Wetsuit question for Great Lakes Divers

[inksmudged]

I'm looking at purchasing a wetsuit soon, and after a couple of rentals of various brands, I've decided I want an Akona. I mostly dive in the bay of Green Bay, but I would like to dive Lake Michigan (Door County area, most likely) as well. I only have my Open Water certification, and I only dive in the summer (at least for now). I would like to get a full length suit, and then maybe a vest/jacket to add on for cooler water. So my question is this: what thickness would experienced Lakes divers reccomend?

 

[freshwater]

Nothing less than a 7mm, seriously. The Great Lakes are cold on top and colder on the "bottom."

You'll want the same in a hood. Gloves, depending on your circulation, can be less thick for better dexterity, but your hands may get chilled (which will lessen dexterity as well).

 

[jaycanwk]

A 7mm 2 piece suit (which means you will have 14mm over your core) is very doable as that is what I had for a few years. However, if you are going to be doing alot of Great Lakes diving, you will eventually come to the conclusion that a drysuit is what you are looking for.

 

[drl]

You'll want a 7mm fullsuit, and probably a hooded vest (5-7mm) or core warmer (a sleeveless shorty), plus hood and gloves. Even at the south end of the lake, temps at the bottom (in 75-100 feet of water) rarely get out of the 40s, though shallower water can get warmer later in the summer, so don't skimp on exposure protection. If you find yourself doing a lot of Lake Michigan diving you will probably go dry eventually, but I do know a few hardy souls that dive wet.

 

[PvtStash]

was about 40 degrees at 80+' ... I had 7mm full with 7mm overshorty (the Bare Arctic Combo) an hood w/ 7mm glove, neoprene socks, an standard booties (5mm?). I fared ok , but by dive #3 it was real cold and I decided that a dry suit was going to become nescessary if I was going to be doing this kind of diving with any frequency. Being as expensive as they are tho' I wont even be looking for one for another 2-3 years, and even then we're probably talking about something used.

 

[WavyGravy]

2 weeks ago in Toby the Forest City and Arabia were 41F, and the Niagara II was 39F. Definitely a two-piece 7mm including a hood - I use the Bare Arctic Combo - a full 7mm suit with another 7mm hooded shorty on top.

 

[inksmudged]

Thanks all! It'll be a few years before I'm ready for a drysuit. My regular dive buddy is a much more experienced diver than me, and she struggled with a drysuit to the point where we had to surface so she could change into her wetsuit. So, needless to say, I'm a little intimidated by drysuits.

 

[Web Monkey]

Thanks all! It'll be a few years before I'm ready for a drysuit. My regular dive buddy is a much more experienced diver than me, and she struggled with a drysuit to the point where we had to surface so she could change into her wetsuit. So, needless to say, I'm a little intimidated by drysuits.

Don't be intimidated. What you need is to get one and go diving with someone who is very good at diving in one.

Your friend had problems because she wasn't properly weighted and/or wasn't properly instructed.

Proper weighting is essential, but once you master that (which takes a couple of dives), and get used to venting it, there's nothing like a drysuit. I use mine 12 months/year, except when I go to the Caribbean on vacation.

If you live around the Great Lakes, I'd really suggest not wasting your money on wetsuits.

Terry

 

[meierdierck]

I'm looking at purchasing a wetsuit soon, and after a couple of rentals of various brands, I've decided I want an Akona. I mostly dive in the bay of Green Bay, but I would like to dive Lake Michigan (Door County area, most likely) as well. I only have my Open Water certification, and I only dive in the summer (at least for now). I would like to get a full length suit, and then maybe a vest/jacket to add on for cooler water. So my question is this: what thickness would experienced Lakes divers reccomend?

you may want to consider a dry suit, recommended in previous post, you say you only dive summer for now, but if you advance at all in season, depth, or skill you will be wishing you had gone dry, we have similar conditions in Tahoe (40degrees at 160' last week) you may want to consider putting the money into a more "all around" peice of equipment, and keeping more options open for yourself later

 

[mikerault]

You can usually find a good used drysuit for less than $500.00. Shoot, my buddy found 2 on this board for $500.00 total. soldone and recouped the total amount so he got his essentially free! Get one, get instruction and don't worry about 7mmm, 14mmm or any of that feldercarb. I've been using mine for three years. After about 4 dives with experienced hands (thanks Kraken and others) I haven't had a bit of trouble wih mine and I have dove in Wisconsin just before the ice comes in, Monerey in fall and summer (not actually much difference!) and Lake Lanier here in Gerogia year round (below 40 feet it is still in the high 50's eve in summer, and gets colder).

Why spend a couple of hundred on something you are going to replace soon anyway?

My $0.02 worth.

Mike