How cold is too cold for wetsuits?

[ComputerJoe]

Boy some do have differing opinions of cold. I had two buddies that dove with me in 34 degree water, after priming their suits with very warm water kept in thermos's. They used those usless 7mm suits mentioned. We were at about 10' for 60 minutes with 200+ feet of visibility. Technically it was an ice dive but the ice was only 1/2" thick. The ice was clear as glass and I was tempted to swim out under the two swans that were out on the ice. One of my most memorable dives! Neither said they even go near being cold.

You go for it Dude/Dudette!

I think that what you come out of the water to is as important as what you go in with. Get a nice bon-fire burning, a heated trailer or fish shanty will work as well.

 

[spectrum]

Boy some do have differing opinions of cold. I had two buddies that dove with me in 34 degree water, after priming their suits with very warm water kept in thermos's. They used those usless 7mm suits mentioned. We were at about 10' for 60 minutes with 200+ feet of visibility. Technically it was an ice dive but the ice was only 1/2" thick. The ice was clear as glass and I was tempted to swim out under the two swans that were out on the ice. One of my most memorable dives! Neither said they even go near being cold.

You go for it Dude/Dudette!

I think that what you come out of the water to is as important as what you go in with. Get a nice bon-fire burning, a heated trailer or fish shanty will work as well.

I think there is a world of difference between what I can do, would do in a pinch and would do on an ongoing basis.

I agree that in most cases changing down afterwards is the most severe part of a really cold water wetsuit dive. I went with one guy who brought a pop-up duck blind. Out of the wind with a little greenhouse effect going in there he said it was nice.

Pete

 

[Dean810]

Cold water wetsuit diving is one of the reasons God created urine. You can always rinse yourself and your suit off later. Drink lots of fluids before your dive. Try it, you'll like it.

Swimming around in your own urine? THAT'S the ticket!

 

[MgicTwnger]

As far as when to stop diving wet- I stopped diving wet when I bought a drysuit

Me too for the most part. I just pull on the wetsuit for a change of pace.

Bottom line is to go dry when wet becomes an unplesant experience.

 

[Pat Mustard]

Thanks all

This is going to be expensive, went to rent gear and ended up buying a BC.

My wife and I spent a very enjoyable hour in 58F water between 20 & 30'. I think being an excited newbie may have helped make the water tolerable anyway, but with 7mm, hoods, etc, we were toasty for ages.

I did briefly consider peeing in the wetsuit, but it was a rental, then I wondered what the etiquette was with rental suits, then I wondered who might have peed in it already, then I stopped thinking about it! :11:

With the wind topside I see what you mean about the SI, as soon as I took that wetsuit off, brrr...

 

[MgicTwnger]

Just FYI..peeing in your wetsuit actually cools you down. The pee carries heat from your body and dissipates it. And forget about not peeing in your own suit, it's only a matter of time.:11doh:

 

[texdiveguy]

I can and have done the upper 40's in a 7mil suit....cold but it can be done.....I use a 7mil as a fall early winter suit....then switch to my dry suit.

 

[Greg_MacMaster]

One of the things that should be noted is the surface interval. Depth is not the issue. I've been in water that was warmer at 120' then at 40'. But as the seasons change, the air temp can get colder. If you come out of the water wet, you will probably be colder than if you come out dry. You don't usually see dry suit divers pour hot water down thier drysuits after a dive!

Sfc Int. may be an issue...but try saying that after 15 minutes at 150 ft. (water temp at 37°F) in a 9 mil wetsuit... THEN come up and lets talk Sfc. Int. And I do agree, anytime out of water where its colder... Get me in dry clothes ASAP!

 

[AlaskaDiver]

I dive dry up to 75F. Why be uncomfortable underwater on a long or deep dive? Drysuits are so versatile.

 

[Notso_Ken]

I dive dry up to 75F. Why be uncomfortable underwater on a long or deep dive? Drysuits are so versatile.

But not everybody is uncomfortable in the cold deep water. I dive both wet and dry, min temp to date 36*, and I have had the same comfort level in the water in both types of suit.

Ken