Very simple how to question

[highdesert]

If the hood'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.

Heat up the end of a paper clip and melt a little hole right at the crown of the head. It'll let out the conehead bubble, but won't affect the insulation properties of the hood. It's also a handy thing to do to your booties, on the upper surface right behind the toes.

 

[kittles]

I was out yesterday in 20C water and I wear a 5mm with boots + cloth style gloves. No hood required in that temperature! I was toasty warm.

Have you actually been out in your 5mm in 21C? I think you may be surprised just how warm you are, but then again it all depends on what you're used to and your tollerance for cold.

 

[natew]

Ya, 8mm semi dry is way too much. 5 vs 7 is going to be personal preference and what you are used to. You don't have a location posted but if you normally dive in a place that is typically warmer you might not acclimate to the lower temp especially if you are doing a lot of dives in one day or any night dives.

But it really is an individual thing. I could probably be comfortable, or atleast tolerate, a 5mm down to 15 or 16c but a good day diving in my area is 20c and that only happens about one day a year. Today the water was 13c and I was neither hot nor cold with a 7mm and 5mm hood,gloves, and boots. At the same time I've encountered people who get cold in 32c swimming pools wearing 2-3mm suits.

Another thought, is your 20c number the water surface temperature as repoted by the weather service(s)? You might find that below about 10ft the water is a tad bit colder than that, maybe 16-18c.

You might want to ask the dive shop or whoever you are diving with about what they recommend and what they wear.

 

[Protist]

I usually dive in the warmer waters, but the last two times I dived in the cold with 5mm hood I had some trouble equalizing. I had to move the hood away from my ears. Maybe I was doing something wrong?

 

[String]

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!

Good luck. 21c for me is drysuit territory. Ive tried 3 layer wetsuits and lasted 30 minutes.

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 ?

Under may reduce flushing.

Do I let some water in the hood as soon as I get in the water or should I do this often while diving ?

Never. You want to minimise cold water movement so just allow it to trickle in on its own. Equalisation isnt affected.


Good luck in that temperature - i wouldnt be able to dive wet in that.

 

[ScubaSteve]

I dove a 2pc 7mm wetsuit for years and 21°C was wonderful (almost too warm) with gloves and a hood. It really is quite warm (even though I now dive dry in that temp - I was dry in 80° water this weekend with my full undergarments - a little warm). My suggestion is throw away the idea of an 8mm right away, and try diving a 7mm. If that is comfortable, then keep going and enjoy. If you find yourself getting too hot, drop to a 5mm. I think you will likely be OK in the 7mm though........it really boils down to your tolerance for cold.......not ours.

Wear the hood under the suit because as String mentioned, it reduces the flush. As we all know, with a wetsuit, we want to limit the amount of water transfer. In 21°, I agree that the reef gloves (or 3mm) are likely OK. But again, it boils down to your tolerance.

 

[diver 85]

Simple answers(the way I do it)----under, no, & yes(I hope I got the order correctly-----lol)

 

[Scubadaddy]

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.

+1

I have a pair of 7mm gloves that are warm, but a PITA to put on and take off, dexterity is also diminished. I ended up buying a second set of 3mm gloves for warmer dives, what a difference 4 mm makes

I always wear a hood (tucked under the wetsuit) due to the cooler waters I dive in (45- 70 degrees depending on location and depth). Sometimes I have to 'squish' an air bubble or two out of my hood (due to clearing mask/exhaling bubbles I guess), not a huge deal for me. I'll try that paperclip trick mentioned above.

My only advice is to get one without a zipper, mine has one and I hate it. I never actually unzip it to put it on or take it off, and it adds some bulk to the hood (I can feel the base of the zipper pushing into my back sometimes, especially when I bend over)

 

[D_B]

you already have a 5mm hood, so you are going to want to try it and see if it's enough.
Gloves .. might want try the 3mm suggested instead of thin reef gloves, if your not keeping warm enough with the 5mm hood, the gloves can make an appreciable difference

 

[diver_doug]

@ Ericdive2006

The bib tucks in, unless you cut the damn thing off (which is what I did). I hate wearing bibbed hoods! I'm a pretty thin guy but I still feel overly constricted with the neoprene around my neck and tucked into the wetsuit. You may have no issues with the hood, but if you end up hating it like me, your problem is most likely with the bib portion; so you may want to considering removing it. Also, 21°C is almost 70°F...if you're gonna be in the 20-40ft range you may not even need a hood (depending on your degree of cold-tolerance). However, if you're going deeper, then you'll probably want one (and gloves).