Wetsuit Advice for Dominican Republic

[BobCSmith]

Diving in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic late May, early June. Water temp in the high 80's.
This may be one of my first ocean dives after being certified. I think I'll be diving 5 days, 2 dives a day, maybe a night dive. For those who have there would I be best where a shorty, a full 1.5, or a 3/2 Full. My original plans was to where my shorty, but now leaning towards the 3/2 for sun, critter stings, and better chance not getting chilled over the days.

 

[Dhboner]

I use a full 3mm when I am there.

 

[UserNameBella]

You are going to love Bayahibe! I just did five dives there. That being said I was fine in a 3mm shorty, my husband wore a 3mm full. Either or would be fine in the winter, but come summer time you would want the shorty unless it is raining out or something.

Don't worry about critter stings. The worst I came across was the odd lion fish and there isn't much to scrape yourself on unless you are dragging yourself through a coral bed. It's pretty hot here right now so warming up between dives isn't a problem. By May June it is really hot here, and the water turns into bath water, you might actually be too warm in the full suit. I get cold easily and I couldn't wear a full here in the summer. You'd be dying to get it off as soon as you got back on the boat and would have to resuit up after the surface interval.

If you haven't already booked Scuba Fun is who I dive with in Bayahibe and Jonathan is a great divemaster. Bayahibe itself is beautiful. If you get a chance the St. George is supposed to be great. I didn't get a chance to do it, but next year I hope!

 

[Lionfish51]

We are going back April 2015
second time diving with Scuba Fun again
Only place you get out of water and you don't need a towel!
3 mm is plenty

 

[Doc]

In the high 80's. Really?

Log your dives, learn your personal tolerances to cold based on your thermal protection.

Everybody is different.

Any specific advice here will only generate a warm and fuzzy feeling- but not the sort that's appropriate for diving.