Question about Cozumel

[Taucher]

I just returned from Cozumel, was there the first week of January. Acording to my Sunnto Cobra, water temp at depths of 80 - 90 feet was a consistent 79 - 80 degrees F. I wear a Henderson Tri Lam, which is more than adequate temperature wise. The only reason I really wear it is to afford some protection against scrape and stings. Although I've never had either. My wife, like a 3mm, but she is always cold anyway. As for post dive, I recommend a nice hooded shammyz, will keep you warm and dry on a windy boat ride. In any event, expect water temps to be 79 - 81 degrees F. even at 80-90 feet. :bogey:

 

[crispos]

you can disagree all you want. A pro diver errs on the side of being warmer, not colder.

 

[glbirch]

you can disagree all you want. A pro diver errs on the side of being warmer, not colder.

Oh please. Either extreme is bad, but my point is, and will continue to be, that it's up to each individual to find their own comfort level and work with it. I've seen ice divers in wet suits at 34 degrees, and dry-suit divers on the Great Barrier Reef in 81 degree water. To suggest as you seem to be that you are right and that anyone with a different opinion is wrong is not the mark of a so-called 'pro diver' in my books. If you have an opinion or advice, that's fine. But don't present your own personal prefererence as a 'fact'.

And just out of curiousity, I've personally never seen any recommendations such as that in any training manuals.(Or if I have it was enough years ago that I've forgotten.) If anything, my training in other areas usually has me running slightly cool for my environment. What's your reference?

 

[H2Andy]

the closest i've been to Cozumel is Grand Cayman, and i was toasty in my
3mm shorty. if i had a skin, i would have used it (never buy any dive gear in Grand
Cayman... the prices are exhorbitant).

and i am the "mother of cold wimps."

but people are different, so you have to go with what works for you.

another thing you have to consider is how much diving you are going to be doing. three dives per day can really get you cold.

i also tried to stay warm between dives. all it took was
a baseball cap (also good to keep my nose from peeling).

 

[glbirch]

the closest i've been to Cozumel is Grand Cayman, and i was toasty in my
3mm shorty. if i had a skin, i would have used it (never buy any dive gear in Grand
Cayman... the prices are exhorbitant).

and i am the "mother of cold wimps."

I dunno. My wife dove with a guy in Thailand who was wearing a 7mm suit in 82 degree water. That's someone running for the grand prize to me.

 

[Scott Riemer]

OK, so for this new diver, what info. do I need? I'm a big guy with a little extra God-given insulation. Does this sound like a good plan? I'll take the dive skin. If it doesn't work out (ie. I get cold), I can rent a 3mil wetsuit and layer, right? I really think 5mil would be too warm for me in Cozumel.

 

[bertschb]

I was in Coz a couple months ago. Water was 79 (surface and at depth) and I had a 3mm full suit. I got cold after a couple dives. I was actually shivering under water on the second dives. I'm almost bald and I was not wearing a tropical hood (I bought one as soon as I got back). I understand not having hair makes a BIG difference in heat loss. That's probably why I got so cold. I will say that all the DM's (in Coz, GC and Belize) wore full suits - some with vests - and they didn't look like 3mm suits to me. I'd guess 5mil but that's just a guess. My point is the locals weren't wearing shorts or bikini's. They wore more than any of the tourists.

 

[tigrevp]

If you're divng wet, nothing less than 3MM is adequate for physical prtection..Imm are nice and lok sexy, but slide past a rock or coral or anything sharp, or mess with a Damselfish, and you'll rue the day as blood trails out of your wound. I have worn my 3,mm Henderson gold in Bonaire, where the water is real warm, and did a 210 foot dive in the 3mm plus a shortie and was fine...but more is better as its not likely you'll overheat in a 3mm jumpsuit at anything below 50 feet and water under 82 degrees.

 

[Michael Schlink]

Well let's see I have about 5-600 dives in Coz. over the past 18 years and I usually wear a vest only or a 1 mil. (henderson micro). I don't have any natural extra insulation so whoever said anything less than a 3 mil is a little biased. Cozumel's low range in the winter runs in the high 70's to low 80's but will warm up as spring and summer come. If you are making the typical Cozumel 2 tank boat dive in the am anything from 1-3 mil should be fine depending on your personal tolerance. I have students wear everything from T shirts to full wetsuits. As for what the local DM's are wearing, that's irrelavent, a DM is in the water everyday, day in and day out. As far as wearing something to protect you from "scrapes" you shouldn't be coming in contact with the reef at all. A full suit isn't the solution, better diving skills is. A dive skin is worthless, other than for sun protection or making it easier to pull on your wetsuit. Use this trip as an oppurtunity to "log" your personal info: IE water temp= how much of a suit= how comfortable you are, then next time you'll be able to look at your logbook and know what you need-Have fun-M

 

[glbirch]

OK, so for this new diver, what info. do I need? I'm a big guy with a little extra God-given insulation. Does this sound like a good plan? I'll take the dive skin. If it doesn't work out (ie. I get cold), I can rent a 3mil wetsuit and layer, right? I really think 5mil would be too warm for me in Cozumel.

Do you have access to a pool? Pools are usually heated to around 78-80 degrees if I recall correctly. Sit on the bottom for an hour and read a book or something. See if you feel chilled in your dive skin by the end.