Mexico cave diving undergarments recommendation

[Tonnerre de Brest]

Hi everyone,



I’m currently planning a cave diving trip in Mexico in August.



I usually cave dive in France where I use Seaskin tech base layers (top and bottom) and Thinsulate 250 Seasking undersuit (water is around 13°C/55F all year long). Most of the time c.1h dives, never been cold, unless a couple of times when I had a leak (wrist seals and dump valve).



It will be my 3rd cave diving trip in Mexico, and I usually come with the same undersuit I use in France. The problem is that this undergarment is very bulky and takes up a lot of space in my suitcase, making it a livinh hell to pack, while being too warm for the waters of Mexico.



I have so far identified the 4th element Arctic undersuit and it seems a good option to me (less bulky and maybe easier to carry around, especially in the 2-piece version). According to what I read, it could be a good option since I could wear it alone, or with a base layer, depending on the water temperature.



I’m also open to any suggestions you might have, many thanks for your help.

 

[boulderjohn]

For dives of that length in Mexican caves, I have always worn a simple 5mm wetsuit and never been cold. If I were diving a drysuit, I would use the lightest undergarment I own.

 

[rongoodman]

For dives of that length in Mexican caves, I have always worn a simple 5mm wetsuit and never been cold. If I were diving a drysuit, I would use the lightest undergarment I own.

I added a hooded vest to the 5mm and was OK.

 

[Tonnerre de Brest]

Thank you for the replies !

Forgot to mention, I’m only diving dry

 

[inquis]

I use the FE Arctics for the 13C/55F range. I've been told they're equivalent to about 200 gsm Thinsulate garments. I use Xerotherms in FL and Mexico (22-26C / 72-79F), which are supposed to be equivalent to about 100 gsm.

 

[DDKL]

I’m a fan of an Arctics or Xerotherm with a long sleeve thermal tshirt for longer MX dives in a trilam suit with a 3mm hood.

 

[Jack Hammer]

I think it's all relevant to personal tolerances, number of dives daily and trip total, and definately length of each dive.

I started with a Santi 200gm over some light weight wool undergarments. Way too hot on 3hr dives. Tried just the base layers, got very cold after about an hour. Switched to just the Santi with no base layer and light weight wool socks (the kind for sneakers) and was happy for dives between 2-5hrs. For reference, Our daily diving was either one long dive, up to 5 hrs, or two shorter dives of about 5hrs combined. That was over a week of daily diving.

I think my Arctics would have been way too hot for me. They also take up more space than the 200gm Santi did. My 3mm hood was used or not depending on how I felt the dive before.

 

[missionmtb]

For 2+ hours 2 times a day I'm pretty happy in a crushed neoprene and weezle compact. Everyone I've dove with that had a wetsuit regretted it. YMMV.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Arctics are overkill for me in Mexico. For dives up to about 2 hours I wear a polarfleece top and pants from REI (an outdoor store). I think they are aimed at hikers/campers.

 

[Comm]

I have been trying to figure out the same. I am heading down to Tulum to do cave diving in the fall ... what is the water temperature in MX? I imagine it is higher than the 70-72F that we get in the FL caves