Very simple how to question

[Ericdive2006]

I have been diving for a long time in warm waters and never used a hood.

Now I will go on a diving trip and the water temperatures will be around 21ºc. Thts very cold for me!

I bought a 5mm hood from Mares.
My wetsuit is a 5mm full body.

Do I use the hood over my wetsuit or under the wetsuit ?
Do I let some water in the hood as soon as I get in the water or should I do this often while diving ?
Is the equalization methods the same ?

Again very simples questions for colder water divers but I hope someone can help..

 

[natew]

Hood goes under the wetsuit.
I've never worried much about letting water in or out of my hood unless my head gets a little too warm and sometimes for general comfort if it's pinching me or something.
There's nothing special you really need to do to equalize.

However, depending on your tolerance for cold and how long you are staying down a 5mm suit might be too thin. You're right on the border of where a little warmer and a 5mm would be perfect, but a bit colder and you'd almost want to wear a 7mm. It'll depend a lot on your preference and tolerances whether a 5mm will be ok or not. I assume you have 5mm gloves too?

 

[Ericdive2006]

I dont have gloves but from your feedback I think I should get one and maybee a 8mm semi dry )Thanks for the feedback

 

[The Kraken]

Wear my hood outside of the wetsuit. Allows more freedom of turning the head.

In fact, I usually cut the bibs off.

the K

 

[orm]

I'd be wary of donning too much rubber. It's 21, so not massively cold. I think you can leave the gloves. Otherwise you're gonna feel weird, hood and gloves, loads of weight.... until you get used to it, it will be a little bit overwhelming.

Make sure the hood is tight enough, but not too tight, I've heard, but never heard of, Carotid artery pressure issues with tight hoods.

If the good's not vented at the top sometimes the process of equalizing the mask pushes water up into the hood and it will sit there, like a great big balloon until it escapes.

I used to hate them, but I can't dive without one now. I dive in 25 waters and have a 5mm full and a 3mm vest/hood. I prefer the warmth of the vest/hood over just the hood.

I also seem to get less ear infections.

 

[nielsent]

I wear a 5mm in anything above 15ºC and have been fine, usually put the hood under the wetsuit as it helps keep water from going down the back of your neck.

I tend to get the hood wet before i put it on or else it gets all hot and sweaty on my head, and once underwater I let a little water flow in to get rid of any trapped air. Other than that equalization is still a squeeze of the nose away.

Please note that I am a diver from the Canadian west coast, and have a fairly high cold tolerance.

 

[ronbeau]

I have been diving for a long time in warm waters and never used a hood.

Now I will go on a diving trip and the water temperatures will be around C. That's very cold for me!

I bought a 5mm hood from Mares.
My wetsuit is a 5mm full body.

Do I use the hood over my wetsuit or under the wetsuit ?
Do I let some water in the hood as soon as I get in the water or should I do this often while diving ?
Is the equalization methods the same ?

Again very simples questions for colder water divers but I hope someone can help..

The other thing to look for if you are not used to using a hood is to make sure that the edge of the hood facial opening does not ride up under the skirt of the mask.

It is a good idea to get used to checking just before you descend at the beginning of the each dive.

I usually wear a 7 mm hood since the temperatures in New England are generally less than 15^oC. At one place we dive it gets down to about 11^oC.

Having said that I much prefer the Caribbean & Mexico where the water temperatures are more like 26^oC and I wear just a dive skin and no hood.

 

[elmer fudd]

I dont have gloves but from your feedback I think I should get one and maybee a 8mm semi dry )Thanks for the feedback

21C is practically tropical conditions. An 8mm would be total overkill. I wear a 7mm here in Puget Sound in the summertime when water conditions range from 50-55F, (10-12.5C), and I'm just fine for dives up to an hour provided I don't go too deep. If you're going to go deep, (80'+), then maybe think about a thicker suit, but remember, you'll need more weight and you might need a bigger BC or wing too if you're using one with very little lift.

 

[Louie]

I dont have gloves but from your feedback I think I should get one and maybee a 8mm semi dry )Thanks for the feedback

8mm at 21 C sounds a bit much.

I have a tendency to get cold very fast so 21C is full suit and hood temperature.

Where it was OK to wear gloves (not forbidden or discouraged for environmental reasons as in a lot of marine parks), I've gone with 3mm tropical ones. You lose a lot of dexterity and mobility with thicker gloves so the thinner you can get away with, the better.

 

[Jax]

I have a 5mm hood with a 7mm full suit. In 73f and below, I wear the bibb inside. 75-78, I leave the bibb out for a little bit of cooling affect. I'm a serious warm water wuss.