One more question: learning in cold water

[Badly Drawn Girl]

As I might have mentioned in my other posts, I'm planning to do my PADI OW certification down in Wellington, as I will be moving there in a couple weeks. (I was unable to do my certification earlier than this due to traveling around and lack of funds.) I have always wanted to learn to dive and am really looking forward to it, and also would like to gain a fair amount of experience and become comfortable with diving before the end of this year, as in 2008 I will be traveling to Thailand and southeast Asia and would really like to do some diving there.

My worry is that the conditions down in Wellington during winter will not be that conducive for a beginner just starting to learn. As far as I know the average water temperature is 10C which most people seem to think requires a drysuit?...which is a whole separate specialty even for knowledgable divers. Is it even feasible for me to be learning in these conditions? Or am I just better off waiting until the weather gets warmer? (Which I definitely do not want to do, but don't want to get myself in any trouble either.)

 

[Blitz]

It is completely feasible. You can learn in colder water and temps you just have to allow for it. Drysuit diving in cold water is preferable, but more expensive. I worked with a class of divers this last weekend that had a guy in a wetsuit and my bottom timer had 46 as the temp. Its not the water that gets you when you are diving, its the wind on the surface interval between dives. You don't need to take a full on drysuit course, but at a minimum you should work with a DM or instructor that would be willing to orient you.

 

[MSilvia]

I think you should go for it, but definately wear a thick (7mm) wetsuit. There will be some extra gear involved in diving cold water, but I dove wet in water as cold as 5c for years before going dry. At 10c (average early summer temps here), you should be quite comfortable.

In my opinion, learning to dive with the extra challenges of cold water will force you to become a more skillful diver right away, and will really give you an appreciation for the ease with which you can dive in the tropics later on.

Good luck!

 

[drbill]

Learning in cold water should prepare you for almost any diving you do in the future. Those who learn in warm tropical waters do not deal with the same equipment and other issues, and often do not do as well when diving outside their realm of experience.

 

[Warren_L]

Diving around here in Canada is generally cold water year round. Sometimes the temperatures in certain areas gets into the 18 degree range, but typically are around 15 degrees surface, getting down to as low as 5 degrees or so at deeper depths. Open water students typically wear a 7mm wetsuit (full 2 piece with hood, gloves, and boots) and is very manageable. I think the bigger factor than the actual water temperature is the air temperature as this will greatly determine how warm or cold you might be on subsequent dives.

 

[Badly Drawn Girl]

I suppose this is why most people prefer drysuits? No dripping wet boat rides from place to place...

The actual air temperature in Wellington (I believe) doesn't get "cold cold" like I'm used to in the Northeast of the United States, but it does get very windy, so I can imagine it would make for some very chilly boat rides.

 

[divingbuddy]

A good fitting wetsuit, hood and gloves will keep you comfortable for your dives (I stress the 'good fitting' part - if it is rental gear, take the time to ensure a proper fit).

The biggest concern when diving in colder water/climates isn't during the dive itself, but during the surface interval. You need to get out of wet gear and into warm, dry gear asap. If doing a second dive, strip down as much as possible, and pack a toque.

My first 4 years of diving were wet, and that included our annual trip to Tobermory in May - water temperatures mid 30's (no thermoclines though). My open water weekend we had to wade through snow drifts to get in the water for dives 3 and 4. My first ice diving experience was also done in a wet suit - since when does a toboggan become dive gear? A couple of hundred dives later I invested in the dry suit - mainly because I dive with students a lot and didn't want to get cold.

Get kitted properly and you'll enjoy the experience - and if you can dive well in colder, darker environments, you will be more than prepared for any travel you may have planned. Good luck! Cheers!

 

[ehuber]

I agree with MrBill above... if you learn under cold (or murky) conditions, you'll develop a comfort level that the more advanced divers in crystal clear 88F water will not have when they visit less favorable conditions. It will be excellent training for your future in diving, assuming you continue.

 

[Swiss Cheese]

I agree with what is said above even if I would say : it depends

As you never dove with a wet suit before, doing it with a dry suit won't be a challenge for you (both would be new for you ). So if you think you will continue diving in similar conditions after your certification, I would propose you to start with dry suit (depending on your budget as well)....

At the end of the day, 10°C could be considered as warm water compared to the 5°C we have here

 

[grazie42]

Lots of OW-classes here are done in drysuits...
It is a bit colder here than down there but I´d recommend starting out with a DS from your first dive and onward (if you can afford to)...if you do, wetsuit diving will be a piece of cake!