Wetsuit Question

[talytha]

I've dived before in Cozumel and Roatan in August and didn't use any sort of wetsuit. I'm going on a cruise in two weeks and am planning on diving in Cozumel and Belize. I've been told that the water will be cooler and I will need a wetsuit. What kind do I need? A shortie or a full length one? What thickness?

 

[opiniongirl]

a 3mil or 2 mil should do you fine...and I would suggest a full suit as it protects from stings and abrasions.

 

[SteveDiver]

I am going to the same places Jan. 30th. I spoke with a local dive shop in Belize and they suggested a Long wetsuit 3/2....The h20 temp is not bad at all..

 

[jonnythan]

I too like full suits as opposed to shorties, since they give you more protection. I'm not sure what the water temps will be like where you're going, but I do well with a 3mm fullsuit anywhere from 65-70F and up. I'd probably check out a 3/2, which gives you a little more flexibility in the arms and legs. Would be a pretty versatile suit.

 

[jonnythan]

http://www.scubatoys.com/store/Scuba_Wetsuits_Mens.asp?PAGE=3 has a really great price on a 3/2 wetsuit.

 

[The Kraken]

Have to agree with Johnnythan on the 2/3.
I've a Neo Sport 2/3 full suit and love it.
I wear it in water temps from about 68F on up.
People forget that temps can drop significantly at depth even in tropical waters.
You can always flush a little cold water in to cool off, but once you get cold, you're cold . . . .

 

[mossym]

agree with the kraken, especially if you do any night dives where the surface temp has cooled off, on a dusk dive in maui with 80F temp water i was chilly at 100ft...

 

[jbb]

agree with the kraken, especially if you do any night dives where the surface temp has cooled off, on a dusk dive in maui with 80F temp water i was chilly at 100ft...

i don't know how some of you guys do it. i bought an o'neil 3mm full suit. although i know it has compressed, it no longer keeps me warm on 70 ft dives in 81-83 dF waters for 60 min. dives. i am 6ft and 200 pounds - not that skinny. i do workout on a regular basis and my body fat is about 22-24% according to the last check. i think to be useful to people wondering about what thickness suit to get you need to provide more information on your body, metabolism and dive type.

I dive 3 times a day starting out on my vacations and taper to 2 times a day at the end. this is usually for 7-10 days or so with surface temps in 80-90 degree range. the next suit i purchase will be a 5mm full suit since maybe i acclimate to the local warm weather too well. Also the 5mm will soon be compressed after a couple of vacation trips anyway.

jason

 

[Divedoggie]

:jump013: My dive buddy just got back from Belize and immediately started looking for a 3mm full suit. He had a shorty down there and was uncomfortably cold by the end of the 2nd dive and during the entire 3rd dive each day.
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[The Kraken]

JBB, put a hood on top of that suit.
I'm baldheaded and really can't bear to dive without something on my old pumpkin head. A hood makes one helluva difference !!!!!!