wetsuit advice from FLA???

[smash731]

Hi all,

I'm moving from Baltimore to Cocoa, FL next month. Any space coasters out there, can you tell me what the water temp is like in FL in summer and winter? I have a 7/5 suit now.

Sooooo excited about diving somewhere that's warmer than 40 degrees......
Ashley

 

[jwvanno]

Hi Smash. I live in Rockledge, which shares a border with Cocoa. There are a number of others local to this area here on the board.

I used a 1mm suit today only to avoid the rocks in 83F water, off the beach in Ft Pierce. (About 70 miles south of Cocoa)

Used a 5mm suit in 72F on Sat, diving Blue Springs About an 1 1/2 hours N.W. of Cocoa (But then it's ALWAYS 72F at Blue Springs.)

I think I found a 69F location this winter offshore, but that was only once.

There are a number of great shops locally, although I can't think of any in Cocoa city limits. The nearest ones would be Seadragons in Rockledge or American Divers in Merritt Island. Both are probably 10 minutes from anywhere in Cocoa.

We've been talking about shore dives in the area recently. You might want to see thread: http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=104069

And a huge selection of springs around the state.

Visibility anywhere local is fairly poor, but if your willing to drive 2 hours North, South or West, you can find just about anything you could want. And it only gets better, the farther you're willing to drive.

Welcome to East Central Florida...

Welcome to Hurricane Season.

 

[Bill51]

Welcome neighbor – I’m just across the causeway from you.

When I first moved here 4 years ago from Midwest ice diving I never wore anything but a Polartec skin, but now I’ve become a Florida wussy and I wear my dry suit when the water goes below 75 in the winter or on deep dives. Other than that most of my time is spent in a 3/2 shorty that I put over a skin if it’s my third dive of the day.

Bill

 

[smash731]

thanks for the input

 

[bobsea43]

thanks for the input

You are in for a change - for the better. Welcome to FL, where diving is a year 'round sport. I am taking my boat out of Cape Canaveral tomorrow for a little recreational diving and will be comfortable in nothing but a swimsuit; however I wear a skin for protection.
After you get settled you might vist our dive club that meets in Palm Bay on US highway 1 at the Lagoon House on the 2nd Wed of each month. We do pleny of dving usually out of Jupiter or West Palm Beach which is a short trip from here. Take a look at our website http://www.downunderdiveclub.com/index.cfm
Hope you enjoy your move. bobsea43