New Divers, question on wetsuit purchasing?

[Mulliganx]

Hey guys,

My girlfriend and I will be undergoing schuba OW certification and looking to purchase wetsuits.

We live in NY and will be doing our immediate OW around Long Island, and in Dutch Springs PA.

Once we receive our OW cert we may do some seldom wreck diving around Long Island, but we will be looking forward to doing dives in the Caribbean, (maybe FL), and maybe even Thailand.

What mm wet suit is recommended? I am told by the salesperson 5mm for Caribbean and NY Area, but I wanted to double check on the boards.

Also, I was only able to try on the Neoprene (very tight!) but was interested in purchasing the Thermoprene instead for the extra stretch. What do you guys think?

Any recommended brands also?

Thanks for help

 

[herbdb]

If you are going to dive Dutch Springs a 5mm is not enough for most people even at the end of the season. My son is always cold in a 7mm suit with a hooded vest. I am very cold tolerant and dive a 5mm merino lined suit. This is good for one dive at Dutch until the water starts to warm in July.

Before you buy a suit, rent and figure out your cold tolerence. A 7mm farmer john will provide your best wet suit protection. A 5 mm will probably be marginal for most people. The same goes for NJ diving.

In the carribean you can dive a 3mm or less most of the time. I dive a 3/2 shortie, one son dives 3 mm full and the oldest just a dive skin top. It is unlikely that one suit will work well for both.

The good thing is that the warm water suits are fairly inexpensive. I think you should rent a suit until you determine what you will need at home then spend your money on good cold water gear.

You will enjoy your "home" area diving more if you are comfortable. You will be fine in the carribean in just about any 3mm wetsuit, or in the summer just a swimsuit.

 

[Sieg@VU]

Not sure about your local water temps in the NY area, but I would venture to say that a 3mm is the most common suit used in the Caribbean.

 

[Mulliganx]

Yeah I had asked the sales person about the 3mm in the Caribbean and she had said that the air from the regular is so cold (stated it is basically like compressed air out of a can) that it will cool my body so much that a 3mm will not be enough which is why we should go with a 5mm.

This was all per the person at the scuba store, wanted to verify with everyone here

 

[TMHeimer]

I agree with the renting idea, unless you are certain of your cold tolerance. Otherwise, no way to tell as everyone is different. I have used my 7 mil in N. Florida in winter and my shortie in NY area in summer. Water temps. everywhere vary with season of course, but at times also with wind direction. In Panama I used a body suit for protection only-- bathing suit would've been fine also--water temp. was 76F there. I've also used the shortie in temps. less than 60 if the air temp. for between dives is like 95. All depends.

 

[Sieg@VU]

You might also consider a layering approach. Here in the midwest, I often wear my 3mm jumpsuit with a core warmer over it for local diving in the summer. Check out the options from Henderson.

 

[hroark2112]

It really depends on your tolerance for cold.

I was in a 5mm in 55 degree water with a hood & gloves and was just fine, and then in shorts & a t-shirt last month. I'm fine in a 3/2 at 70.

 

[Sieg@VU]

Just a couple of additional comments as you ponder your suit decision:

Since it is common for dive stores to provide wetsuits for OW students in training, like others have suggested, wait until after your certification to determine what thickness makes sense for each of you for local diving based on your actual experience. Then you can decide if you need more or less protection. Just remember that the thicker the suit, the more lead you'll need to carry - especially in salt water.

Additionally, when it comes to determining your "tolerance" for cold, keep in mind that there is a huge difference between being able to make it thru a dive or two vs. being comfortable on repetitive dives over multiple days. Proper exposure protection & comfort is important, and shouldn't be a matter of what you are able to endure....that usually isn't fun for most of us.

As a personal preference, when it comes to Caribbean diving, I generally suggest a full suit (whether a skin or a 5mm), not only for appropriate warmth as/if needed, but also for protection against an unplanned encounter with stinging things (like a bit of jellyfish tentacle).....just a thought.

Have fun and enjoy your OW certification class!

 

[Steve_C]

It is not just where you dive but often when you dive. I dive some out of Key Largo. Diving in late July is definitely not the same as diving in late January.

If you start doing 3 or 4 dives, a suit that seemed warm on dive one can get pretty chilly on dive 4 even in warm water areas.

The point is to have fun.

You will also find that as you become a better diver you use your muscles less which can chill you faster since you generate less heat from the muscles. Also your dives last longer as your air consumption rate drops so again there is more chilling.

 

[oly5050user]

Yeah I had asked the sales person about the 3mm in the Caribbean and she had said that the air from the regular is so cold (stated it is basically like compressed air out of a can) that it will cool my body so much that a 3mm will not be enough which is why we should go with a 5mm.

This was all per the person at the scuba store, wanted to verify with everyone here

If this was said at the store where you are getting your training I think you should cancel your class and go elsewhere.The salesperson does not know what she is talking about..Depending on your physical size and tolerance to cold you may want anything from a 3mm to a 5mm for your pool class and any island trips you may be planning. If you only tried on a Neosport suit it sounds like the store you were at is very small and poorly stocked as a Neosport is a very inexpensive suit for a reason. It is cheaply and poorly made. Seams not glued just stitched so water entry into the suit is a constant drain on any warmth you may produce. It has no provisions for a water barrier on the zipper, its neoprne is of poor quality.. Once you start diving you will find that you will want 1 suit -a 3mm most likely-for pool classes and trips to the islands, and a 7mm for diving local such as Dutch Springs,LI Sound,and dives out of south shore LI and Bklyn..If you take to local diving a dry suit is definitely in your future.
Where are you taking this class? Do they offer as much pool time for the course as needed or are on a tight schedule for pool time because they do not own a pool? Find a facility that has their own indoor heated pool if you want the ability to get as much pool time as needed.
Only facility in NYC area that has a large fully fully stocked sales floor and inhouse heated pool is Scuba New York located in Yonkers NY. Oh yeah, I teach there. We can be sure to fit you properly .