Warm water - dry vs wet

[ginti]

Hi guys,

I have equipment only for cold water diving, and now it's time to buy something for the summer

I have two options:
1 - buy a lighter undergarment for my trilaminate drysuit; I am especially interested in the SANTI flex190
2 - buy a wetsuit

I use steel double 12l tanks, and I plan to dive in the Mediterranean sea (water temperature 23°C to 25°C - above the water temperature 30°C - 40°C).

The advantages of the undergarment for the drysuit are that it should offer thermal protection for more time (good for deco diving), and I could combine it with lighter base layers for slightly cooler waters (which is better than using the BZ400, the only undergarment I have now). However, when I need to take the boat to reach the diving spot, I'll be too warm, increasing the risks of dehydration (and deco accidents).

The advantage of the wetsuit is that I will be way more comfortable, especially during long trips on the boat. Disadvantages are: it is not suitable for tech dives (but I will find other solutions for the few tech dives I do), and there is no buoyancy redundancy (and the double 12 are heavy!)

I tend to be more oriented towards the drysuit undergarment, even if I worry a bit that I could find not a bit of issue in my recreational dives...

Am I missing something? What do you suggest?

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Id go for lighter undergarments. In Greece, i hit 17 C water at 30 meters in the eastern Aegean. I was cold in my 5 mil. Another time i was more comfortable in a 7 mil and a hood at that depth. But i have a low tolerance for cold and love heat.

If i were to dive a dry suit in the Med (and i will when i move there), I'd zip up last minute and/or dump cold water on my head while zipped up.

Edit: IIRC some local to me GUE folks took their drysuits to the Red Sea on a liveaboard in winter and were glad they did. Seems somewhat comparable to the Med in summer.

 

[drk5036]

For the water temp you're talking about, 23-25C, why even buy a special undersuit that's going to cost $$$? How about just picking up some wool thermals to wear underneath?

On the Santi website, it says the flex190 is good for 7-14 degrees...it looks much more robust than what you'd need in 25C water? Maybe the Flex80 would fit the bill better? But I feel like you could save some money going a different route...

 

[arthurng311]

For shorter dive times a wetsuit probably can function, i personally wear a FE arctic/ flex190 for temps between 17-25 for non deco dives and it works well for me

 

[ginti]

For the water temp you're talking about, 23-25C, why even buy a special undersuit that's going to cost $$$? How about just picking up some wool thermals to wear underneath?

On the Santi website, it says the flex190 is good for 7-14 degrees...it looks much more robust than what you'd need in 25C water? Maybe the Flex80 would fit the bill better?

Thanks for your reply; let me explain a bit more

Everyone I spoke with says that the temperature range shown on the SANTI website is completely wrong. People are using the flex190 for the temperature I mentioned and said that the flex80 is good for... warm swimming pools Besides, I often feel cold. I have already tried just some wool stuff, and it is too cold.

About the money, a 5mm wetsuit would cost something in the 250/300€ here, against the 360€ of the flex190. But I could use the flex190 also for other kinds of dives.

My only concern is: would I get too warm on a boat with the flex190? Is there any risk associated? How can I mitigate these risks? That's it

But I feel like you could save some money going a different route...

You mean by going wet?

 

[ginti]

For shorter dive times a wetsuit probably can function, i personally wear a FE arctic/ flex190 for temps between 17-25 for non deco dives and it works well for me

Are the non-deco dives that you mentioned shore or boat dives? If boat dives, do you take any actions to avoid overwarming?

 

[ginti]

dump cold water on my head while zipped up.

good point, thanks

 

[arthurng311]

Are the non-deco dives that you mentioned shore or boat dives? If boat dives, do you take any actions to avoid overwarming?

Boat dives, i find only wearing half the drysuit if possible a good solution, if not just pour water onto yourself that could work too. For shore dives i find it harder to deal with the heat especially for cave diving in spain, in those cases i sometimes decide to haul my doubles down to the cave before i wear my drysuit

 

[happy-diver]

The advantage of the wetsuit is that I will be way more comfortable, especially during long trips on the boat. Disadvantages are: it is not suitable for tech dives (but I will find other solutions for the few tech dives I do), and there is no buoyancy redundancy (and the double 12 are heavy!)

Mosty everyone I know dives like this, and during winter we put on another layer or crack open the drysuits, or not

 

[lermontov]

Thanks for your reply; let me explain a bit more

Everyone I spoke with says that the temperature range shown on the SANTI website is completely wrong. People are using the flex190 for the temperature I mentioned and said that the flex80 is good for... warm swimming pools Besides, I often feel cold. I have already tried just some wool stuff, and it is too cold.

About the money, a 5mm wetsuit would cost something in the 250/300€ here, against the 360€ of the flex190. But I could use the flex190 also for other kinds of dives.

My only concern is: would I get too warm on a boat with the flex190? Is there any risk associated? How can I mitigate these risks? That's it



You mean by going wet?

im not sure but i think the flex 190 comes with and without the heating element? -i have the heated version
and with that they recommend another layer between the skin and the suit so its pretty warm even without the battery pack -personally i think it will be too warm for 25 plus degrees and your going to cook on the boat. i too really feel the cold so i have quite a selection of gear to wear depending on where Im going. deco time is a reference point

tropics i wear a 5mm wet up to 20 min deco more than that i also use merino undegarments anything longer than 40min I start to feel the cold
any thing less than 25 degree i use a dry suit and an appropriate undergarment
i use the santi suit with battery fro anything colder than 17degree and just turn the battery on at deco

have you considered a heated vest that you can wear with a wetsuit - one that you can control heat output