time for new wetsuits - ideas for 70 degree waters

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jeannejeanne

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Location
Phoenix, AZ
# of dives
100 - 199
It's time to buy new wetsuits.....
So - if most of our diving is at 75 - 82 degrees AND we are desert rats so we don't like to be cold....what mil is recommended and what brand are you in love with?
 
If you get cold easily in 70 degree water but want to dive in the 80s too, you may want to look at the Aqualung 5/3 jump suit. I like mine.
 
I'm the type to get easily chilly. At 75º I would be comfortable in my 5mm full suit, and would get a bit chilly in a 3mm. But, that said, I did do a number of dives at 75º in my 3mm when that was all I had. It was almost essential for me to limit it to a two-dive day in that. A hood and gloves helped. A warm day/surface interval made a difference too. At 82º I would be comfortable in my 3mm full suit.

My usual dive buddy is the opposite and is usually warm. I think he would be fine in a 3mm at 82º and might even be able to wear less. At 75º I think he would still be comfortable in the 3mm.

So...basing it on my experience if you are a chillier type person, you might be able to get by with just a 3mm full suit, if you supplement it with a hooded vest and gloves for 75º. Especially if you are doing 2 or fewer dives per day and it's not really cold/windy on the surface.

But.... it's so variable from person to person. I've read where other people are comfortable in a 3mm shorty in 6xº water, for example. I would be an ice cube!

I have a Waterproof brand westuit and I really like it (actually I have three of them now, 3mm, 5mm and a newly purchased 7mm.... got too chilly at 69-70º in my 5mm, even with a hood and the Waterproof 7mm was a real bargain on closeout).

I like the Waterproof suits because they have *tons* of sizes and I don't usually fit into standard ones. Also they have nice features such as double cuffs and ankles, with zippers (one cuff goes inside the booties, one outside, etc.), a short neck zipper in front that you can undo on the surface to get a bit more breathing room, etc.

If you can handle the "Power Ranger" look, and if they have one in your size, Waterproof's "last year" 3mm is on closeout now for the bargain price of $99.

Womens' size chart, to give you the idea:
waterproof womens size chart.jpg
Link to their close-outs:
Waterproof - CLOSEOUTS | Waterproof Facing Reality
 
I love my Pinnacle Merino one piece wetsuit. It's 5 mil. It keeps me amazingly warmer than my old 2 piece (wait for it) 1/4 inch farmer john/ shorty combo. Dove it all last summer and fall in the local quarries and rivers, and I'm in PA. Thinking about heading up to Dutch Springs to field test in 40 degree water.

Comfy, stretchy, easy on and off. Love it.
 
My daughter and I just spent a few days in 72f spring water in Florida (devils den, crystal river, rainbow river). We were very comfortable in our 7mm suits with no hoods or gloves. A couple of people were wearing 5mm suits and they seemed to be doing fine. I wouldn't go any thinner in that water. Once you get up to the upper seventies then a 3mm should be fine for most people
 
I would recommend 5mm suits.

the K
 
sounds like a 5 mil will do it.... we were considering a 7 mil .... but after trying on a few - they were not easy to get in to. Quite a surprise after the ease of a 3 mil.
 
Please keep us posted. Your feed back on your experiences is one of the things that makes ScubaBoard so wonderful and useful.

the K
 

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