Wetsuit for December Cozumel Trip

[RaoulDuke]

Heading to Cozumel from 12/26-1/2 and was curious what other divers use for wetsuits that time of year. I saw on the FAQ sticky that water temps are 78-80 so I was thinking about just a 2-3mm shorty. I have a full 3mm, that is a little too tight (getting old and fatter, LOL!)

 

[BRT]

Depends on your cold tolerance of course. 3mm full works better for many. Some add a light hood to that.

 

[gopbroek]

The water temp has been running a little warm lately, 2 days ago I was seeing 83F. By late December it will probably be running 80 -81F. Most folks use a 3MM even in the winter but many wil add a lavcore or other core warmer. Some folks who dont like the cold use a 5MM but they are a minority. DM Jorge 'the Cubano' who does the Ironman and has no body fat is frequently cold and was talking about breaking out his drysuit last month.

 

[BRT]

The water temp has been running a little warm lately, 2 days ago I was seeing 83F. By late December it will probably be running 80 -81F. Most folks use a 3MM even in the winter but many wil add a lavcore or other core warmer. Some folks who dont like the cold use a 5MM but they are a minority. DM Jorge 'the Cubano' who does the Ironman and has no body fat is frequently cold and was talking about breaking out his drysuit last month.

You are speaking of Jorge "The Flasher"? With the overcoat? I hope he doesn't know who I am in real life!

 

[Lorenzoid]

In Coz, 78-80 water temp in December means I bring my 5 mm full suit. For me, it's not so much the water temp as the air temp at that time of year. A cloudy, windy, drizzly day can mean I don't fully re-warm during a surface interval, and just get chillier on the second dive. A boat coat for the surface interval helps a lot, but staying as warm as possible during the dive is what I find helps most.

 

[gopbroek]

You are speaking of Jorge "The Flasher"? With the overcoat? I hope he doesn't know who I am in real life!

Thats him

 

[mikeycanuk]

7mm but we get cold easily, and with 120's I started to get a little cool around the 85 min mark

 

[flyboy08]

Geeez, I'll just use a rash shirt and I hate cold water ...the last few times we were there....Dec 10 or so, it's been very pleasant with no rain....exactly what I'll see this December! Oh, I do wear socks

Although I have been Jonsing for a Shark Skin. Wet suits just aren't slimming enough.

 

[Dogbowl]

The water temp has been running a little warm lately, 2 days ago I was seeing 83F. By late December it will probably be running 80 -81F. Most folks use a 3MM even in the winter but many wil add a lavcore or other core warmer. Some folks who dont like the cold use a 5MM but they are a minority. DM Jorge 'the Cubano' who does the Ironman and has no body fat is frequently cold and was talking about breaking out his drysuit last month.

No wonder I saw him shivering on the dive boat like CRAZY! Good he's got a boat coat now!

 

[deepsea21]

In December I'll take a 3MM full suit and a tropic beanie any day over a 5MM-7MM suit without the beanie. For years I never wanted a beanie... Those things are for women to keep their hair up! That was until I got chilled on a windy December trip a few years ago and noticed those wearing beanies were perfectly comfortable. I scoured the Island for one and none to be found. All that could be found were full hoods which squeeze my fat head, screw with my mask, and I just downright hate.

Get a tropic Beanie in the 3MM range and experience the difference. I'll never dive without it again. Umm... The DM's who strap on the hoods and beanies December-March know what they are doing! They say 90% of your heat is lost through your head and since wearing my beanie I believe it is ABSOLUTELY true.