee valve lol. So much work required before and after.

Get a pee valve and put it in. Makes all the difference.

 

[fred32176]

I overheated in sharkskin T2 with a hood doing Deerfield Beach's underwater pier cleanup in June. I use sharkskin T2 with a hood in Florida springs (always 72), rivers and boat diving out of West Palm Beach. In the keys in summer it's board shorts, rashguard and 1mm vest.

I would overheat in a 5mm wetsuit suit in Caribbean water. Everyone is different.

 

[TMHeimer]

On my only tropical trip I used my Henderson body suit (no thermal protection, just a covering to avoid things that sting).

 

[Zach The Diver]

Hi,

I've did a lot of googling and forum search and I can't find a definitive answer to my basic question. I'm hoping to get opinions from fellow members

I do a lot of diving in Canada (wreck, tec, cold water, altitude, ice, etc) so I have a drysyuit (4th Element Argonaut 2.0) that I use many time per year. I do not own a wetsuit...

I'm planning to take my TDI Cave cert in mexico (about 20 dives) around the month of march and bring the wife for more casual tropical diving the next week. We will do about 15-20 dives during the two weeks with my wife.

For my wife, there is no chance she will dive in Canada so I purchased a 5mm wetsuit for her.

On my side, I'm thinking why would I purchase a 5mm wetsuit when I already own a dry suit so I was thinking I would just bring my drysuit to Mexico... I expect the water to be between 26-28.

A lot of people told me yes, why not, some even told me they do it... (My drysuit is a trilaminate "breathable" for the top part). Other kinda laugh and tell me I'll sweat like a pig and I'll look like a weirdo.

I was wondering if there is a good reason not to do it (some said overheating, premature wear, etc), if I should purchase a 5mm wetsuit just for these vacations, etc.

Any constructive comments would be more than welcome.

I already busted my 10k budget on dive gears, training, dives, etc this year so naturally if I can skip purchasing a wet suit I don't need, I would appreciate

Thanks in advance

Dry suit is perfectly fine. I do most of my diving nowadays out off the Florida Panhandle and dive dry year-round in the springs, or most of the year in the Gulf of Mexico except for the hottest months of the year.

What matters more is your undergarment.

 

[dahab boris]

Hi,

I've did a lot of googling and forum search and I can't find a definitive answer to my basic question. I'm hoping to get opinions from fellow members

I do a lot of diving in Canada (wreck, tec, cold water, altitude, ice, etc) so I have a drysyuit (4th Element Argonaut 2.0) that I use many time per year. I do not own a wetsuit...

I'm planning to take my TDI Cave cert in mexico (about 20 dives) around the month of march and bring the wife for more casual tropical diving the next week. We will do about 15-20 dives during the two weeks with my wife.

For my wife, there is no chance she will dive in Canada so I purchased a 5mm wetsuit for her.

On my side, I'm thinking why would I purchase a 5mm wetsuit when I already own a dry suit so I was thinking I would just bring my drysuit to Mexico... I expect the water to be between 26-28.

A lot of people told me yes, why not, some even told me they do it... (My drysuit is a trilaminate "breathable" for the top part). Other kinda laugh and tell me I'll sweat like a pig and I'll look like a weirdo.

I was wondering if there is a good reason not to do it (some said overheating, premature wear, etc), if I should purchase a 5mm wetsuit just for these vacations, etc.

Any constructive comments would be more than welcome.

I already busted my 10k budget on dive gears, training, dives, etc this year so naturally if I can skip purchasing a wet suit I don't need, I would appreciate

Thanks in advance

From experience of Mexico, the Ocean and the Caves your drysuit and light undergarment will be fine.
A benefit if you are doing courses is one less change in what you are used to.

 

[Ted Judah]

I agree that the 5mm suit is overkill for 80 degree + salt water.. 3mm at the most. For those temps I just wear a swimsuit and rashy top.

For the cenote's you'll probably want a 3mm

I agree that 3mm is more than enough and besides 3 mil wetsuits are sooo cheap and easy to pack.