need help wet/dry suit?

[bobby-in-mass]

help!!!!!
I live on the south shore and new to diving.
I am going to buy a suit but need to know what do most people use in new england cold water?
would a 7mm suit be warm?
or better off with dry suit?
do I need any special equipment with a dry suit?
I have everything but a suit
please help
thanks
bob

 

[decapoddiver]

Most people wear a 2 peice 7mm suit. It all depends on your tolerance for cold. I have a buddy who says "My one piece 7 mm suit is fine. I just need a couple hours between dives to warm back up " I personally dive dry but did 5 years of wet before that and really liked it. There are pros/cons to both.

Asking what you should get is like asking people to tell you exactly how much alcohol it will take you personally to be drunk. Everyone is different.


P.S. My "2 hour between dives" buddy just bought a drysuit after three years. FWIW

 

[Diesel298]

all i have to say is....
...............................
Unisuit

 

[ScubaSarus]

Actually if you do a lot of diving you may want a collection of suits for the 4 seasons New England offers and pieces that you can mix and match. But as a baseline, a 7mm Farmer John is usually used.

 

[Scubar]

I would get a 7mm wet suit, It will do fine for late spring through the fall. If you find you are diving quite a bit you may want to invest in a dry suit. A DS will allow you to dive year round. I have been diving dry for the last 2 years here, I have not used my 7mm since.

 

[spectrum]

If we are talking about diving in the immediate future like February, March, April then a drysuit is certainly the preferred configuration.

Wet dives can be made but usually not closely spaced repetetive dives. A 7mm suit is the norm for diving wet. You want 2x on your core. I prefer a fullsuit with a hooded step-in vest but Johns & jackets are also common.

A new neoprene drysuit can be had for $500. Keep in mind will need approprriate garments to wear under the suit. If you have good cold weather outdoor gear like wicking layers you can apply some of those items to your diving. Drysuit boots will fit your fins differently and this may mean new fins. Getting your weights into some sort od system with shoulder straps is very adviasable. In other words that $500 drysuit can soon be a $1000. endeavor. The suit may or may not come with it's LP hose, you will need an open LP port that can route to your chest. Lastly you may or may not opt for DS training. Often it can be negotiated to make the sale.

Personally I thoroughly enjoy diving wet from mid June into October. The drysuit lets the fun continue.

One huge advantage to diving dry is changing out after the dive. Stripping down wet in the cold winter breeze is often the worst part of the outing. With a drysuit your step out in your undergarments and change dry as needed.

help!!!!!
I live on the south shore and new to diving.
I am going to buy a suit but need to know what do most people use in new england cold water?
would a 7mm suit be warm?
or better off with dry suit?
do I need any special equipment with a dry suit?
I have everything but a suit
please help
thanks
bob

 

[scubabear6]

Gotto go with scubar on this. If you find yourself diving alot and want to continue into the winter months then a dry suit is what you want. Just a little expensive. I bought my dry suit this year and love it.

 

[PaulChristenson]

help!!!!!
I live on the south shore and new to diving.
I am going to buy a suit but need to know what do most people use in new england cold water?
would a 7mm suit be warm?
or better off with dry suit?
do I need any special equipment with a dry suit?
I have everything but a suit
please help
thanks
bob

Drysuit...then your cost per dive goes down

Paul in VT

 

[johnnyseko]

There are a few of us still diving wet this winter!!

I've been debating a d/s purchase since November....

So far diving wet has been going pretty well. The weather has been unseasonably warm, though. I am also diving a 1.5mm skin, 7mm full suit AND 7mm hooded vest. Extremely bouyant!! Cold in the water is not the issue.
Very difficult between dives when there is even the slightest cool breeze, nevermind a windy, snowy day!
Post dive(s) changing at the car can be a pain, especially if your fingers dont want to work due to the cold. If you can handle the 5min or less outside during the change back to clothes, wet will work. If you could afford to go dry and dont want the hassle of stripping wet neo in below freezing weather then get the drysuit. I will eventually but right now it seems like a lot of money just to make that 5minutes after the dives more comfortable.

....Welcome to SB, btw!!

 

[JohnL]

7mm with a 7 or 5mm vest will work. A bit chilly below 45 deg but tolerable if you arent doing longer or deeper dives.