Question about the hood

[anemone]

i am very new to scuba diving..as a new member, i'd like to ask about the hood. Is it related to the water that i'm going to dive in (cold waters) or just to secure my hair or just another accessories?

 

[Big-t-2538]

Well, the largest amount of heat loss in your body is through your head....

If you're diving in water cooler than 65 to 70 deg. F, I'd strongly consider a snug fitting hood....3 mil would work....5 mil for significantly cold water (less than 50) would be even better.

Don't forget to get a hood with vents, or vent the hood yourself.

 

[eandiver]

When I started diving I had very long hair and a rather bushy beard so it kept everything neat. Since then as the learning curve progressed, and the hair receded, I find that I wear a hood 99% of the time. My 7mm Bare has a built in hood for cold and I wear a 1mm in water above 70. If you need a vent hole in the top just heat an appropriate sized nail and push it carefully through the hood. The hotter the better as it will melt the material and seal the edges.

 

[devilfish]

Rather than a hole which would allow some water to seep in causing sort of "chinese torture" on the head, I cut a slit. This way the air can escape through the slit opening it, and the slit closes completely when there is no air escaping covering the spot on the head.

 

[TKOS]

I can't imagine not having a hood up here. In the summer I usually find water temps at 40-45F. I can do 2 hour long dives and not get cold until the end of the second thanks to my 5mm hood.

Also I like the one with the zipper in the back. It allows you to get an even snugger fitting hood, IMO, which I like.