new to site

[one4snow]

Hello everyone,

I just found this website and I love it. I just finished my open water and open water advancedand and all the threads have been very helpful answering questions and in my search for new gear. I live in the Reno / Tahoe area and will be doing alot of cold water diving and so I want to know which wetsuit setup people like better for coldwater : the full 7mm wetsuits with a sleevless hooded vest over it or farmer john and jacket.

Any suggestions would be great

 

[ItsMandy227]

Sorry I can't help with your question being new to scuba and this site. Just wanted to say welcome.

 

[DandyDon]

:wave:Welcome to the Scuba Board. :hi: Fun place to hang out, compare, argue, etc.

How cold of water are you talking about? I am not at all a fan of Farmer Johns with Jackets:
(1) In cold water, my shoulders are the first place to get cold, and they only give you one layer there;
(2) In warmer water, divers will use the jackets alone, coming back to the boat with leg rashes.

Personally, I like layering:
(a) A long dive skin with velour lining gives 1 mil equiv, can be used under a wet suit for extra warmth plus making the wet suit slide on easier, and can be use alone in warmer waters;
(b) A long jump suit gives universal coverage;
(c) A Hood, or at least a neop Beanie is a must for cold water;
(d) Add another short wet suit over that for extra protection.

Or that's the way I do it. You might be better off reading on this forum, then asking questions there...

http://www.scubaboard.com/f30/s

don

 

[GotAir]

to the scuba board !
Glad you swam in.

 

[smrtblnddiver]

Yes, how cold will you be? I did farmer john, but it's only a drysuit for me now........

 

[one4snow]

so far the water temps have been 40 to 50 degrees and I have been using a 7mm farmer john/jacket combo but I am interested in the full wetsuit/hooded vest combo. I would love to do drysuit but I cannot afford one yet since I am new to the sport and I am still buying all the neccesary gear.

 

[VanGirl]

Hi...I just got my OW up here in BC, Canada and went on my first dive in a pseudo-drysuit. (*pseudo cuz it had a wicked leak.....) but continued on with dry suits for the dives since. With all the layers needed for a wetsuit I found it all a bit restrictive. :buggy: On my last OW my instructor lent me her suit that included dry gloves... N-I-C-E! Anyhoo, that's my 2 cents for ya... Cheers

 

[squidward]

Hey one4snow--

How cold is cold? For me, what has worked well is as follows:

75df - 80df: 3mm fullsuit for multidives, 3mm shortie for single
65df - 75df: 7mm fullsuit w/o hood
60df - 65df: 7mm fullsuit w/hood
55df - 60df: 7mm semidry or 7mm fullsuit w/hooded vest
50df - 55df: 7mm semidry or drysuit
50df or less: drysuit for sure

If you plan to dive frequently in colder water, I would recommmend investing in a drysuit. There's a huge variety of types and prices, and it would be wise to do some research before buying. I would suggest getting some training afterward.

Hope this helps!

Squidward

 

[Uncle Pug]

Welcome to Scuba Board.

(You too ItsMandy227 and Smrtblnddiver... even though you are old hands here now.)