Ideas for a Lightweight, Modular Wetsuit Setup for Warm-Water Diving

[giovannirescia]

Hi everyone,
I’m building a lightweight, modular dive kit for warm-water diving so I can travel easily across multiple destinations without carrying a full thick wetsuit. My main destinations are tropical locations (South-east Asia, Mexico, Egypt, etc).

My plan is to mix and match things like: rash guard, 3mm neoprene top, 1-3mm neoprene leggings, 1mm cargo short with pocket. A 3mm shorty could also work but I want to be able to use a 3mm neoprene leggings.

The idea is to layer up or down depending on water temp, keep packing size minimal, and make putting on/taking off quick and comfortable.

My questions are:

• What other pieces or combos would you recommend for this kind of travel-light, warm-water diving?
• Do you think I should skip the shorty and just rely on top/leggings combos?
• Any specific brands/models of 1–3 mm leggings or tops you’ve found durable and comfy?

Thanks in advance! I’d love to hear your ideas, especially from folks who dive across multiple warm-water destinations with minimal gear.

 

[Brett Hatch]

Nice idea, I'm interested in what folks have to say. I have only owned one 3mm wetsuit from Deep6, which was great, but it is has been discontinued for years, and the time has come to retire it. Today I ordered a new 3mm from MAKO Spearguns, in part due to seeing good reviews for them here on ScubaBoard. I expect that it will serve me well, but can't provide a review at this time. It is a two-piece open-cell suit, so it should be very warm for its thickness

I will say that adding a hood to your bag won't cost you much in terms of space or weight, but it will help a lot when it comes to heat retention on a colder dive. I'd much rather have a 3mm full suit + 5mm hood than a 3mm full suit + 3mm shorty, that's for damn sure. We lose more heat from our heads and necks than any other part of the body. Hooded vests are also a better option than shorties for layering on top of a full suit, but they're a little bulkier in the bag. YMMV

Cheers

 

[MAKO Spearguns]

We have a set of products that I think should serve you well.

In tropical waters, sun protection is a huge issue, that is one reason why I think our 3-piece lycra package is very popular. Pants, top and matching hood.

Full Body Spearfishing Rash Guard 3 Piece Bundle

This is the most amazing lycra dive skin package available. High quality camouflage patterns at an amazing price! Includes pants, rashguard and Hood.

makospearguns.com

For times when it is a little bit cool, you may also want to also carry a 2 mm full suit. This back zip suit provides a slight bit of warmth and if you wear is with a lycra hood and lycra top underneath, you can peel the top down on the boat and remain pretty comfortable and retain full sun protection.

1-piece Reversible 2mm Camo Spearfishing Wetsuit (Blue / Green)

This is the ultimate warm water spearfishing wetsuit for both blue water hunting and reef hunting. Includes comfortable chest loading pad on both sides.

makospearguns.com

 

[Cornbread O'Malley]

I’m building a lightweight, modular dive kit for warm-water diving so I can travel easily across multiple destinations without carrying a full thick wetsuit. My main destinations are tropical locations (South-east Asia, Mexico, Egypt, etc).

My plan is to mix and match things like: rash guard, 3mm neoprene top, 1-3mm neoprene leggings, 1mm cargo short with pocket. A 3mm shorty could also work but I want to be able to use a 3mm neoprene leggings.

The idea is to layer up or down depending on water temp, keep packing size minimal, and make putting on/taking off quick and comfortable.

My questions are:

• What other pieces or combos would you recommend for this kind of travel-light, warm-water diving?
• Do you think I should skip the shorty and just rely on top/leggings combos?
• Any specific brands/models of 1–3 mm leggings or tops you’ve found durable and comfy?

What you have in mind is very similar to my exposure protection combination for my warm water kit.

1. I wear a long-sleeve rash guard top, UPF 50.

2. For rash guard bottoms I wear leggings, like this: Cressi rash guard pants.

3. In cooler water temperatures, I wear a long-sleeve top from Fourth Element, like this: Thermocline long-sleeve top. I like the Fourth Element garment because it is lighter than neoprene, folds much easier in the luggage bag, and dries faster than neoprene. The garment is about 2.5mm in thickness but is designed to give you the same thermal protection as 3mm neoprene (at least it does for me).

4. I wear tech shorts with pockets over my rash guard bottoms. I find most tech shorts use neoprene 3mm in thickness. My tech shorts double as exposure protection for my lower body and provides a place to stow my gear during a dive. My knees and calves don't have thermal protection, but I am still comfortable while diving.

5. A hood (as Brett Hatch recommends). I bring on my trips several hoods of varying thicknesses. I always wear a hood on my dives. Mostly it is a bib-less 3mm hood. When the water temperature cools or I want some extra warmth, I wear a 2mm bibbed hood over the other hood. I also have a beanie with chin strap for very warm waters and controlling my hair.

The above has kept me comfortable in water temperatures down to 24 Celsius (75 Fahrenheit) and in all the locations you mentioned. In very warm waters, I go without the Fourth Element top and just wear the rash guard.

I think you can drop the 3mm shorty and save on luggage requirements if you can find suitable thermal tops and bottoms.

I hope this helps. I suggest you do some experimenting and find what works best for your personal preferences.

 

[giovannirescia]

Thanks for sharing that, it's really helpful!

3. In cooler water temperatures, I wear a long-sleeve top from Fourth Element, like this: Thermocline long-sleeve top. I like the Fourth Element garment because it is lighter than neoprene, folds much easier in the luggage bag, and dries faster than neoprene. The garment is about 2.5mm in thickness but is designed to give you the same thermal protection as 3mm neoprene (at least it does for me).

Do you sometimes happen to wear something underneath it? like your rash guard or a vest.

4. I wear tech shorts with pockets over my rash guard bottoms. I find most tech shorts use neoprene 3mm in thickness. My tech shorts double as exposure protection for my lower body and provides a place to stow my gear during a dive. My knees and calves don't have thermal protection, but I am still comfortable while diving.

Do you mind sharing which ones you use? I've been looking at the Scuba Pro and Akuna ones.

 

[Cornbread O'Malley]

Do you sometimes happen to wear something underneath it? like your rash guard or a vest.

I always wear the rash guard underneath my Fourth Element Thermocline top. The reason is the Thermocline top's interior lining "grabs" the bare skin making donning and doffing the garment quite laborious. The fabric of the rash guard helps the Thermocline top "slide" much more easily while donning and doffing.

Do you mind sharing which ones you use? I've been looking at the Scuba Pro and Akuna ones.

I use the tech shorts from Halcyon: Halcyon tech shorts. I'm not partial to any brand; I just happened to find the Halcyon shorts locally, tried it on, and liked the large cargo pockets. The varieties of Scuba Pro and Akuna you listed will work just as well.

 

[bradlw]

3mm Farmer john and jacket. I've dove pretty much every dive with some combination of it.... or when the water is really warm, just my boardshorts. I think it offers great versatility. My jacket is long sleeve/short pants.

I did eventually add what I call a rash guard, but it's more than just a skin...it's a 1mm/2mm surfing "shirt". Need to replace it though since it's very old and 'flat'

I do still have an old sharkskin fleece full suit that I used to wear under it when it was really cold in the winter (Florida) but I never used it much. Ditto the 3/5mm semidry suit that I have, barely used

I think that if I could find a slightly lighter farmer john/jacket...like a 2mm or a 2/3...coupled with that surfer shirt and maybe a hooded vest for winter, that would be a pretty good combo for what you're proposing.

 

[Bump_Head]

I’m currently travelling with a very similar setup. I did end up adding a 3mm vest due to some cold currents around Indonesia. Also carry a 5mm hood.
I’d say leave out the 3mm shorty as these are the most common rental option, well, everywhere.

 

[MB NZ]

You could save yourself money, hassle and carrying weight by buying a well fitting full length 3mm suit. Has anyone ever been too hot while wearing a 3mm suit on SCUBA? Personally, I'd want more than that e.g. hood and vest or even a 5mm suit.

 

[bradlw]

You could save yourself money, hassle and carrying weight by buying a well fitting full length 3mm suit. Has anyone ever been too hot while wearing a 3mm suit on SCUBA? Personally, I'd want more than that e.g. hood and vest or even a 5mm suit.

yes

well, not a full suit, but with my 3mm jacket (long sleeves and short legs)
but that's one thing I like about the Farmer John style...the front sipper makes venting it very easy.