first cold-water dive

[fire_diver]

I made my first dive in a cold-water lake this past week. I didn't realize before-hand that the lake was spring fed. I felt the water temp when I rinsed out my mask and thought, "wow, thats chilly". Then I aired up my bc and rolled off the dock and thought, "HOLY @#$% @#$%@ &&^%%!!!!" The water temp from surface to bottom was 55 degrees. I did however learn what I had previously suspected,,, A 3/2 fullsuit is not enough for 55 degree water LOL. I aborted the dive after almost half an hour when I felt myself start to shiver.

Even though I got cold, it was still awesome. Twin-engine plane at about 40 feet, 50 foot vis and some small bass and a big catfish to play with.

I even went back a couple days later with my same 3/2 suit. Only dove for 19 minutes this time, but wasnt shivering when I climbed out. Sadly I forgot to turn the flash off on my camera after the first dive, and couldnt get any more pics. Oh well, lesson learned.

Oh, and this was also my first altitude dive, so one more first for me. (and yes, I did my depth equivalancy calculations for this altitude pre-dive).


Location: Perch lake, Santa Rosa NM (blue hole was CLOSED!! BOOOO)
Altitude: 4600 ft.

 

[doole]

A 3/2 in 55 degrees? IMO you did VERY well.

 

[BikerManiac]

I dove with a 3mm wetsuit in Nha Trang, Vietnam...and it was freezing!!! divers surface shivering...

I guess the lesson is always dive with the right equipment

 

[mcclete22]

I did a dive in a 7/6 and was almost too warm. Unfortunately the viz wasn't as good, but I still had a ball and loved it. We dove from a beach where the water is usually about 50 ft further down so we were swimming over camp sites and fire pits, big fish and crwadads. I had a blast too, but I was opening the wetsuit to let water in, I was warm.

 

[jeckyll]

3/2?! D*amn.

It's alot more fun once you're in propper gear

 

[Greg D.]

55 degrees is balmy I dove in 43degree water today and if you ask me anything under 60 degrees is drysuit worthy.
cold and wet is no fun at all! I'm gald you had a good dive though. ya see cold water is no so scary after all! With the right equipment the cold is not even a worry!

 

[Adobo]

My computer shows all my dives (11) to be between 53 and 57 degrees. Six dives were done in a 7mil john and jacket. When working, I felt fine and sometimes warm. When not working (practicing hovering and trim), I felt cold.

7mil wet suits seem to be the minimum that the dive shops around me recommend for our local diving. Obviously, better fitting wetsuits will be warmer than loose fitting rental farmer john and jacket suits.

 

[wardric]

I dive most of the time in 40-45 degree F water even in summer and a good wetsuit is fine. I also did some nice ice diving in a 7mm wetsuit. In the water, It's very comfortable. The problem is when you get out in below freezing temperatures. The last time (3 years ago) I had to strip naked in the snow before my wetsuit freeze is when I decided to buy a drysuit (my laughing "dry" buddy also helped for that decision.)

 

[Mlody11]

Wow. 3/2 in 50 degree water, talk about cold. I just did a dive in 55 degree water with a 7mm, a hood, 5mm gloves, 3mm boots (need better boots for this) and I was a bit cold toward a 40 minute dive. The vis. was great but anything colder then 60 is dry suit worthy. I dont think I would want to go diving in water colder then 50 in a wetsuit. Unless vis is about 150ft +, then I might consider going for 20-30 min. A heck, I would rather just get a dry suit.

 

[mnj1233]

I dove in 59 degree water in a 3/2 and that was COLD enuf for me. I dont think I could ever last a 1/2 hour as you did. Glad you stopped when you started shivering. Welcome to the world of cold water, with the right gear it can be very refreshing!!!