Greetings and thank you for the wealth of knowledge

[midlifewoman]

And thanks as well, @Curious_George !

 

[midlifewoman]

@Mrs. B It looks like I have a very similar build to you, small frame and lean. I eat a ton... very high caloric intake and no insulation on my ribcage. I experimented with different hoods and found improvement with one that had a yoke and really limited influx of water. The vest you are recommending looks like exactly what I was hoping to find.
I have a Cressi 5/7 suit I love that has a terry-like lining, but I def need a hood. I miscalculated thinking I didn't need that thickness for this last dive and wore a 3/5... but think that some unintentional weight loss and hormonal issues worsened my already poor cold tolerance. Learning through experience, but hope to benefit from the wealth of experience here!

 

[Mrs. B]

The hyperstretch fabric is good for your hair because you can put conditioner on before the dive.

 

[midlifewoman]

I have ultra short hair and don't condition but glad to see there is reef-safe hair conditioner... I wonder if it truly is? A DM active in reef restoration told me that many "reef safe" products actually are not.

 

[Mrs. B]

It’s a good thing I wear the hood then.

But it evens out since I don’t use sunscreen and ride a bike to the store.

 

[midlifewoman]

I'm a bike commuter as well! High five!