? mil in Coz.

[dwhef]

Hey all, a nubie here. Going to Cozumel in a couple of weeks. Water temp is currently 82degree. I am renting a suit ( if needed) to take with me. So the Question is....do I need one and if so , what? 1 mil, 3 mi, a shorty....? please help. All my diving to this point has been in Monterey, Ca. temp..50 degrees. Snorkeled in Caymen but never dived in warm water yet

 

[sexysadie]

I wore a shorty for warm diving similar to yours but could just have easily gone without a suit at all. It did provide me with some protection from the elements, though. The next time I do any warm diving I plan to wear only a skin for pure protection. Have a great trip. You'll love it!

 

[scorpionfish]

Hi, DWHef!

I am not of the hardy t-shirt and bathing suit crowd! We go to Coz 2-3 times a year and here is what we tend to wear:

Dec/Feb--3 mil Henderson Gold for me & 5 mil Henderson Gold for my better(much better!) half;

April-July--Dive Fleece for me & 3 mil or 5 mil Henderson Gold for the same much better half.

We tend not to visit Coz during the other months of the year. In Nov, I think the water temp will more likely be 80 deg F and not 82.

Whilst jellyfish are a relative rarity this time of year on Coz, I still think it is prudent to wear a full exposure suit--skin, fleece, neoprene--due to things like coral. Even though we are not supposed to touch the coral, an occasion surge might do that--that full suit will help minimize the damage.

Enjoy Coz--it is some of the very best diving in North America!

Scorpionfish

 

[dwhef]

Thanks for the advice ladies and gent. Scorpionfish, I seem to be getting alot of great advice from you, where do I send the check?

 

[dhom88]

We're going to Cozumel in mid-December. It's our first time too!

I'm planning on bringing my 1mm jumpsuit. I'll rent a shorty to wear over it if I get cold after repetitive dives.

I second scorpionfish's recommendation to wear a full suit in any conditions. When I was in the Gulf of Thailand in October, I kept getting little irritating stings from what the locals called stinging plankton. I really couldn't see anything in the water, but would occasionally swim through an area that mildly stung any bit of exposed skin.

Dave

 

[Welshman]

Suggest you wear a full suit both for protection against stinging things and to keep you warm if you are doing a number of dives each day. remember you will lose heat even if the water is 82f since you are at 98.4. You will not overheat in the water.

regards

 

[nitroxbabe]

It's true that it's better to wear a full exposure suit for protection.

On my last trip, I dove in 82 degree water repetitively. 1st day 5 dives, 2nd 4, 3rd 4. At first I was in a titanium skin w/ beanie. By the 7th dive I put on my 3mil w/ beanie. I find that the beanie helps hold in a little extra heat. But do be prepared - you WILL lost heat on repetitive dives!

 

[MgicTwnger]

A full suit for sure, even if only a skin. I was in Coz in July and did one dive with only a vest, since my skin was getting a split seam repaired. I brushed up against something that gave me the welt from hell on my calf.
Strangely, I treated it with vinegar & water, and it seemed OK until about a week later, when my ankle swelled up like a balloon. A week on antibiotics did the trick, but it sure sucked.

 

[Nudi]

Got back from Coz a week ago. A 3/2mm full suit worked out well. Lots of repetitive dives.