Warming between dives?

[Dack]

Recommendations for warming between dives? Wetsuit on/off, warming the wetsuit (solar/water), or your favorite between-dive wear?

I like wetsuit diving and I can handle temperatures in the 40's for a single dive and can suffer through a second one. I want to be able to do 3 or 4 in a day but the cold just takes over.

I figure if I am able to re-warm myself between dives - and to start the dive with a warm wetsuit - it should be no problem.


I'm not looking at drysuits yet. None of my dive buddies use them, so even if I can personally stay completely warm the dive day is done after 2 dives.

- Dack

 

[Dack]

Saw these recommendations on other posts:

Try filling a thermos with water as warm as you can stand, pour inside your wetsuit and gloves. also great for repetitive dives

 

[cloudflint]

a Thermos of hot water down the neck works well Ive found snorkelling between dives helps keep warm, keeps you moving.

 

[tbone1004]

can pour warm water down the suits. If it's not windy i'd leave it on, and get a lined boat jacket
Scuba Gear> Buy Tilos Water Repellent Hooded Boat Jacket with Reviews at K2 SCUBA
if you can't/don't want to afford one of those, a long wind breaker or rain jacket will work. The wetsuit will keep you warm as long as it isn't windy.

 

[Dack]

It's always windy. Good idea on the jacket, I've mostly been using a light hoodie. But I have also never thought of covering the legs. Wind will cool down the wetsuit even on a sunny day.

- Dack

 

[ScubaSam]

When I use to dive wet at our local quarry in April, water temps were in the 43F, a big fleece-lined boat coat and a fleece-lined "Elmer Fudd" hat during SI were invaluable. Yes, an Elmer Fudd hat with the ear flaps that fold down to the chin. Not an attractive look but it kept me warm & toasty during SI while provided enough chuckles for my dive buddies.

Have a thermos of hot chocolate and lotsa direct sunshine. I could only do two dives before I got too cold to venture back into the water so more power to you if you can squeeze out 3 or 4 dives.

Good luck. Best advice, dive dry. It makes the cold dives that much more enjoyable!

Edit: Thermos of hot chocolate is to drink, not to pour inside your suit.

 

[Teamcasa]

Chammyz makes and excellent boat/dive coat. When I am forced (kicking and screaming) to dive wet, I definitely wear mine.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

I don't know any cold water wetsuit divers who regularly conduct 3 or 4 dives per day. I'm sure that a few exist out there, but they are in the minority.
I've seen a few local instructors doing 3-4 class dives in day in a wetsuit, but the dives are generally shallow and short.

As you've found out, the key to being able to do that many wetsuit dives in one day in cold water is to warm up during the surface interval.
Remove the wetsuit in-between dives, dry off, change into warm, dry clothes during the surface interval, and stay out of the wind if possible.
If the sun is out and the air temp is warm, it's quite do-able. I've heard that some people like to pre-warm the wetsuit with warm water. If your wetsuit has good seals at the ankles/wrists/neck, then I could see how filling the suit with warm water would dampen the chill of submersion in the cold water.

Nowadays, it's quite common to purchase a drysuit to do that kind of diving.
Once you get a drysuit, you'll notice that your dives will become more enjoyable (comfort-wise). Your bottom times will increase. You'll be more likely to do repetitive dives. You won't mind diving in the winter or at night. You'll simply have more opportunities to dive.
From what I've witnessed here in SoCal on local charters, wetsuit divers generally have the shortest bottom times and commonly sit out the last dive or two of a boat trip because they are shivering. Drysuit divers aren't immune to getting cold, but they have a better shot at completing all of the possible dives if they desire to. YMMV.

 

[g1138]

For me I take the jacket of my farmer john off and leave it inside out to rest in the sun or just air dry under the overcast sky (whichever it is). I wrap myself in my giant hooded wind breaker and drink hot weak tea and usually eat lunch to get my metabolism going. I will keep my lower half and booties on. If it's especially cold I towel off my hair and wear a beanie.

When it's time to re-suit I'll pour hot water down the arms of my wetsuit Jacket then turn it inside out and place it back on immediately. For the hood and gloves: I'll poor hot tea/water in it if the neoprene is freezing, if not then I'll save the water for the drive back.

I never resort to hot water down the wetsuit unless it's a warm day or if I'm getting back in the water shortly. I've done hot water on a cold cloudy day and it was just a never ending cycle of warming up then freezing my butt off as the water cooled and soaked my body heat away.

 

[spectrum]

Dack

Here are some tips I gathered on the topic that have worked for us.

Aside form the suggestions I will say that 2+ wet dives into the 40's is really pushing the envelope. Wet or dry we are in a heat energy depletion situation when we dive. Parlor tricks can only limit the loss so much, especially when diving wet.

Pete