Key Largo in March - 3 or 5 mm suit?

[diverrex]

I'm planning my first trip to Key Largo in March and am wondering what the water temp may be and the appropriate wetsuit to keep warm for mutiple days of diving. I currently have a 3mm shorty for Carribean warm waters (80+) and a two piece 7 mm for California water (58-68). Both of those are Henderson hyperstretch and I love them. I'm assuming that Key Largo water in March may be in between those ranges, maybe 72-78. Will a full 3 ml be warm enough in March? I'm thinking a full 3 mm would be fine for the upper end but a little cool if the temp gets down to 72. I'd rather avoid ending up with four suits - 3 mm shorty, 3 mm full, 5 and 7. Any thoughts? Maybe a full 3 plus a hooded vest if I get cold?

 

[del_mo]

How about your 3 mil shorty over your 3 mil full? That works for me in the 72+/- degree range.

 

[H2Andy]

well... it's better to bring a bunch of suits and not use them than not bring them and wish you weren't dying from the cold!

that said, i am THE KING of cold wusses, and i am fine with a 3mm suit in the Keys year-round.

 

[shakeybrainsurgeon]

I've been there in March and used a 3mm full suit...but I have more insulation than most

 

[darylm74]

I was there in March this year and everyone but me used 5 mils. We were diving everyday for 4 days and were doing 4 dives a day so you need to take the number of dives into consideration. I have a 3 mil farmer john (so 6 around the core) and was a tad warm, however it was nice to have the extra when the water was 66 on the Eagle.

 

[Divingguy]

I sure was happy to have my 5 mil when I did multiple dives on multiple days last February. I would always rather be a tad warm, and flush a little water, than get a low body core temp. Perhaps the 3 mil full with hooded vest might be close enough for you.

 

[PARADISE HUNTER]

I'm a thinner guy and I am fine diving in a 3mil in Largo. I can generally handle a fair amount of cold, but I normally only dive two maybe three dives a day. If you are diving more than that, I might recommend the 5mil. I don't like being cold, but I also don't like a thicker weat suit if I can avoid it. Have fun. Dive The Grove, Duane, and French reef. All are great dives.

 

[Jupiter31]

I'm planning my first trip to Key Largo in March and am wondering what the water temp may be and the appropriate wetsuit to keep warm for mutiple days of diving. I currently have a 3mm shorty for Carribean warm waters (80+) and a two piece 7 mm for California water (58-68). Both of those are Henderson hyperstretch and I love them. I'm assuming that Key Largo water in March may be in between those ranges, maybe 72-78. Will a full 3 ml be warm enough in March? I'm thinking a full 3 mm would be fine for the upper end but a little cool if the temp gets down to 72. I'd rather avoid ending up with four suits - 3 mm shorty, 3 mm full, 5 and 7. Any thoughts? Maybe a full 3 plus a hooded vest if I get cold?

take both - the water in March is in the 70's - if you do 2 dives you could start w/ the 3mm and if need be go to the 5mm - I may be "Floridaized" but March is at best a 3mm w/ a full hood or 5mm

Wrong forum to ask this (and not trying to hijack your thread) but I think I need one of the new 5mm or 6mm super stretch - any one dive w/ one of those?

(And dispite global warming, last Sunday afternoon the water was 74 in Jupiter - so maybe we are in for a cold winter down here)

 

[KeyLargoBrent]

How about your 3 mil shorty over your 3 mil full? That works for me in the 72+/- degree range.

That's what I was thinking too. That (and a hood) would probably do the trick for me. But why take the chance? If I had a two piece 7mm, I'd bring just that! You can always add or shed half of it, depending on how you feel.

 

[hlsooner]

Take the 5mm and a hood just in case. You should be fine.