Staying warm

[Rick Murchison]

As the weather in the States cools, I'm seeing lots of comments popping up on staying warm.
Here's my "order of warmth"... water temps are approximate and assume warm air temps and three dives a day. Temps are F/C

Above 85/29 - Skin
80/26 - 85/29 - Shorty
77/25 - 85/29 - 3 mil
72/23 - 79/27 - 3 mil with hooded vest
72/23 - 79/27 - 3 mil with hooded vest & gloves
70/22 - 75/24 - 5 mil
65/19 - 72/23 - 5 mil with hooded vest
63/18 - 70/22 - 5 mil with hooded vest & gloves
Below 72/23 - Drysuit (always with hood; add underwear/gloves as needed)

Note that the hood comes before the gloves, and before going to the next thickness wetsuit, and that for me gloves don't do much to lower the comfortable temp (except when it's below about 65/19 when I always wear gloves)

Rick

 

[TexasMike]

Excellent post, Rick! And that pretty much describes my practice, though I never actually wrote it down like that....

Might have to put this chart in my log book :egrin:

 

[Fishkiller]

Rick

Thanks for the chart. Do you own different suits?

I own one a 3 mil full suit and dive in your 5 mill area of tempratures. When I first started diving I was TOLD by my instructor that I would be in cold water so I needed a one peice 7 mill suit, went on a dive and roasted, I aborted the dive infact, later switched to a 3 and have been a comfortable diver ever since.

 

[joewr]

Folks,

After seeing Rick's list, I do not feel so out of touch with reality...

81-85 O'Neill Fleece
78-80 3mm Henderson Gold
74-78 3mm Henderson Gold w/3mm Henderson Gold Vest

Retired: Lycra DeepSea Dive Skin
3mm IST Shorty

Always used:

3mm mini-hood
5mm booties
Leather/Spandex gloves (protection against coral, urchins and jellyfish while concentrating on photography)
One of several good luck charms for obvious reasons

On order: 5mm Henderson Gold...to be used, probably in conjunction with vest, at temps around 69-73 deg F...ask DivingGal for an explanation...

Joewr...who has received special dispensation for 69 deg F diving from Fishkiller, VP, CAD...

 

[Rick Murchison]

Originally posted by Fishkiller
Rick

Thanks for the chart. Do you own different suits?

Over the years I have accumulated a few.. and I can still get into most of 'em - but I'm afraid I'll *never* be able to get back in my Navy 7mil - custom made for a much younger thinner man.
Rick

 

[Fishkiller]

that it isn't a 69F dive it is that you are checking to see if the lid is closed.

 

[jmsdiver]

Used to dive wet in MN, however about 5 years ago I decided to try dry and haven't looked back. I get cold in the Caribbean in a 5mm jump so diving dry is mandatory for me in water cooler than that. After a bout of hypothermia diving wet at a local hot spot a couple of summers ago, I try not to get into the local lakes without the drysuit.

 

[Lost Yooper]

I own two suits: my dry suit and a 3mm surfers shorty. I dive dry 99% of the time.

Mike