Question Florida folks: What's your cold threshold?

[fred32176]

70 is as low as I go. Anything colder - like a cold spot in the Santa Fe River and I get cold. In the 80's I am in board shorts, rashguard with a 1 mm vest. The vest is mostly to have something between me and my BCD. Anything below 80 and I am sharkskin, jacket, hood, pants.

 

[DogDiver]

water temperature below 72 degrees in in a dry suit with Fourth Element Arctic under garment. Of course these are cave dives lasting 90-120 minutes.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Maybe it's time for another ScubaBoard BHB megadive? Oh @Scuba_Jenny!

Oh wow! It's been a LONG time since we've had one of those. If I recall, it was the Saturday after Thanksgiving if the tide was good. But.. a summer one would be cool... erh, I mean Hot!
Just remember no MUR or REEB allowed at the park!

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

As for being cold, last summer when the water was over 85, I was in UV shirt and pants. This winter from January to a few weeks ago, I was in my 5mm. A couple of those dives in that time frame I was shaking cold when I got out. Thankfully I brought hot tea, and a gallon of hot water for a rinse.
Yes, I am one of those that get cold easily, I am also one of those that can do a 3 hr dive. Lot tougher to stay warm on those long dives.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

I don't dive without being covered head to toe, period. Not just due to temps but also due to all of the stinging critters in our waters. Get a floating loose tentacle from a Portuguese Man o War up your board shorts or across your leg and that will be the last time you dive in board shorts.

Temperature wise I pretty much follow these ranges roughly speaking:

<= 75 F ... 7 mm with a 5mm hood
76-79 F .... 5mm with a hooded vest
80-82 F ... 5mm with a lycra hood
83-85 F ... 3mm with a hooded vest
>86 F ... 3mm with a hycra hood

 

[rjack321]

One personal observation: I see a noticeable increase in my air consumption when I'm chilled, typically about 20% higher. I'm not "cold" per se, but my body is definitely compensating.

Same although my SAC rises more like 40% or even more if there's actual shivering.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

One personal observation: I see a noticeable increase in my air consumption when I'm chilled, typically about 20% higher. I'm not "cold" per se, but my body is definitely compensating.

Nothing blows up my air consumption like being cold. Far worse than having to work hard. The colder I am, the worse my sac gets.

 

[heftysmurf]

Well, found that 75 is comfortable for me. Apr 20 I dived the Spiegel Grove and my shorty flew off the boat. People said, “I saw something, I didn’t know what it was”.

So…off I went in board shorts and rash guard. 77 the day after in Fort Lauderdale was even more pleasant.

 

[100days-a-year]

I found 48F pretty chilly off Ft Pierce years ago during a particularly cold thermocline event.
I wear a 3, 5 or 7 mm full suit depending on temp and generally a hood as well as I'm nearly always spearfishing. That cover low 60s to high 80s hust fine.

 

[bshmerlie]

When diving reefs in Cancun or Cozumel I just use a swimsuit or rash guard. The water is typically in the low to mid 80's the times I've gone. In most tropical dives I've just used a rash guard. In Southern California, where I live, I use a 7 mm with no hood or gloves when diving in 40 ft or less and hood and gloves with anything deeper. July-Aug-Sept-Oct it gets up to the high 60's. I don't tend to dive in winter time there. Cenotes in Mexico was low 70s and I used a full 3 mm with no hood or gloves and wasn't cold at all. Honestly I don't like the restricted feel of hood and gloves so I've avoided them and only use if I have to (ie wreck dives, deep dives, or lobster hunting).