How Cold do You dive?

[Divin'Papaw]

7 years ago, I made it down to the low 50's with a wetsuit, but the air temps drove me away. After that I got a drysuit and never turned back.

In my book, anyone that dives wet with water temps below 50F just be given a "stud" badge!

Where can I get my badge? I'll glue it to me new drysuit.

 

[JEScholz]

I have found the key to cold water diving wet is a snug fitting wet suit and a good thermos of warm water! I still buddy with a guy in his 50's who dives wet year round! Before I went dry, I would put long underware on, then the wet suit and soak the underware wiht warm water. . For me, warm gloves and boots were most important and when you do start to get cold while into the dive, (not the initial shock) get out quick! 20-30 minutes in water inteh 30's was about the best I could do, and only one dive.

 

[Oldpirate]

I have found the key to cold water diving wet is a snug fitting wet suit and a good thermos of warm water! I still buddy with a guy in his 50's who dives wet year round! Before I went dry, I would put long underware on, then the wet suit and soak the underware wiht warm water. . For me, warm gloves and boots were most important and when you do start to get cold while into the dive, (not the initial shock) get out quick! 20-30 minutes in water inteh 30's was about the best I could do, and only one dive.

Can I get an "AMEN!" for that!?

Heck, I even wear the AGA full face mask if I'm not diving deep!

 

[redacted]

I'm good to the low 50s in a 5mm jumpsuit with 5mm hooded vest and a chemical heater down the front going about 40 ft for 40 minutes. I'm hoping to find out if I'm still good into the high 40's in the next couple weeks. One dive only.

 

[Notso_Ken]

Hey you folks up there........what is your cold water threashold in a 6.5MM 2 piece farmer john? About 13MM across body core.

Regards,

I've got a 7mm 2 piece suit, and have done 3 40ish minute dives to about 60 feet with 43 degree water in one day, with decent air temps.

With cold air temps, it's hard to get past 2, and to do that I need a second farmer john, so the layer next to me is dry for the second dive. New Years Day I only did one dive (41 degrees at 97 feet for 35-40 minutes).



Ken

 

[Dan Gibson]

Just go try that at about 80 feet at Gilboa. I gets cold quick when the suit compresses. The Indiana quarries around here just aren't deep enough to compress 7 mil suits to the point where it's very uncomfortable for short durations.

Several Indiana divers dove wet on 1/7 (?), and the water temps were 44 degrees, with no thermocline. Some dove a 9 mil full suit, with lenthy bottom times! I believe it's all in what YOU can tolerate. I dove a 7 mil farmer john with a 1 mil under it, and NEVER got cold. Granted... my dive wasn't too long, BUT, I was IN the water for quite some time.

I got cold when I was changing clothes, but there were heaters set up at one of the cabanas that helped warm me up afterwards. (Not to mention all the hot chocolate and cookout!)

 

[parrothead600]

My last trip to Lake 16 was an air temp of 50, surface temp of 47, bottom temp of 41. I managed to get in 2 dives that day with a 6.5mm 2pc. First dive was to 81' max for 32 minutes, second dive was to 72' max for 45 minutes. That was without pre-warming my wetsuit.

 

[MSP Diver]

I dove all last year in a 5mm, half were below 2nd and 3rd thermoclines. The lowest temp were around 35 degrees. As the general board consensus states, getting out is what gets you. I have since purchased a semi-dry.

 

[gtxl1200]

As you can see by most of the post Save up for a dry if you live in the midwest or north like we do. Dry will extend your season comfortably.Plus you can drop tons of weight off with a trilam or bag type drysuit I wear less with my dry suit then I did the two or three times I dove wet.

 

[tstormdiver]

In my book, anyone that dives wet with water temps below 50F just be given a "stud" badge!

How about us ladies that have done 41 degrees in a 2pc. 6.5mm wetsuit?

However, I've also gone dry.