First wetsuit purchase - 3mm or 5mm or??

[melliodora]

After years of sporadic travel diving I've really caught the bug in the past year or so, and am slowly starting to invest in my own gear. I am planning a ~1 month dive trip to Indo this Sept/Oct and am wanting my own wetsuit - but stuck on what thickness (or combination of layering). Advice please!

I'll mostly be diving Raja Ampat (~29C/84F) plus some in Komodo (~26-28 C/78-82F), Nusa Penida (18-25C/68-77F although apparently can get to 13/55!). Planning on 3 dives/day. Komodo shop provide 3mm full rental suits (but recommend bringing layers), NP provide 5mm full, R4 3mm full if anything. I've read a bunch of threads here on diving those spots where R4 seems to be skinsuit/3mm territory, Komodo 3-5mm.

Considering buying a 3 mm long plus a hooded vest (and then using the 5 mm rentals in NP). I already have 7mm boots which I'll take too. There are also some 5 mm wetsuits/semi-dry suits on sale at the moment, but I'm concerned if I buy a 5mm for this trip, it won't get used much after (too warm/unnecessary hassle for warm water tropics)... but I also don't want to have my bucket list trip ruined due to cold. Thoughts?

For context, I'm currently based in Vancouver (rent drysuits here, won't invest in one of those for a while). The rest of my diving has largely been in the tropics (~28-30C/82-86F) where I've been fine in rental shorties, although I have got cold on some 3 dive/night dive days in those, plus some ~18-20C/64-68F dives wearing a 7mm. I pretty slim but do *okay* in cold, except hands and feet (poor circulation).

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

I vote 5.

 

[melliodora]

I vote 5.

Thanks Jim - is that specific to the temps I'll be facing in Indo, or because a 5mm is more versatile in general (even if I mostly dive warm waters)? Or another reason?

Edit: would that not be too warm for 29C/84F Raja Ampat waters? (hoping to avoid buying or taking two suits!)

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

Versatility is 1 reason.
I had a 3 mil suit one time that ended up being a 1 mil suit after taking it to 100-120 fsw.
I had a Henderson 5 mil suit one time that ended up being a 2 mil after a summer diving it 200-250 ffw.

 

[Altamira]

For me, with a wetsuit, it is easier to get a little cooler than warmer. I have never been too hot in the water, but I sure have been too cold. I'm with @Capt Jim Wyatt.

 

[crofrog]

Decide if you like being on the warmer side or the cooler side. I’d personally probably get the 3 but below 75 I’m in a drysuit.

 

[crofrog]

I have never been too hot in the water, but I sure have been too cold

I have once when it was routinely 90 degrees at 20ft in the keys 2 years ago in July . It was 85 at 100 that trip and the 3mm was a bit much.

 

[melliodora]

Decide if you like being on the warmer side or the cooler side. I’d personally probably get the 3 but below 75 I’m in a drysuit.

I would say I prefer *slightly* cool over *slightly* warm - I dove 60 mins at 20C/68F in a 7mm + hooded vest (rental, not sure on vest thickness) and at times felt noticeably warm, which was *fine* but I'd rather not (but then again it was a 1 dive day). On the other hand, I have shivered after my 3rd (night) dive of a day in ~28-29C, albeit in a crappy rental shortie. I've just never done a month solid of 3 dives/day so unsure how much it really builds

 

[MB NZ]

5mm

I've never been too warm on a SCUBA dive (well, maybe once).

 

[Kupu]

I've just never done a month solid of 3 dives/day so unsure how much it really builds

I not a fan of getting chilled on a dive and would be using a 5 mil for that type of diving, plus adding a comfortable 2 mil hooded vest.

When brand new a 5 mil in tropical conditions can feel a bit too warm. But after a few good dives to compress the suit a bit, the 5 mil is just right for someone who like to stay comfortably warm.