Wetsuit for Keys in Late November?

[Oldbear]

Hello all...My GF and I will be making our first journey to the Keys in about three weeks. As I have been reading different water temperature reports the water is cooling off. My question is do you, divers with local knowledge, think a 3mm wetsuit be sufficient for thermal protection (for the average diver)?

Thanks,

~Oldbear~

 

[reefman]

difficult to generalize as everyone has their own unique threshold for being chilled along with comfortable/adequate thermal protection. yesterday we encountered 82-83F on the grove(two 65 minute dives for me) and I was a bit chilled wearing a 3mm full suit with a 3/5 hooded vest(Henderson H2)! breaking out the 5mm next day of diving. NETDOC dives year round here wearing only shorts and a tee shirt! I tend to wear more thermal protection than nearly everyone I dive with. most of my dive buddies are wearing 3mm full suits without hoods as of yesterday,,,,,,,,,,


reefman
key largo

 

[CajunDiva]

I'm in agreement with reefman...everyone has their personal comfort level. If it's 80+ degrees, I'm good in a skin (which I wear for exposure protection) Below that I will throw on a 3 mil shorty. That's about the extent of my ability to layer!

 

[Oldbear]

Got it...everyone is different. That is why I asked about "the average" diver. So based on the two comments above, it looks like 3mm is a good tasting point, then add if necessary.

Thanks guys...greatly appreciate the local insight.

 

[Donnah]

Be sure to take along something to keep you warm on the boat -- a windproof jacket you can put over your wetsuit. November can be iffy. When a cold front comes through, it's easy to get chilled between dives.

 

[scubadada]

difficult to generalize as everyone has their own unique threshold for being chilled along with comfortable/adequate thermal protection. yesterday we encountered 82-83F on the grove(two 65 minute dives for me) and I was a bit chilled wearing a 3mm full suit with a 3/5 hooded vest(Henderson H2)! breaking out the 5mm next day of diving. NETDOC dives year round here wearing only shorts and a tee shirt! I tend to wear more thermal protection than nearly everyone I dive with. most of my dive buddies are wearing 3mm full suits without hoods as of yesterday,,,,,,,,,,


reefman
key largo

I'm with reefman and prefer to be warm rather than even a bit cold. I switch from my 3 to my 5 at about 80 degrees and always have my 5/3mm hooded vest with me for flexibility.

Best, Craig

Staying warm on the surface become increasingly important. I'll take my TruWest boat coat with me as soon as it starts getting cold/windy

 

[scubamedic2012]

I will be in Islamorada in 8 days to do some diving. I have been keeping watch of the water temp through a link on the Rainbow reef web site. I have also noticed pretty big differences in reports depending on what service is reporting. Where is the most accurate site for water temp?

 

[The Chairman]

NETDOC dives year round here wearing only shorts and a tee shirt!

When you're built like a manatee, you get to dive like one.

 

[Oldbear]

When you're built like a manatee, you get to dive like one.

Too funny Pete.

I used to dive that way too. Now that my GF put me on a diet I lost 65 lbs. since last January. So I don't know what my thermal dynamics are any more in "warm water". We are bringing 3mms along with different layering type thermal tops.

100% on surface protection. A couple of Christmases ago I was diving in UAE and thw wind chill on the boat about turned me into an ice pop.