how thick a wetsuit do i need?

[latemp]

i live in hampton roads, va. before i've always rented equipment, but i'm looking to start investing in my own now. how thick of a wet suit do you guys think i need for my area? the dive shop in my area is having a big sale and i've seen 3, 5, and 7mm there. any advice?

 

[nwhitney2003]

What are the diving conditions there? Water temp. for example.

 

[ItMustBeJames]

Filling out your profile will help with this question. For example, I've found that women tend to get cold quicker than men, bigger guys stay warmer than smaller guys, etc. That's just stereotypically though ... YMMV.

I live in Nova. I'm 5'10", 220, and dive a 5-mil. It will keep me warm enough for a 20-30 min dive in 48 deg F water and works fine in NC and Cozumel too.

Will you be diving once a year in warm water? Maybe a 3-mil is good for you. Will you be diving in Lake Rawlings (VA) or similar places? Probably want a 5.

My personal preference is to avoid a 7 mil at all costs. It's clumsy, unwieldy, and you'll overheat like nobody's business on the surface.

Good luck!

 

[stairman]

Id have to disagree with the 7 mm being clumsy.It is thicker and warmer but mind bends in all the right places fine.Yes its hotter on the surface but I buy dive gear to dive.A dry suit is hot out of the water too.Theres nothing like staying warm the whole dive instead of shivering after 30 minutes.I have a Pinnacle 7mm w/s and love it.Some may have the same suit and hate it.Opinions differ on everything.

 

[Gombessa]

I have to disagree with the 7mm not being clumsy, but that's a lot of personal preference there. The REALLY surprising thing is ItMustBeJames happily using a 5mm suit in 48F water. That is OUTRAGEOUS cold tolerance (as in yeah, maybe some people do it regularly, but to *prefer* it over a 7-9mm suit in that temperature? Wow). I would never suggest that for a new diver. In any water regularly lower than 60 degrees, I'd recommend going with a 7-9mm, unless you *know* you can take the cold.

 

[nwhitney2003]

I know people diving in 50 degree water will wear a 2 piece 7mm suit, thus having 14mm on your core. Keeping your core warm will really help in keeping everything warm. Of course you need more weight.

 

[frogman159]

The REALLY surprising thing is ItMustBeJames happily using a 5mm suit in 48F water. That is OUTRAGEOUS cold tolerance (as in yeah, maybe some people do it regularly, but to *prefer* it over a 7-9mm suit in that temperature? Wow). I would never suggest that for a new diver. In any water regularly lower than 60 degrees, I'd recommend going with a 7-9mm, unless you *know* you can take the cold.

In 50 to 55* water I use a 7mm full jumpsuit with a 7mm Bare Hooded arctic vest overtop (covers to mid thigh). I find the jumpsuit vest combo to be a bit warmer than leaky farmer johns. I would use this combo up to 65-70* then I'd shed the arctic vest and go with the 7mm jump.

But the poster above was right about overheating- I've dove when the air temp was 80 and the water temp was 55*- you definitly need to zip up throw your gear on and get in the water. Almost passed out on my checkout dives waiting for everyone in front of me to check thier gear and do a giant stride.

 

[divinginn]

under 60 degrees I use a 7 mill,over I use a 3 mill with a hood under 70 and without a hood over 70,I am pretty cold tolerant though. I think a 5mill would be a good starter suit for temps between 60-75 degrees.

 

[latemp]

thats the thing...i dont know what the water temperature is regualrly like around here. i got certified a long time ago, and even then i beleive we went to a lake somewhere. since then, the only other few dives i did were in hawaii. my last certification was ssi, so i'm about to get certified by padi now. i just registered so im goin to fill out my stufff soon, but im 5'11, 185 and i hate the cold with a pasion. o, and do you guys know where i could find some year long info on water temp in my area?

 

[rawls]

Just call a dive shop and they can give you info on the water temps in your area. I dive off of Beaufort and Morehead City, NC and the Summer temps are in the 80's. Dead of Winter temps in the 50 to 60 degree range depending on whether the wreck is inshore or out near the Gulf Stream. Off shore at Hatteras the temps can vary greatly due to the Laborador currents, so conditions can be cold one day and warm the next. I have dived a 7mm in February and used the 7 mm for several years before I bought a dry suit this year. It is comfortable and kept me warm unless I did a deco. With deco I froze my ass off in the 7 mm. This Winter I will be diving dry. If the Labrador currents do figure into the mix where you are then a 7mm...or drysuit wouldn't be unrealistic...