Is 5/4 Too Much For Florida/Hawaii/Cozumel? Poll added

[flstarfish44]

Depends on where and when you plan on doing most of your diving , at least in Florida. If you plan on doing springs mostly while here, then a 5/4 isn't too thick, IMHO. A hood may be overdoing it though. Can't recall the last Florida diver I saw wearing a hood. I dive with a 5mil in the springs and am one happy girl when I see others in a 3 with their teeth chattering.

If you think you'll be doing diving mostly during the late spring/summer/fall off the Fl. coast, then a 5/4 may be overkill. I've even gone w/o wearing a wetsuit when doing ocean diving and felt perfectly comfortable. The only time I think you'd need a 5/4 in the ocean is if you're planning on doing your diving during the winter months in Florida. All three of them.

 

[hlsooner]

I dive in the Pinnacle 5/4 for the the winter months in south Florida. I can't count how many times someone on the boat, usually a tourist visiting, tells me how they are not bothered by the cold and only need a 3mm or shorty. These folks end up sitting out the second dive 50% of the time because they get cold. Get the Pinnacle 5/4 it is my favorite and most versatile suit.

 

[Guppie]

About 90% of you say the 5/4. Perfect during winter, perfect during deep or multi dives in summer (Assuming first dive is probable done in rash guard and BS)

Fusion it is. Thanks Guys.

 

[Gombessa]

I dove a 5mm full on Oahu (where the water stays 70 degrees even to 100fsw); the guy next to me in the boat wore a t-shirt and board shorts. It just depends on how cold you get, and there's nothing wrong or weird with either.

 

[Gato]

I am going through the same thoughts as you as its time for me to get a new suit. I usually dive Cozumel, Roatan or Belize in April and the water temperature usually ranges from about 79 to 83 F. I presently dive with a 3/2 mm full suit with a 3 mm vest. I tend to get cold when the water is on the cooler side, say, 79 to 80 F. And regardless I tend to cold on the 2nd dive even when the temp is 83 F.

I typically dive two morning dives. First one is usually 90+ feet with the second one 50 to 70 feet. From the time I jump in the water until I'm are back on the boat..... about 50 to 60 min. has gone by. (Depth and time in the water makes a big difference on deciding the type thickness and type)

I am looking at getting a custom suit at Aqua flite and I think I have convinced myself to get a full 5 mm jumpsuit.

In addition, my next trip is to Kona in April 08 and I expect the water to be about 75 F. To deal with this cooler water I plan to order my full 5mm suit with a 5 mm sleeveless jacket. (I like to stay away from hoods if I can help it).

So.... I personally don't think a 5/4 mm suit for Cozumel or Hawaii is out of the question. But you can always look at doing a combo like a full 3mm jumpsuit with a 3 mm sleeveless jacket which will give you options. You can where the 3 mm suit by itself or add the jacket for the times you are colder.

That is my two cents worth.

 

[docmartin]

how can a 5mm suit ever be too much in terms of warmth? no one has ever been suffered from heat exhaustion wearing a wet suit in the water. if you truly felt uncomfortable - which you won't - you could just lift you neck seal and let some water in. someone mentioned this already in this thread but i have not ever met a diver who came up from a dive in a wetsuit and said i wish i had been cooler. the only possible downsides to a thicker wetsuit are price, difficulty in donning/doffing and less flexibility.

 

[Rob9000]

I have the Pinnacle Seal and I tend to get cold easy. In June or so I dove Florida in the Jupiter area. Temps were 81 at the surface and 79 at 70 feet or so. I was cold on the second dive with the Seal, 3mm gloves and 5mm booties. I don't remember if I was wearing my beanie.

For my next warm water trip I am planning on wearing a 5mm or thicker hood and bringing a 2mm or 3mm shorty to layer over the Seal if the hood is not enough...and maybe use 5mm gloves instead of 3mm. I think that would be cheaper than taking the loss on selling the Seal and buying a 5/4 or 5mm suit....plus I'd still probably end up buying a shorty for snorkeling.

I don't think the merino adds that much more warmth...if I were going to buy another 3mm suit then I would get the Breaker instead.

 

[kidsdream]

Those that have pinnacle merino, are they warmer like pinnacle claims? Pinnacle says a 3mm is like a 5mm. I may start a new thread (or search) for that question. It's sounding like a 5/4 is a safe way to go. It's a good point that a dive ends when your cold, but not when your warm.

My wife used the 5/4 meino suit during our liveaboard trip to Fiji (lots o dives) and it was the first time she never complained about be cold.

My son has the 3 mm merino suit and also loves it. Of Hawaii or any time the temps go sub-78 the 5/4 is a perfect options IMHO.

 

[djb_1965]

When we go to Florida in the winter months, I use my 7 mil....some people on the boat look at me funny, but I never get cold, and as stated I can always flush some water in the neck, besides like you it is either 7 mil or dry here so I figure why buy a suit I will wear once every 2 years?

 

[D_B]

My first warm water live aboard trip to Florida, 50 to 80ft depth, bottom temps 81* .. I started to get cool at end of first dive in my 3/2 full suit with 5mm boots but only thin reef gloves (kept staring at temp gage and thinking it doesn't feel like 81*, lol) I do remember feet felt comfy .. changed gloves to 3mm and made the rest of the dives that day (4 more) in comfort .. I could see a 5/4 suit being an advantage, you could wear thin gloves for better dextarity and/or thinner booties (not me, I like having "real" boots on) and add them back for cooler temps