France Park Treasure Dive

[erparamedic]

Queen of cold speaking up here. I wear a 1/4" (6.5mm) suit while diving in Florida and I freeze. I was wearing a 3mm full suit with a 3mm shorty over it at France Park in July, the water was 74 at the bottom and I was fine. I don't think I was even wearing a hood or gloves. If you don't get cold easily your 3mm and beanie will be fine
Ber :lilbunny:

You are definitely the queen of cold!!! LOL I'm kinda 50/50 on getting cold easily... if the air temp is warm... I do ok... but if the air temp is cool, I tend to get colder faster. Make sense? I'm kinda feeling wimpy about the cold this weekend. Now... I have plenty of natural blubber for warmth... but, for some reason, I don't think it always works! LOL :11:

 

[Hoosier]

Yeah.... my 3 mil is a Henderson Hyperstretch... and it's a 1X and fits great!! I love it, and it's incredibly easy to get on! Now... (yes, I'm a big girl... but don't let it scare you!! LOL) I tried on a 2X 7mil rental at DSI and proportionately... it was NOT do-able! LOL Actually, they were laughing, cause they could hear me laughing while I was trying to get it on. So... I'm gonna TRY a 3X... but I think it's gonna be baggy in some places, while too long in the arms/legs, and tight in the butt! LOL We'll see.... I may just be in my 1 mil with the 3 mil over it and wear my beanie and gloves. LOL Who knows.... maybe I'll just show up in a clown suit! LOL

If then, try ScubaL custom suit. If then, I think it is a good option for you.

 

[eckybay]

Yeah.... my 3 mil is a Henderson Hyperstretch... and it's a 1X and fits great!! I love it, and it's incredibly easy to get on! Now... (yes, I'm a big girl... but don't let it scare you!! LOL) I tried on a 2X 7mil rental at DSI and proportionately... it was NOT do-able! LOL Actually, they were laughing, cause they could hear me laughing while I was trying to get it on. So... I'm gonna TRY a 3X... but I think it's gonna be baggy in some places, while too long in the arms/legs, and tight in the butt! LOL We'll see.... I may just be in my 1 mil with the 3 mil over it and wear my beanie and gloves. LOL Who knows.... maybe I'll just show up in a clown suit! LOL

I can so relate. . . .When I was renting wetsuits they only had mens sizing, the L was tight in the hips and butt, but the XL was baggy other places. . . .I ended up getting a 5mm hyperstretch in a ladies 14 and love it. Pair it up with a hooded vest and it's kept me toasty so far. It's still a little long in the arms and legs, but workable.
I thought about going the custom route, but I have thyroid issues, so my weight tends to fluctuate a lot (just this summer I lost 20 pounds and then put it back on :shakehead ) Unless you have some reason like this that requires the forgiveness of super stretchy, look into a custom suit if you want to get a suit in another thickness and have a little bit of time to wait for it to get made. Cost wise, they're in the same ball park.
On another note, Henderson does have information on their website that they can do a tailor fit to adjust any of the standard sizes to fit better. Again, these would take a bit more time than getting an off the rack one at the LDS, so it really doesn't help ya for this weekend.
http://www.hendersonusa.com/size_charts.html

Good luck with the ScubUNO. The treasure hunt sounds fun as well.

 

[erparamedic]

I agree.... I've considered ordering a custom suit before, then I found the hyperstretch... I love it! I want to get a 7 mil hyperstretch, but my money has run out right now! LOL I'm gonna call the Diving Den when they open to find out what the surface temp is vs the bottom temp. They said that last weekend the bottom temp was 74 degrees... I'm wondering if the surface will be cooler now that we've had all this rain and cool weather. If it's still in the 70s then I'll just wear my 1+3 mil... and should be fine.... (with a nice campfire during the surface interval! hahaha!)

 

[erparamedic]

I thought about going the custom route, but I have thyroid issues, so my weight tends to fluctuate a lot (just this summer I lost 20 pounds and then put it back on :shakehead ) Good luck with the ScubUNO. The treasure hunt sounds fun as well.

I've been bobbing around... weight wise lately. I'll lose some, then gain some, lose, then gain. I used to be really slender (back in the day!! LOL), but then I had kids, and several orthopedic surgeries that kept me off my feet (and my job) for significant periods of time... thus the large weight gain. But... my job is very active, and I eat relatively healthy (yeah, there's always a splurge now and then.... but doesn't everyone!LOL).... and still the weight doesn't come off. I haven't had my thyroid checked... I should, but I just haven't had the time to get to the doc. I would give my right leg to be able to fit in a ladies 14 wetsuit! But then I might fin circles... instead of straight lines.... so I'll keep my right leg.... and wear a fat suit! LOL

 

[eckybay]

They said that last weekend the bottom temp was 74 degrees... I'm wondering if the surface will be cooler now that we've had all this rain and cool weather. If it's still in the 70s then I'll just wear my 1+3 mil... and should be fine.... (with a nice campfire during the surface interval! hahaha!)

That's what the temps there are? I was thinking quarry this time of year = about 10 degrees colder than that! I'd think you'd be fine layering the 1 and 3 mm if that's the case. Like you said, warm up by a camp fire. I found that a thermos of soup or coco helps too.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Are you up for a game of ScubUNO? LOL

Any tips on how to prepare myself to partake in said game?

 

[erparamedic]

Well.... I'm being optimistic. The Diving Den opens in about 5 minutes and I'll be calling them. I would guess the surface to be about 72ish.... which I would get cold after about 20-30 minutes with both my suits layered....now, not cold enough to end a dive, but I'd be chilly. Thus... I'm thinking I'll have to wrestle a 7mil rental suit!

 

[erparamedic]

Any tips on how to prepare myself to partake in said game?

Hahaha!!! Bring your voodoo skills!! LOL

Actually... it's not hard at all. We use the standard UNO H2) deck... that I have. I've also got the "rings" to keep the cards together with. We take everything down in a mesh bag, so nothing gets lost. It might feel slightly fumbly for the first couple turns.... with opening the ring, pulling the card, closing the ring...etc... but you'll get used to it. We touch on hand signals before going down. And, I've got my magnadoodle if there are any "non-signable" things underwater. Be prepared to laugh... it's pretty fun... and can be quite funny!

 

[eckybay]

Any tips on how to prepare myself to partake in said game?

A sense of fun is a good place to start.
Or you can check out the website to see the pictures of how the "pros" - erparamedic and Trucker Girl - do it.
http://bewarn.googlepages.com/sosad


It really is a blast - you get a nice long bottom time becuase you really aren't moving around much. And if you need practice hoovering - like I do as a newbie diver - it's a good way to do that with out feeling like you're just practicing skills.