I apologize for intruding on you ladies forum but I would really like your input on a couple of things. My wife is gonna get certified shortly and I would like to get your opinions on two things. First, and most important, would be wetsuit. Most dives will be central to south Florida, fairly shallow (60' -90'), summer time, look at the pretty fishies dives. She, like many of you (not to be a sexist pig), is pretty cold natured ie wrapped up in a comforter in the house in August in central Florida. What would you suggest that would keep her warm and happy. I am probably gonna go internet to purchase so any sugestions on size, she's 5'6" and 120 lbs, would also be appreciated. Secondly, any suggestions on fins, given the above parameters would also be appreciated. All other gear I have a pretty good idea on.I have been diving about 9 months but what I do: the deep, cold, murky, shoot fish and grab lobsters kinda thing is way different from what we will doing together. Strangely enough she has no interest in doing a 15' safety stop in 2' vis with 30 lbs of recently deceased fish hanging off her BC. So I am kinda clueless about what gear is gonna be best for her. Any suggestions at all would be appreciated.
Getting My Wife Set Up
- Thread starter Brad B
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
SueMermaid
Guest
When the water's warm, I use a 1 mil neoprene suit, it doesn't really keep you warm, but it does keep any chill at bay better than a dive skin. For ~82 degrees and over. (I am wearing it in my profile photo, in fact).
For ~70-82 or at night, (her mileage may vary), I wear a 3-mil shorty over my 1 mil suit.
Anything colder, and I will wear my 7 mil longsleeve shorty/farmer john (I love the way mine fits my female-type body, it's a Parkway) in any combination, depending on conditions.
For fins, lots of people disagree with me, but I prefer full-foot fins if I am diving in warm water. If they are soft rubber, they are more comfortable and easier to remove without bending back your nails.
Eeeeesh. I HATE that.
For ~70-82 or at night, (her mileage may vary), I wear a 3-mil shorty over my 1 mil suit.
Anything colder, and I will wear my 7 mil longsleeve shorty/farmer john (I love the way mine fits my female-type body, it's a Parkway) in any combination, depending on conditions.
For fins, lots of people disagree with me, but I prefer full-foot fins if I am diving in warm water. If they are soft rubber, they are more comfortable and easier to remove without bending back your nails.
Eeeeesh. I HATE that.
GTADiver
Contributor
How could you be happy buying something like a wetsuit over the internet?
This is something she must try on unless you are getting a custom made suit. It cant be too tight and restrict breathing or movement. It also can not be too loose to allow the cold water in.
As a new diver she should get experience in the 0-60 foot range and not the 60-90 foot range.
I still have not figured out how the height and weight of a person correlates to a foot size but then hey I got a size 14 foot!
You are joking arround right?
This is something she must try on unless you are getting a custom made suit. It cant be too tight and restrict breathing or movement. It also can not be too loose to allow the cold water in.
As a new diver she should get experience in the 0-60 foot range and not the 60-90 foot range.
I still have not figured out how the height and weight of a person correlates to a foot size but then hey I got a size 14 foot!
You are joking arround right?
I'd really suggest trying on a few different sizes and brands of wetsuits at an LDS if this will be her first suit. Sizes are very deceiving. I wear sz 6 clothes and my O'Neill wetsuits (3mm and 1mm) are a sz 12! I'm 5'8" and O'Neill are the only suits I found that fit me properly. The other brands I tried (Bare and Henderson) weren't proportioned right for me. Once you know what fits her, you could shop online to see if you can get a better price. As for thickness, I get cold easily and wear a 3mm for multi-dives on a multi-day trip when the water is over 80. Under 80 I add a 1mm.
- Messages
- 388
- Reaction score
- 0
are right, imo.
1) your wife must try on suits. if she gets cold easily, i recommend a 3 mm. my 3 mm and my 5 mm are my favorite suits. paired with a hooded vest, they keep me warm anyplace i WANT to go diving. ie, not canada, not antarctica, etc...
2) henderson wetsuits are excellent quality, and fit me very well. they are, however, very expensive.
3) as for fins: i want to like full-foot fins, but find them inconvenient when back on the boat, on shore, etc. then, suddenly, i'm barefoot and picking my way over icky stuff. consider seriously fins and booties.
now, for the big fin question: how strong are your wife's legs? if she's a hiker, climber or soccer player, you'll probably look at certain kinds of fins and avoid others. but if her idea of exercise is walking to the mailbox, consider other types. ***see whether your dive shop will let you exchange them if she doesn't like/can't wear the ones you buy.****
good luck!
1) your wife must try on suits. if she gets cold easily, i recommend a 3 mm. my 3 mm and my 5 mm are my favorite suits. paired with a hooded vest, they keep me warm anyplace i WANT to go diving. ie, not canada, not antarctica, etc...
2) henderson wetsuits are excellent quality, and fit me very well. they are, however, very expensive.
3) as for fins: i want to like full-foot fins, but find them inconvenient when back on the boat, on shore, etc. then, suddenly, i'm barefoot and picking my way over icky stuff. consider seriously fins and booties.
now, for the big fin question: how strong are your wife's legs? if she's a hiker, climber or soccer player, you'll probably look at certain kinds of fins and avoid others. but if her idea of exercise is walking to the mailbox, consider other types. ***see whether your dive shop will let you exchange them if she doesn't like/can't wear the ones you buy.****
good luck!
FreeFloat
Contributor
- Messages
- 1,862
- Reaction score
- 3
- # of dives
- 200 - 499
if the thickness isn't listed on the tag?
I've got a shorty that my Sig Othr bought me, fits great but fairly buoyant. I'm just curious, is all.
Does the "mil" refer to millimeters of thick? If so, I could hazard a guess that I've got at least a 4 or 5 mil thickness suit.
I've got a shorty that my Sig Othr bought me, fits great but fairly buoyant. I'm just curious, is all.
Does the "mil" refer to millimeters of thick? If so, I could hazard a guess that I've got at least a 4 or 5 mil thickness suit.
Diver Kat
Contributor
Brad .... I agree with the others above - trying on a wetsuit is a must!! So take her in, find out what fits and what she likes (I love my 3 mil Henderson Hyperstretch!!) then see if the LDS will match a reputable Internet price - my LDS did. When getting a wet suit for my daughter (she plans to get certified this summer) she tried on 4 different types. At almost 6 ft and 155 lbs. she found the Henderson Hyperstrech was the only one comfortable for her frame. My 3 mil gets me by in the lake down to 70, and is still comfortable in the ocean temps in the 80's.
As to fins - I use Apollo Bio-fins with booties - very easy on & off, good power in the water. Pricey but worth the comfort.
Good luck!!
As to fins - I use Apollo Bio-fins with booties - very easy on & off, good power in the water. Pricey but worth the comfort.
Good luck!!
Absolutely,
Of course, I've always likes Sabetha in a wetsuit. *wiggles eyebrows* Sabetha fell in LOVE with my bio-fins. Now she OWNS them which I have had to buy another pair for myself. It's funny how that works. Well worth the money.
-Dennis
Of course, I've always likes Sabetha in a wetsuit. *wiggles eyebrows* Sabetha fell in LOVE with my bio-fins. Now she OWNS them which I have had to buy another pair for myself. It's funny how that works. Well worth the money.
-Dennis
Diver Kat once bubbled...
Brad .... I agree with the others above - trying on a wetsuit is a must!! So take her in, find out what fits and what she likes (I love my 3 mil Henderson Hyperstretch!!) then see if the LDS will match a reputable Internet price - my LDS did. When getting a wet suit for my daughter (she plans to get certified this summer) she tried on 4 different types. At almost 6 ft and 155 lbs. she found the Henderson Hyperstrech was the only one comfortable for her frame. My 3 mil gets me by in the lake down to 70, and is still comfortable in the ocean temps in the 80's.
As to fins - I use Apollo Bio-fins with booties - very easy on & off, good power in the water. Pricey but worth the comfort.
Good luck!!
Thanks for the replies. I will definitely take her down to the LDS and have her try on the wetsuits. I have a Henderson Hyperstretch and its great but tends to get torn up easy on the rocks when digging out lobbies and fish. As far as the fins she has very good leg strength. She works out and rollerblades 10 + miles on Saturdays so she could kick most fins.
Similar threads
