too cold for OW course dive?

[LobstaMan]

Did someone mention Jessica Alba....???

LobstaMan

 

[PaulChristenson]

Did someone mention Jessica Alba....???

LobstaMan

Yeah decapoddiver said he wasn't interested without warning and compensation...so I take it you'd stand in for him???

 

[ScubaKris]

I started with a 7mm in 74 in Northern CA

I spent a year in Wisconson,..I thought I knew what a thermocline was before I got there. I did not, You will. I had friends up there that were just fine in a 5mm.

Make sure you have a hood and gloves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! otherwise your brain and hands will sting like pins and needles and your eye balls will spin in their sockets. they will be so cold.

A little advice, don't buy one of gthose chain saws the shops sell with really long blades to go ice diving.

I moved to Florida adn sold my 7mm

 

[johnnyseko]

thanks for the advise. so i am going to bring a jug of hot water, warm clothes, hat, gloves, and ask my dive shop about shorty's (which i have no clue what they are). i havent bought gloves yet but i will buy the 5.4 or 6mm ones. i have a 7mm hood. how does this gameplan sound? thanks everybody for the tips.

Sounds good! You'll be fine, especially if the air temps are warm. Hardest part of diving wet in winter is changing after the dives.

Did anyone mention neoprene socks? Those were added to my layers when the water temps went below 55F. They made a huge difference! Also might want to see if you can get into a .5mm skin under the 7mm (if no shorty is avail). Even with just the 7, you should be fine for taking the class, though. Bring extra hot water because when everyone else sees that you'll be the hero! LOL

I would hold off on buying a lot of gear right away....you want to make sure you're gonna stick with it. And of course try as much as you can before you do buy.

Have fun!!

 

[jepuskar]

How warm is the pool you train at? You could hop in the same gear you are going to be diving in...practice some skills with the hood/gloves and get weighted roughly right...remember if you do this to add about 4-5 lbs going from fresh to salt water.

There are a bunch of suggestions here...do what makes you feel the best going into your OW check out dives.

J

 

[Ber Rabbit]

I agree on never having too much scuba gear but from my personal experience the lobster claws (3 finger gloves) are more of a pain than they are worth. I find they dont provide that much extra warmth for the loss of dexterity.

When I tried the 3-finger gloves the first time my hands were noticeably warmer but my hands are extremely sensitive to cold and feel like bricks in the 5 finger gloves. I get more dexterity with the 3-finger for that reason, I can't even move my hands in cold water in the 5 finger gloves. When my hands are cold I'm miserable so I switched to dry gloves after a particularly bad experience one December. I agree that if your hands aren't prone to getting cold the 5 finger gloves are nicer.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[johlar]

You will probably not even notice the cold (except when it reaches a certain appendage), after that you're too busy enjoying yourself.

I wear a 7mm and have used it in 45 degree water, The only time I was cold was when I tried diving without boots in 55 degree water. I only lasted about 20 minutes...a dumb thing to do but I learned that the boots are necessary to complete the outfit.

 

[gurumasta]

sweet. thanks again everybody. my dives start tomorrow so wish me luck.

 

[brdr882]

good luck, stay warm, be safe

have fun!

 

[zbskii]

I did my training dives in 50 degree water. Farmer john 7mm with a 7mm top. It keeps you plenty warm - as others have said you really only get cold when you get out of the water. Ask if you can do your open water with a drysuit, many shops here in the PNW do that. It's not that much more difficult.