Lake Travis protection advice...

[svnipp]

I'm planning on hitting Lake Travis with the fine folks from LTS the weekend of Sept. 11th. Being a complete and utter novice, what you you guys recommend for exposure protection? I'll most likely have a 3mil shorty on hand, but is this going to be enough at depth? The lake information indicates currently about 69F at 60', so I'm wondering if a shorty is enough protection? I'm going to be sinking a wad of cash into gear, hopefully this week, so the budget is going to be strained for a while on additional purchases.

I assume that I'm going to want/need gloves as I just might get luck enough to salvage some loot. I'm pretty leery of picking up anything underwater without gloves in the event that what I think I'm grabbing is not what it appears to be or that there might be some hidden sharp edges. I don't like the thought of slicing open a finger 50' down.

Anyway, if I need a full suit I assume that a 3mil would be enough? I'm thinking about getting a 5mil since I figure I'll end up diving Valhalla sometime in the future and I think this is the minimum to hit that water. I would rather be able to hold off on the 5mil if I don't absolutely need it. I guess the only other question would be on a hood. Is this really necessary for Travis?

 

[cavemn]

I've been diving a Hollis Dry Suit to 90'+ at Windy Point. I went in shorts and t-shirt last time and didn't feel cold until 113'. It's more like 64 at that depth. My dive buddy is using his regular thermals under his and feels comfortable.

So, it depends on your comfort level in cold water. To save money I would recommend you put your shorty over a 3mil full wet suit and start from there. Otherwise a 5mil full is good. Dry suit if you plan on diving Travis other than the summer in August. You will need at least 3mil gloves and a hood too.

 

[Dave55]

depends entirely on how deep you want to go. Most of the LTS dive sites offer the flexibility to go as deep or as shallow as you like. I have found that visibility at Lake Travis is deteriorating rapidly at the shallow depths. You need to go down to 50' or below to find the good viz. I find that a 5/3mil is comfortable but some of my dive buddies get by with 3mil and a rashguard underneath. Definitely plan on a hood and gloves.

 

[James R]

I've been in a 3mm + 3mm hooded vest and it's fine to 70ffw...below that, I prefer my 5mm + hooded vest.

Saturday 8/14 temps:
104' = 62 degrees
75' = 66 degrees
60' = 69 degrees
40' = 77 degrees (vis much worse here and up)

 

[jalistair]

Last weekend surface water was around 90 degrees, at 92 feet the temp was around 66 degrees, I was in a full 3mm wet suit and it does get a bit cool down there. As soon as I start to get cold I will swim around at that depth for a bit, get used to it, and then go deeper. It really is up to you though. Ah one last thing, I swim down to 40-50' with just swim trunks and no wet suit. I like to get just below the first thermalcline and cool the body down a bit. But thats just me. And I pick up stuff all the time with no gloves