Question Wetsuit for diving Indonesia (Bali, Raja, Komodo)?

[Sebs]

Hi all,

We're heading to Indonesia in early March for 3 months. We're flying into Bali, staying there for a few nights (probably Padang Bai) before going to Raja Ampat for around 4 weeks. Then back to Bali and will probably make our way over to Komodo via the Gilies and Lombok.

I usually dive tropical waters (27-29°C) with just tech shorts and a rashie but reading some recent trip reports, it seems that water temperatures can vary wildly in Indonesia, ranging from 22°C to 30°C around this time of year. I do have a 5mm wetsuit but I'd rather not bring that since it's bulky and if most of the water temps are around 28°C, will just be a waste of space in my luggage.

What are people's experiences with water temps in Indo? Should I pack the 5mm just in case? Should I just rent a wetsuit as needed for colder dive sites?

Thanks!

 

[Centrals]

Multi layers.
I had dived 18C in Crystal Bay in Sep/Oct and the 5mm + vest + hood was not enough for me.

 

[Kendall Raine]

As @Centrals suggested, layering is probably better. For 22-30 C temp range I recommend a quality 3 mm full suit (base layer) and use 1, 2, 3/5 mm hooded vests to add thickness as appropriate. From those you can create a range of 341 up to 365 hooded suits. Much more adaptable than a 5 mm full suit which will be too warm in 28-30C water.

 

[Kendall Raine]

The alternative is add a rented shorty over the 3 mm as needed, but prefer my own rubber.

 

[Blackcrusader]

Hi all,

We're heading to Indonesia in early March for 3 months. We're flying into Bali, staying there for a few nights (probably Padang Bai) before going to Raja Ampat for around 4 weeks. Then back to Bali and will probably make our way over to Komodo via the Gilies and Lombok.

I usually dive tropical waters (27-29°C) with just tech shorts and a rashie but reading some recent trip reports, it seems that water temperatures can vary wildly in Indonesia, ranging from 22°C to 30°C around this time of year. I do have a 5mm wetsuit but I'd rather not bring that since it's bulky and if most of the water temps are around 28°C, will just be a waste of space in my luggage.

What are people's experiences with water temps in Indo? Should I pack the 5mm just in case? Should I just rent a wetsuit as needed for colder dive sites?

Thanks!

I dive there in a T shirt and shorts until the water temp is 22c then I will wear my Sharkskin love sleeve top and shorts.

My UK dive buddy wears a 5mm but still freezes when the water is 22c.

 

[Sebs]

The alternative is add a rented shorty over the 3 mm as needed, but prefer my own rubber.

I guess I don't want to have to pay 120 bucks to rent something.

 

[Centrals]

I dive there in a T shirt and shorts until the water temp is 22c then I will wear my Sharkskin love sleeve top and shorts.

My UK dive buddy wears a 5mm but still freezes when the water is 22c.

@Blackcrusader
LOL.
You definitely do not know that human being have difference tolerance to anything including cold.

I have seen divers came out of water wearing either dry suit or wet suit in Philippines.
I was wearing dry suit but one other diver was on thick wet suit in Scapa Flow and the water temp was about 8C.

You ain't see nothing yet!!!

 

[Pressurehead]

Multi layers.
I had dived 18C in Crystal Bay in Sep/Oct and the 5mm + vest + hood was not enough for me.

I took a 3mm and a 5mm .
Only used the 5mm for Crystal Bay with hood and Sharkskin vest, which worked well for me as the water temp there felt like what I was diving in Oz when I left.
2 wetsuits was too much bulk to travel with that trip, the 5mm was used for 4 dives only.

Next trip I will only take the 3mm and multi layer with a 2mm vest, hood and the Sharkskin for Crystal Bay, 3mm for everywhere else, even when it is 30c in the water and 33c out.
No 'shorties' or shorts and T shirts for me, that is a lesson I learned as a young fellow, stung by a 'stinger':

What is the stinger season in Queensland?

For all its sublime tropical beauty, Queensland is a balmy state, and if there is one thing that...

greatbarrierreeftourscairns.com.au

 

[Centrals]

No 'shorties' or shorts and T shirts for me, that is a lesson I learned as a young fellow, stung by a 'stinger':

What is the stinger season in Queensland?

For all its sublime tropical beauty, Queensland is a balmy state, and if there is one thing that...

greatbarrierreeftourscairns.com.au

I was using a 3mm shortie on board Taka II to dive Cod Hole and Coral Sea yrs ago. Nowadays it is 3mm full suit + thermal and hood.
Crystal Bay is history as I had seen Mola Mola few times already.

 

[Dan]

Hey guys, @Sebs is talking about March, which is Fall in Australia. So Indian Ocean water temperatures in southern part of Indonesia (southern Nusa Penida & southern Komodo would be still pretty warm 27-29C).

@Sebs I just came back from Manta Alley in southern Komodo & Manta Point in southern Nusa Penida in December 2024 & January 2025, the water temperatures in both places were around 29C. Here’s my trip video in Manta Alley in December.



The water temperatures there get down to as low as 18C only in August as it is winter time in Australia.

I would wear long wetsuit (1-3mm) in March-May period only for protection as my knees / shins / ankles may accidentally brush against hydroids when I shoot video of little creatures at the bottom.