Exposure Protection & Temperature Limits

[ScottNY]

So I've been wondering...

What do you all consider to be your minimum temperatures for choosing...

* minimal exposure gear, (e.g. swim suit or dive skin)

* 3 mm suit or shorty
for me it's mid 70s F

* 7/5 or better wetsuit, (and when do you add hood/gloves?)
for me it's anything below mid 70s.

* drysuit
for me, not trained yet, so below mid 60s I'll be skiing instead; which I'm perfectly happy to do at -15 F. (Guess I'm just wimpy in the water!)

It stands to reason that those that live in cold weather and dive in colder waters likely have lower minimum tolerances. But I was just curious as to what you all do.

Scott

 

[JRO]

I live in Ct (fairly cold) but I am definetly a warm water wuss...

All dives have been in the Carribean or NC and I have yet to need anything more than swim trunks and a t-shirt. The coldest I've experienced was 71F on a recent trip to the Turks & Caicos.

Jeff

 

[roakey]

Above 80, 3mm jumpsuit.

Above 70, 7mm jumpsuit

Below 70, drysuit.

Try a 15 minute hang in a shorty in mid-70 degree water. No thanks.

Roak

 

[Michael Schlink]

Very high 70's and low 80's 1 mil or a 3 mil shorty if been diving alot. Dry the rest of the time

 

[jonnythan]

Above 70, 3mm jumpsuit no hood

Above 60, 3mm jumpsuit, thin hood.

Below 60, drysuit.

 

[jonnythan]

Try a 15 minute hang in a shorty in mid-70 degree water. No thanks.

Roak

Been there, done that. You wuss

 

[vjongene]

So I've been wondering...

What do you all consider to be your minimum temperatures for choosing...

I'll do in metric, I still can't do C->F conversions in my head...

Above 25C, 3 mm shorty
18C - 25C, 5 mm full suit, add hood below 22C
10C - 18C, 7 mm two piece with hood
below 10C, dry suit

 

[s7595]

so far temps have been 60-70 deg one piece 7mil ,7mil booties
going to try my bubby's idea , 3mil plus 7mil plus 7mil jacket hood combo in 50 deg water
hope I do not need dry suit

 

[String]

Water temp > 22c == 5mm full length

Water temp < 22c == dry suit.

Simple as that. The only 2 i ever need. Im quite comfortable in 84F water in a 5mm full length and cant forsee any need to ever use a 3mm or shortie.

 

[ZenSquirrel]

3mil jump suit for 72 and above.

6mil Farmer John with hood down to 52 if the surface
temp is warm.

I'll break out the drysuit below 70 if the surface temp
is cold or if the water temp is below 50.