Exposure Gear for Maldives in Jan

[boqurant]

Maldives has opportunity for big currents to wash in cooler water from the ocean - I'd always go 3mm at a minimum, why risk getting cold?

That said, in ~50 dives there I have seen a handful of people (typically younger and/or well-upholstered) in shortys. Also seen an equal number in 5mm with hoods

 

[ABLAB]

Temperature of the water will be between 27 and 30 Celsius, as it is all year long. I was in the Madives last year only with sharkskin top and bottom (long sleeves) water at 28°C and it was ok/perfect for the 17 dives of our cruise. Our cruise manager was in surf short and rashguard top every dive, he was ok, my dive buddy (woman in her 50s) was in a Waterproof 3 mil, she was ok, maybe a little cold at the end of the week.

Very personal matter...

About to pull the trigger on a sharkskin chillproof top. Do you like your sharkskin? Can you opine on how much it will stretch when wet? The one I tried on feels like a wetsuit that's a full-size too small in the waist and am told that's actually good given that it will stretch. Thanks.