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.

 

[autrichon gris]

I do love my Sharkskin in water >= 28 degrees Celsius. You will not come back to neoprene.

I suggest you take both top and bottom, not the full suit as Sharkskin sizing seems quite odd to me.

 

[ABLAB]

I do love my Sharkskin in water >= 28 degrees Celsius. You will not come back to neoprene.

I suggest you take both top and bottom, not the full suit as Sharkskin sizing seems quite odd to me.

Thanks. I plan on getting separate top and bottom. I've read the pullover top (without zipper) can be very difficult to get on and off when wet. Do you find that to be true? Presumably, the top will be wet when diving multiple dives in a day.

 

[autrichon gris]

Depends on how tight the top on your torso...
I have both a tshirt and the titanium jacket.
You can add performance with a long sleeve polyethylen top under the Sharkskin jacket for example, Try ION surf Shield. Keep you warm