rent/own conundrum for wetsuit(s)

[Colliam7]

I am trying to plan ahead for my gear needs, starting with the exposure suit. ... I anticipate diving both in the Great Lakes and in tropical locations (Caribbean, Sri Lanka). ... I am guessing there is no one solution for both kinds of diving.

Gettiung a good exposure suit that fits YOU is an excellent start on acquiring gear! For warmer waters, I echo the sentiment of a full 3 mm suit. It will handle warm water (80s) and somewhat warm water (70s) fine, and you can add a thin hooded vest to extend it to the low 70s, even high 60s (although that's a stretch for me). For colder water (Lakes, etc.) I would plan on a drysuit. Yes, it is an expense but I find it much easier to dive my trilam DS than to fit into thick neoprene and feel like the Michelin man.

 

[trucker girl]

I was just thinking that it might be a good idea to get some dives under your belt before you buy- everyone is different. I bought my 3 mil full and 3 mil shorty to layer because I'm always cold. I could probably dive in my 7-6-5 in Florida in July and still be chilled at the end of the second dive! One of my good friends dives in a 5 mil in a cold quarry and she's fine when I'm chilled in my 7 mil!

7-6-5= 7 mil core (chest/torso), 6 mil inner extremities (upper arms, thighs) 5 mil outer extremities (lower arms, calves). Same concept for 3/2- 3 mil core, 2 mil arms/legs.