del_mo:
My wife and I are getting ready for our open water tests. We both have 3mm shorties which worked well in the pool. For diving in 70-72 degree water, will that be enough? The shorties worked well in 78 degree water for two three-hour stints. Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.
I don't Llike Shorties at all. I've seen too many scrapes from wrecks, boat ladders, etc. But if you own them, you own them.
I like Longs - Got a skin, a 1 mil, a 3 mil, a 5 mil, and a 7 mil, and - one 3 mil Shorty I can wear on top of the 7 if I ever hit water that I can't handle in the 7. I'll often pack 4 suits for various possibilities on a trip. I wore the 7 over the 1 in 50oF water last May, and with a neop beanie, gloves, and heavy booties - that worked. Just felt like the Michelin Man.
Everyone has different needs. If I knew your respective ages, heights & weights, I could speculate, but too much is certainly better than not enough. Too, women tend to need more protection, and you tend to need more as you get more experienced and better. So, get a couple of 5 mil Longs, neop gloves, beanie, and booties for now.