I'm considering a Galapagos trip in September, but I don't like wearing lots of neoprene, and I'm not qualified for drysuits. Would it be reasonable to dive in 20-22C water in a full-length 3mm plus this thing or something similar?
Heated vests for moderately cool water?
- Thread starter Barmaglot
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I have a Thermolution vest under my drysuit. They are made to be used with wetsuits, as well. Never had any issues and know many people who use them. Suggest you look into them.
I wore a drysuit last year in the Galapagos and was happy I did. A couple of sites were warm but the divers in wetsuits complained about the cold at one site.
Hatul
Contributor
I have a Thermalution Yellow Plus with the back heating element. I think it's about 20 watts and it is quite expensive. IMO you should only buy one for wetsuit use with both front and back heating elements. Venture Heat sells them but I believe they're out of stock till June.
The ones with only the back heating are fine for drysuit but not good enough with wetsui.
The ones with only the back heating are fine for drysuit but not good enough with wetsui.
drk5036
Contributor
On a liveaboard trip...I think you’re going to be extremely cold. Diving in those temps for a week in a 5 mm you’re going to be cold...
Part of the problem with this plan is running out of battery on a multidive day is going to put you into a "dive warm - deco cold" scenario which is very bad.
The second part is you are going to freeze between surfacing and getting changed from evaporative cooling.
A drysuit with thin undergarments is much more versatile than a $1000 heater. A thicker wetsuit or semidry is the next step down in desirability to me. The heater and a minimal wetsuit is the absolute worst option. You can patch a drysuit, a 5mm wetsuit plus 3mm vest is nearly impossible fail. A 3mm wetsuit with a broken heater is a ruined trip of a lifetime.
The second part is you are going to freeze between surfacing and getting changed from evaporative cooling.
A drysuit with thin undergarments is much more versatile than a $1000 heater. A thicker wetsuit or semidry is the next step down in desirability to me. The heater and a minimal wetsuit is the absolute worst option. You can patch a drysuit, a 5mm wetsuit plus 3mm vest is nearly impossible fail. A 3mm wetsuit with a broken heater is a ruined trip of a lifetime.
Jack Hammer
Contributor
A 7mil suit is less expensive and more dependable than a heater. I dive very cold, near freezing water. I've forgotten to plug in my heat before, forgotten the battery pack, had charging issues, had a failure, etc. I've never forgot to put a suit on.
a 3mm will not be enough for the amount of diving you will be doing and i personally would not be spending the money on a heated vest just for a trip. but i am a cheap.
at the very least i would do a well fitted 5mm with a cold water hood and boots. maybe even some 3mm gloves. but seeing where you are from i doubt it would be enough for you. cold tolerance can vary widely.
as others suggested, a good 7mm semi dry would be more than enough.
i would only get a dry suit of you planned on using it for other purposes and not just this one trip. i have a scubapro 4mm compressed neoprene dry suit. that would probably be ideal. you might need a pee valve though.
at the very least i would do a well fitted 5mm with a cold water hood and boots. maybe even some 3mm gloves. but seeing where you are from i doubt it would be enough for you. cold tolerance can vary widely.
as others suggested, a good 7mm semi dry would be more than enough.
i would only get a dry suit of you planned on using it for other purposes and not just this one trip. i have a scubapro 4mm compressed neoprene dry suit. that would probably be ideal. you might need a pee valve though.
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