Staying Warm in Chilly Water

[EricSJCA]

Living in Nothern California, my most accessible place for diving is Monterey. As most know, the water usually runs around 55 degrees (F). I have been diving in a rental 7-6-5 wetsuit with a seperate hooded vest and have found myself feeling a little on the chilly side more often than I'd like.

My instructor informed me that I should be concerned with my heat loss between dives (as I mentioned my second dive always feels colder). So, he advised I put on a windbreaker or something similar to help keep my heat.

Anyways, I was wondering if anyone has any tips or tricks to keeping warm when diving in a wetsuit. I'm considering buying a 9-7-6 wetsuit with attached hood, but am waiting for my finances to allow it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!


-Eric

 

[Warren_L]

Between dives you should get completely out of your wetsuit if possible and into something dry and warm. Wearing something over a wet wetsuit is not really optimal. And be sure to wear a hat as you lose a lot of heat through your head.

 

[ChrisA]

Living in Nothern California, my most accessible place for diving is Monterey. As most know, the water usually runs around 55 degrees (F). I have been diving in a rental 7-6-5 wetsuit with a seperate hooded vest and have found myself feeling a little on the chilly side more often than I'd like.
-Eric

I don't know how they measure wetsuits. Mine is just plain 7mm. so would that be a 7-7-7? I wear a hooded vest under it and do ok if the temp at depth is 55F. 60F actually feels warm to me. But then I am more cold tolerent than most The most importent thing about a wetsuit is the fit. If water crculates inside it will be cold. Yes a warm jacket that you put on durring surface interval will help. I have one of those below the knee lenght lined dive jackets and it is great. But then I llive a bit south of you in the LA area where it is warmer. You live in an area where a drysuit would be a good idea Switching from one brand or type of 7mm wetsuit to another will have marginal effect but switching to a drysuit will have a large effect. But the cost starts at about a kilobuck and goes up from there.

 

[Dapher]

You might try a drysuit. You can get a Bare drysuit at the $800 range. They are not bad suits. I just got my daughter a DUI TLS350 w/ polar fleece unders for a little over 1K. NICE trilam suit. Keeps you nice an toasty in 50 degree water. Just make sure you take a drysuit course so you know how to use it properly. My instructor used hers when she went to Monteray and said she was first in the water and last out ;-) Took less time to put on her drysuit than the others took with their wetsuits.

 

[Dive-aholic]

Definitely remove the wet suit and put on warm, dry clothes plus a hat. Drink something warm--coffee or tea--to warm up your core temp. The dry suit suggestion is definitely the way to go, though. Then all you have to do is put a hat on between dives. If you plan on staying wet, look at the Henderson gold core semi-dry. It retails for $400-450 and dries completely between dives. The only bad thing about multiple dives is having to get back into a WET suit.

 

[ScubaFreak]

I'd probably try to replace the tea/coffee between dives with soup. Tea&Coffee will de-hydrate you and make you wanna use the little boys room (or girls room!).
a semi dry suit may be another answer. I dive drysuit 365days of the year thanks to the very untropical irish weather, i quite enjoy staying dry- but if you get wet, it feels nasty

 

[jbisjim]

How to keep warm in a wetsuit?

Leave it home and get a dry suit. Best money I ever spent, and I have not looked back.

But what about pouring warm water down your wet suit before, and between?

 

[marcurts]

I have to agree with what Divaholic said, try a Henderson gold core. I have one and it drys quickly between dives, so you will be comfortable on the second dive.

 

[jbd]

Personally I despise putting on a wet, wetsuit. Especially if its cold. I think that Warren_L's suggestion is the best especially coupled with having a hot or warm liquid to drink.

The very least you should do if you are like me and don't remove the wetsuit is to get out of the wind/breeze. Even a slight breeze will produce a cooling effect with the wet wetsuit. I have wrapped myself in a plastic tarp from head to foot upon occassion and it does help.

 

[ScubaScott]

Current situation - if time allows - get out of your wet gear, dry off and keep warm in regular clothes. Getting back into a cold, wet, wetsuit, just plain sucks.
If you can get out of the elements, I would suggest keeping the suit on, and pouring warm-hot water throughout the suit during your SI and before your second dive. Getting out of wet gear is probably your best option though


If your feeling cold in 55ish degree water - and its stays that way year round, and your already in 7/?/whatever...... you'll likely NOT be much warmer in a slightly thicker suit. Why not save another couple bucks and get in a shell drysuit and undies? Someone mentioned Bare, and there are several others that won't kill your wallet, and will keep you much warmer than a wetsuit. I can't imagine even being able to move in a 9mm suit....

SS