Too hot to dive cold water?

[Malpaso]

Sounds like a contradiction, but it almost got to that point yesterday. Air temps were pushing 100*F, water temp was 52*F.

Full 7mm wet suit, which means farmer john and shorty for me, along with boots, hood and gloves. The hood is the killer. It seems that once that is on, your body temp goes right up, even if you pull it down over your neck for the walk to the water. As yes, the walk to the water. 70 pounds of gear, in the heat. Reminds me of two a days in high school. Brings up the never ending question, what's better, numerous trips to the beach with some gear each time, or grit your teeth and do it all at once? Since I find it easier to get geared up on the tailgate of my truck than at ground level, we went all in one trip. A bottle of ice water down the wetsuit helped, for about 15 seconds. Didn't get any cooler as the day went on. Took about half way into the dive to get comfortable it seemed. Actually thankful for the cold temps. Thought that might help getting out into the heat. It didn't. Then repeat for the second dive.

Was it worth it? Absolutely. Two great dives, decent viz, close to 20'. Lots of life. Saw a yellow sea raven. My buddy, diving for 20+ years had never seen one. I must be lucky. Not to mention I wasn't at work.

 

[fisheater]

I know what you mean. Just imagine how much worse it is in a thick drysuit!

 

[tracydr]

We have this problem in AZ if you want to dive below 30 feet. 110-115 air temps, 50-60 under the thermocline with 78-80 above the thermocline.
i usually stay above the thermocline until the air temps get into the low 90s, then go back to my drysuit, when the surface water is cooler (60-70) and I can more easily jump in once I get my suit on to cool off before completing the gearing up process.
When it's 110 you simply can't cool off enough,for long enough,by getting the outside if a drysuit wet. Even if you gear up quickly. Or, I can't anyway. I'm very susceptible to heat injury, having had heat exhaustion on 3-4 occasions bad enough to take days to recuperate.
I really need to get away from the desert heat! I don't like it and it doesn't like me!

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Try pouring the cold water not just down the inside of your wetsuit, but outside as well. When it comes to cooling down, evaporation is your friend. Soak the hood and gloves in cold water before putting them on. Make sure everything's set up and ready to go before getting into your wetsuit, then put on the BCD and get into the water ASAP.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[00wabbit]

If the beach isn't too far from your car. Rig all the gear first. Then put on wet or dry suit. Go to the water without your rig and cool off for 5-10mins. Then come back and put everything on.
We did that pas weekend and it was good to keep from overheating.

 

[Tug]

If the beach isn't too far from your car. Rig all the gear first. Then put on wet or dry suit. Go to the water without your rig and cool off for 5-10mins. Then come back and put everything on.
We did that pas weekend and it was good to keep from overheating.

This is what I do. I'll set up my gear then cool off for a few minutes before putting everything on. Boat diving is different but often times I'll get a quick dip in the water before fully gearing up. I also try to limit my diving to the morning and avoid planning dives in the afternoon.


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[Carlos Danger]

Sounds like a contradiction, but it almost got to that point yesterday. Air temps were pushing 100*F, water temp was 52*F.

Full 7mm wet suit, which means farmer john and shorty for me, along with boots, hood and gloves. The hood is the killer. It seems that once that is on, your body temp goes right up, even if you pull it down over your neck for the walk to the water. As yes, the walk to the water. 70 pounds of gear, in the heat. Reminds me of two a days in high school. Brings up the never ending question, what's better, numerous trips to the beach with some gear each time, or grit your teeth and do it all at once? Since I find it easier to get geared up on the tailgate of my truck than at ground level, we went all in one trip. A bottle of ice water down the wetsuit helped, for about 15 seconds. Didn't get any cooler as the day went on. Took about half way into the dive to get comfortable it seemed. Actually thankful for the cold temps. Thought that might help getting out into the heat. It didn't. Then repeat for the second dive.

Was it worth it? Absolutely. Two great dives, decent viz, close to 20'. Lots of life. Saw a yellow sea raven. My buddy, diving for 20+ years had never seen one. I must be lucky. Not to mention I wasn't at work.

Yep, got that t-shirt too!

 

[Skittl1321]

I'm a little worried about this for my checkout dives next weekend. Will be diving in 7mm, but it has been over 100 out. The only good news is it was reported vis has cleared to about 15 feet with the warm weather. My husband did his checkouts with 5-10 feet of visibility.

 

[Texasguy]

Prepare you BC gear so it would be ready to put on. Leave it. Dress into the dry suit near the water. Get into the water dressed, soak up, hood too. Then get out, go put on your BC, do checks, head toward water.

 

[pocky21]

My last dive in Arizona had 112* air temp, clear skies, and no shade. Monsoon season too, so we've got a bit of humidity. Bottom temp was 52*. The clock used to start ticking when the undergarment went on, that day it started at the base layer. I think my 25m sprint time to the water's edge that day was a record.

I have everything ready to go either at my truck or at the water's edge before I don the suit. As soon as the dry gloves are locked into place - I'm running for the water.