newbie wetsuit question

[ppilot]

Hello all. I've been away from diving for about 12 years and decided to get back into it. I've asked a few other questions here, and want to thank everyone for their help.

Anyway, wetsuits! I'm in Wisconsin, I have a drysuit, but my wetsuit walked away somewhere. I'll probably always use the drysuit for the big lake, but can someone recommend me a 'thickness' I should get on a wetsuit for these waters? Back when I dove everything was measured in inches, which doesn't help any.

What does it mean when it says a suit is 5/4, or 7/5?

The setup I'd like is something similiar to what I used to have, which was a Harvey suit that had a shorty for warm water, a one pice full suit for cool, and you wore the shorty under the one-piece for colder water. Any suggestions on anything like this? Cheaper is better, but price is not too much of an issue.

Again, many thanks!

 

[Northeastwrecks]

What temps are you diving? Unless you're tropical, I'd go with the drysuit if its still in good shape.

What thickness wetsuit were you wearing. 1/4 inch is approx. 7mm. 1/8 inch is approx. 3mm.

7/5, 6/5/4 indicate that parts of the suit have different thicknesses. Thus, in a 6/5/4, the thickest portion (the torso) is 6 mm, the next thickest portion (the limbs) is 5mm and the thinnest portion (the joints) is 4mm.

This is supposed to improve mobility while maintaining comfort. In addition, it probably reduces the lead you need.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I use a Scubamax 7mm one piece semi-dry. I had a Subapro wetsuit similar to the one you desribe with a 7mm one piece and a sort of shorty-vest with attached hood that went over it for really cold water.

In my opinion my Scubamax one piece is warmer when used with a cheater hood (basically a 3mm vest with 7mm attached hood that goes under the one piece.) I dive it as soon as the surface temps get in the upper 50's and am comfortable at depths with temps in the low 40's.

I like my dry suit until the weather gets hot, which makes suiting up in a dry suit very uncomfortable.

 

[DIR Tec Diver]

I agree with Northeastwrecks. Unless the water temps are really warm stick with the drysuit and save your money for some other toys.

 

[Big-t-2538]

I'll agree here....

No real need to spend $$ on a wetsuit in Wisconsin unless you're going to be travelling down south to dive. Then something like a 3 mil shorty or whatever is more than enough for me.

That is so long as the dry-suit has no leaks and is in good shape.

 

[ppilot]

I appreciate the feedback from everyone. I kind of like getting wet though (if the water is not too cold)

 

[SubMariner]

As Canadians we only had two suits while living/diving in the Great White North: a 1/8" (3mm) long sleeved tropical suit and a drysuit.

Let's be honest, the water up there will NEVER be warm enough to justify anything other than huge amounts of neoprene for a wetsuit, so why bother? It's so much simpler (and more comfortable) diving dry in temperate climates.

Save your money for a nice tropical weight suit for your vacations instead of wasting it on something that you already have covered.

FYI, although we now live in GA, we still only have two suits: a DUI trilam dry and 1/8" long sleeved neoprene wetsuit.

~SubMariner~

 

[globaldiver]

I have used a Mares Isotherm semidry with a dry suit zipper. That suit kept me warm even in fairly cold water temperatures. It was also very quick to don which was an added bonus.

Today I only use my dry suit though, unless I travel to really warm waters.

Sincerely

Anders