getting cold

[alcina]

I don't think any one type of jacket is better than any other as long as it has the features you want. For me:
* fleece/polartec lining in torso at least
* good zippers - plastic ones last longer, I've found
* big pockets
* wind/water resistant/proof outer

Prevention magazine has an article in the Jan issue on coats you might want to check out.

 

[Mako Mark]

M_B

what were you wearing in Coz??

I find that here in Mexico, there are two things you need to consider.

1 how to prevent heat loss underwater,

2 how to warm up afterwards.

My reccommendations are use a decent 3 mm long wetsuit even when in the tropics, they are easy to get on and off, prevent sunburn and jelly stings and they save you enough energy so that your body temp gets the chance to get back to normal during surface intervals.

The next thing is when out of the water. get dry IMMEDIATELY... If you stand around in a wetsuit, or even worse a skin, you will continue to lose body heat.

If you are dry, you will be warm,

Dude, the air temp is in the eighties, there is no reason to be cold.

P.S. Right now I am using a full 5 mm wetsuit, so dont think that you are being a wuss. The only people that would give you a hard time about it are people whose opinions really shouldnt matter to you..

 

[M_B]

Mark, I apologize for not responding - got burried in the office and just now got back to smth more pleasant.
We have 3 mm wetsuits, and "ritual" while diving is :
1. enjoy the dive numero uno.
2. get out from the water and get the suit down to waist.
3. dry up the body with the dry towel that we usually bring from the hotel and keep in the waterproof bag.
4. get into the suit 3 minutes before second dive.
5. after the second dive take the suit off and "apply" step 3.
6. enjoy the ride back for tequillas and food.

this simple routine has been working perfectly well until we encountered norte - so i have to find a solution .

To ALL:
thank you for sharing ideas/solutions/expirience.
Andrew

 

[Photocoz]

Hello,

We just got back from 2 weeks diving on Cozumel and first my better half started freezing cause of the constant winds ( between the dives ). Also it was pretty chilly in the water - we were hitting thermoline ( ~23C ) pretty often.

So this expirience got me thinking : how can i keep my body temp. and warm up faster between surface interval even with winds blowing.
I spoke with DM - he recommended truWest's parkas. I also being reading about skins.

Questions are :
1. Am i looking in the right direction or overlooking smth?
2. what parkas ( what else ) would you recommend ?
3. what skins ( what else ) would you recommend ?
thank you.

I know, people laugh when you say you were freezing on a tropical island. According to my husband Armando, I'm a wooz. Actually I agree! I get SO cold here in our "winter season"! AND I HATE BEING COLD!!!!! What I have found that has made the difference in me being able to be happy & comfortable as oppossed to cold & miserable is this:
I wear a skin with a wetsuit (3 mil) and a 3mil hood on the first dive. (I actually know MANY divemasters & instructors here on island wearing MUCH heavier suits than that, and one who keeps threatening to get a tropical drysuit!!)
Then the instant I get on the boat I strip off my cold hood, wetsuit & skin & put on my warmwind coat (I will NEVER give that up - it is the GREATEST thing and worth every penny!!!)
Then for the second dive I have a nice DRY skin & wetsuit I have brought along in a drybag. I don't have an extra hood yet, so the cold one goes back on.
After the second dive, off with the cold stuff & on with the nice warmwind.
Yeah, I get that it is an extra skin & wetsuit to haul on the boat (I'm bringing a drybag anyway , and it all fits in there so not really a problem) but the difference it has made has been huge for me!
That is the only way I can work during the "Cozumel winter" and to think I'm origianlly from Denver - go figure!
Hope this helps!!!!

 

[howard4113]

M_B

Yea it can be cold on the boat in Coz. I was just there xmas / new years too. The wind was howlin several days. I usually wear a microprene and a 3 mil vest/hood. But I always take a nylon wind-breaker and nylon pants. As soon as the gear is off, I don the jacket and pants. It makes a huge difference! I just lost a ton of weight and the water just flows thru my old suit - so I got a new snug 2-3 now which should be warmer for snorkeling....
Anyway - get some nylon gear to block the wind. Nylon drys real fast and doesn't get all salt-sticky. Rolls up really small in the old dive bag.

Mark

 

[AlaskaDiver]

I'm a big baby when it comes to getting into the water and I love being as warm as toast no matter what the environment. I wear a combination 5-4-3 wetsuit in all moderately warm waters. These are pretty common and even have some nice inside hi-tech stretchy materials. This is 5mm for the core, 4mm to knees & elbows and 3mm to ankles & wrists. A nice thin neoprene hood is perfect for long dives in moderately warm water (65-80F). Yep, used one in hawaii and my husband laughed at me. I wasn't shibvering between dives..... Unzip to the waist, take off the neoprene hood and get into a dry shirt & cap. I wear a stinger skin in tropical waters (81-86F) for protection. Of course dry suit diving affords you the luxury to layer to your heart's content.

Heat loss is still loss in any environment. Don't let anyone call you a wimp for desiring comfort in a sport in which you are meant to have fun.