How Cold Do You Go

[hecker-the-wrecker]

45F in lake superior, it was cold. We are going again this weekend, but i'll be trying out my new d.u.i. 450, I should be just a little warmer, but I'm nervous about the temp. I think if I can do it wet, dry should be no problem!!

 

[Mako Mark]

You guys have got to be joking,

either that or I have completely lost any sence of reality after living in the tropics for twelve years. I dive dry if it gets bellow 25°C/75°F for long cave dives, and wouldnt even think about diving below 20°C/70°F wet any more.

I guess that is what happens when you aclimatize and own a drysuit.

 

[pennypue]

I guess that is what happens when you aclimatize and own a drysuit.

Or lose all sense of reality.

 

[Mako Mark]

Or lose all sense of reality.

I realized that I didnt have what most people consider a "sense of reality" when living in Bangkok stopped being strange and started to feel normal.
.

 

[skeet]

i just got back from the lake. i made two dives, first was 70 ft,vis was 2ft, temp 63 F. second dive 40-30 ft, vis was 8 ft, temp 63 F. i wore my 7 mm onepiece with a 4 mm hooded vest, felt great except where i have a gap between boots and legs.

 

[s7595]

anytime the water temp is below 60deg ,I dive dry .the water mostly is cold were I live in summer water temps 48-55 deg. so dry is the most comfy way for me.winter time in fla at the springs water temp was 68deg 7mil wet suit worked fine.

 

[Quarrior]

I dive a 7mm FJ in 42 degree water.

 

[fmw625]

I dove in 65 deg. water with a .5 mm dive skin and a hood. Stayed down about an hour. No problems until surfacing to a strong wind. Thought I was going to freeze before getting back to shore and drying off. Stayed a while in my truck with the heater on high. I too am a WWW. Probably would have been better in a 5 or 7 mm.
Just can't afford one right now.

 

[down4fun]

I dove in 65 deg. water with a .5 mm dive skin and a hood. Stayed down about an hour..

:11: You're either crazy or dedicated. My last dives were in 75 Degrees and I had on a 3mm full with a 3mm shorty over it and a hood. And I still called my dive short by the fourth tank.

No problems until surfacing to a strong wind. Thought I was going to freeze before getting back to shore and drying off. Stayed a while in my truck with the heater on high.

Two words: Dive Parka. Best money I ever spent. The winter holidays are coming so put it on your list.

 

[Rick Inman]

I think that depth has to be taken into consideration, too. At 100', a 7mm wet suit is crushed into 4mm.
I did a dive to 100' in a 7mm in 50f water and got hypothermia. I was roasting hot on the surface (90f temp at night), sweating like a pig in my 7mm waiting for my buddy. We hit the water and dropped right down to 100'. I started shaking 15 mins into the dive and didn't stop until 2am.
Now I dive dry all the time (unless on tropical vacation) in temps down to 36f.