Exposure protection diving NC (Morehead/U352 area)

[Bigeclipse]

All,
I am going diving in North Carolina, Morehead/U352 area in the middle of July. We are doing 2 boat dives a day assuming we do not get blown out. I strictly dive cold water in 7mm/hood/gloves or my drysuit. I have heard things ranging from people not wearing any exposure protection and up to 7mm depending on the person and time of year. I currently own a 7mm suit and would prefer to simply wear that if you think I can get away with it. Id rather not spend $100 on a new suit for a 3 day trip. I figure I can try the 7mm and if for whatever reason I get way to hot I can simply rent a suit the next 2 days. What are your thoughts? Do you think I can get away with just wearing my 7mm Henderson aqualock? Thanks

 

[DiverDownD3]

You can try it, but I think 7mm is going to be hot, especially on the boat. I wouldn't waste any time getting in the water. I'll probably be going to my 3/2 the next time I go out this week or next.

You can probably find something on Craigslist/eBay and sell it for what you paid for it when you are done with the trip.

I'm not the most experienced diver, but if you are looking for a dive buddy let me know. If not, DMs/guides can be hired pretty cheap here at $35 for a full day at Olympus. If you've never dove here before, I'd recommend it.

 

[BDSC]

I think 7mm is going to be really hot for you but then I'm one of those guys that in the middle of July off our coast I won't wear any wetsuit at all. If at some point you start traveling to warmer water destinations then maybe having a different wetsuit would come in handy.

 

[TMHeimer]

Check NOAA water temps.

 

[Colliam7]

I am going diving in North Carolina, Morehead/U352 area in the middle of July. . . . What are your thoughts? Do you think I can get away with just wearing my 7mm Henderson aqualock?

Possibly. I dive a 5mm AquaLock off the coast in the summer at times (although I prefer, and usually dive, a 3mm), and I am comfortable in the water. After all the water temps in mid-July are going to be mid-70s, maybe a little warmer, but still ~20 degrees below your body temperature.

As others have said, the issue will be your comfort on the surface. Suit up at the last minute on the boat, and get out of the suit as soon as you can after you are back on.

If you were talking about the Caribbean (e.g. Bonaire) or the Gulf of Mexico, I wouldn't advise it. But, the NC coast - you should be OK.

 

[DiverDownD3]

If all else fails, you can dive with the wetsuit unzipped. Had to do that in FL when I broke the zipper on the boat, it made things cooler, but it wasn't that bad. Last time I ever tried to zip up my suit without asking for help.

 

[arkheel]

I dove the U-352 this past Saturday (June 11). The water temperature at depth was 78 degrees, and I was very comfortable in a 5 mm full wetsuit. In mid July the water will be at least as warm (maybe warmer, depending on what the Gulf Stream is doing), and it will be quite warm on the boat during the surface intervals. I'm cold-natured, so I wear a 5 mm suit during the summer months in North Carolina. Lots of folks dive in board shorts and rashguard shirts or 3 mm suits in North Carolina in the summertime. I think that you'll be way too warm in the 7 mm.

Alternatively, the Olympus dive boats have hand held showers on them, and you could just keep putting cool water down your suit to keep from getting overheated (if you are diving with Olympus Dive Center).

 

[Lorenzoid]

Topside conditions during your surface interval and the long ride home after the second dive (if you sit outside) can affect your comfort, too, and NC weather is fickle. If it's cloudy/drizzly/windy, you may be more comfortable with more exposure protection. You just never know what the weather may be. I dived there in the summer on one such day in my 5 mm and envied the Canadian guy who brought his drysuit and wished I had brought a coat for the surface interval.

 

[frndrfoe]

I'm going at the same time (diving 18-20th) with Olympus. I was planning on wearing my swim trunks and a long sleeve nylon tee.

 

[DiverDownD3]

I dove the U-352 this past Saturday (June 11).

I saw the pics from that dive. Looked like awesome conditions. I was supposed to dive with them on that Friday but was feeling a little under the weather so I had to call and cancel. Bummed me out