Exposure suit recommendations for Yucatan

[brshooter]

I am a newly certified diver. Will be heading to Mexico for 2 weeks in November. We will be staying on Tankah Bay which is just south of Akumal and north of Tulum.
My previous dives have been in the cool waters of the Pacific Northwest. What do people recommend for exposure protection down there this time of year. We will primarily be diving salt water and possibly a centote dive or two. Is a full 3mm sufficient?

Any suggestions/recommendations are appreciated.

 

[Spratman]

Depends on the water temp and your insulation...I was down the end of Aug and the ocean temp was in the mid 70's. My son, my daughter and I just dove in swimming suits. The cenote was around 72. I had a 2.5 mil shorty on and it was a shock to hit the water! Of course, it was like a 30 degree temperature drop from the jungle above.

A 3 mil full should work well in the cenote, since you are from the PNW, a swimming suit & t-shirt or dive skin will work fine.

Good luck and happy diving

 

[PlayaCountryBoy]

In November, we recommend a 3 mil in the ocean and 3-5mil in the cenotes. Remember, if you get cold..you won't enjoy the dive as much. The days where we dive in just a bathing suit are coming to an end right now.

 

[TSandM]

I was in Cozumel in March, and dove with a 3 mil suit and 2 mil hooded vest, and I could have been warmer (but we were doing LONG dives). For the cenote tours, which are short (45 minutes) that combination was fine. I do get cold easily; another member of our party dove the first day in swim shorts (his bags didn't make it) and although he said he got a little cold, he managed.

 

[ScubaBumlet]

I dive the Akumal area a couple times a year. I too live on the Pacific ocean in NorCal. I am a wuss. When in Akumal, say November - April, I use a 5 mm wet suit. I get cold. Mebbe cuz I am skinney? Whatever. You will need at least a 3 mm. Minimum 5 mm for the cenotes.

Which cenotes are ya looking at to do?

 

[Aspendiver]

3mm should be fine for the ocean, and add a vest/hood or maybe a shorty for the cenote?

 

[scubawife]

I am a newly certified diver. Will be heading to Mexico for 2 weeks in November. We will be staying on Tankah Bay which is just south of Akumal and north of Tulum.
My previous dives have been in the cool waters of the Pacific Northwest. What do people recommend for exposure protection down there this time of year. We will primarily be diving salt water and possibly a centote dive or two. Is a full 3mm sufficient?

Any suggestions/recommendations are appreciated.

If it's the beginning of November, ocean temps in that area will average around 82. If you're looking at the end of the month, it can cool off by a couple degrees. I dive in a full 5mm when in Cozumel or diving from the mainland Nov-May... but I get chilled easy and tend to be spending 3hrs+ a day in the water.

Cenotes stay a constant 75-78 year-round.

 

[limeyx]

I dive the Akumal area a couple times a year. I too live on the Pacific ocean in NorCal. I am a wuss. When in Akumal, say November - April, I use a 5 mm wet suit. I get cold. Mebbe cuz I am skinney? Whatever. You will need at least a 3 mm. Minimum 5 mm for the cenotes.

Which cenotes are ya looking at to do?

Hah, you think you are the wuss? For the cenotes, I use a drysuit and 300G fleece undergarments and it works out perfectly (although I do tend to sweat on some dives

I just dont like being wet when I dive!

 

[ScubaBumlet]

Hah, you think you are the wuss? For the cenotes, I use a drysuit and 300G fleece undergarments and it works out perfectly (although I do tend to sweat on some dives

I just dont like being wet when I dive!

HAHAHA!!! I think you are smart. I would drag my drysuit down there IF I had the room in my dive bag!

 

[limeyx]

HAHAHA!!! I think you are smart. I would drag my drysuit down there IF I had the room in my dive bag!

I make room in my bag for mine
Actually in our cave class, after 4 dives + long surface intervals in the water talking, + skills, and getting out at 5-6pm when it started to get dark, I was very glad for the warmth of the d/suit.