Wetsuit Needed for Diving in Cozumel?

[clpkab]

Need advice - will be taking an intro course on a cruise with open water dives to be done in Cozumel.

Will I need a wetsuit (if so what thickness) or would a dive skin or rash guard be sufficient?

 

[kjvander]

The two times that I've dove in Coz I've warn a 3mm wetsuit. Is it needed...no....is it nice to have...yes. It adds to the overall comfort of the dive and keeps you a little bit warmer. I've seen people wear swimshorts and a t-shirt to wearing 5mm....but I would say most people i've seen diving there are in a 3mm of sorts.

 

[warmwaterturner]

For me its a 3mm in the summer. This time of year it is a 3mm with a hooded corewarmer.

 

[scubajim 1]

I would recommend a 3 mil full suit and a hood. Remember even in very warm water(80-85F) you are still losing core body heat (core temp 96-99F). The suit and hood will act as exposure protection from the sun and will allow you to stay warm over the course of multiple dives.

Stands to reason that if your body doesn't have to work as hard to maintain core temp. you will have more energy to enjoy both the lessons and the dives themselves.

 

[lsorenson]

I was just there 2 weeks ago and was fine in a 3mm for 2 1 hour dives... My wife wore a 3mm as well and was fine as well... Water temps down to 90' were @77 degrees... 79@ 50'

I think it would depend on how much time you would be in the water and time of year... If this is a one weekend class you will be spending alot of time in the water...

lee

 

[highdesert]

How does your "personal thermostat" function? I'd wear a 3 mil and hood, maybe even a 5 mil in mid-winter, but someone we dive with often would wear a swimsuit and bare skin in Coz year around ... YMMV.

 

[diver 85]

Need advice - will be taking an intro course on a cruise with open water dives to be done in Cozumel.

Will I need a wetsuit (if so what thickness) or would a dive skin or rash guard be sufficient?

I'd post this in the Cozumel section & find out what the current water temp is(I'm gunna go out on a limb & guess around 79 or 80)-----Now saying this, I have never used there in Feb or March anything more than skins under my 2 mm shorty with sometimes a 2 mm hooded vest......Wife & I making our annual spring trip there in about 4 weeks & that's what I'm taking....

 

[TMHeimer]

I would use my body suit just for protection from scrapes, jellies, etc. Everyone's personal tolerance for cold (and heat) is different. Best bet would be to try a dive with a 3 mil, then one without it--T shirt, etc. This is the only way you can find out what's best for you. At this point I know pretty exactly what temps. match which exposure suit-- for me. Through trial and error--same as a weight check. All you can hope for asking this on a forum is to hear from folks who have been where you're going and what they found best to wear for themselves.

 

[reo]

I was in Cozumel on December 27th on a cruise. When I went, I wore a 3/2 mil full suit--no hood or gloves. All of the other cruise divers wore swim suits only. The divemasters wore 3 mil wetsuits. The water temp was 81 degrees.

 

[Downing]

As you can see, you'll get a wide range of answers when you ask that question since everyone's comfort level is different. Once you get more dives under your belt, you'll realize the better question is "What's the water temperature?". But when you're first starting out, it's really a bit of a guessing game.

I'm warmblooded, so for Coz I'll typically dive in a 2mm shorty except for the summer when it's just a t-shirt and swim trunks. But I'll see others on the boat wearing 3mm or even 5mm full suits and often hoods. I'd cook wearing a 5mm but there's no arguing comfort. If you're cold you're cold, and vice-versa.

Keep in mind that the cumulative effect of repetitive dives is also a factor so you may need more thermal protection for the second or third dive of the day than you did for the first. For me, that means I may choose to dive without a suit for the first dive, then put it on for the second or third. It just depends on how I feel.

And remember it's easier to cool off underwater than it is to warm up so you may want to err on the side of too much suit rather than too little until you figure out what works best for you.

Have fun! Diving in Cozumel is a blast.