Wetsuit - Red Sea, Jan - April

[ben arthur]

I'm off to Egypt from January to mid-April to do some dive-guide work and need to decide what thickness wetsuit to bring.

For those that have dived there during this period, is a 5mm or 7mm preferable?

Many thanks

Ben

 

[stefo2]

In December / January I dived in a 5mm 2-piece, in April in a 5mm shorty (long arms), while most people were still in their 2-piece suits or 5mm 1-piece. (I prefer being slightly cold to being overly buoyant and having to wear loads of weights).
Depending on how easily you get cold, either your 5mm or your 7mm will do. Water temperatures should be around 21°C in January and 23° in April.

 

[wandernsoul]

Depends on how well you tolerate the cold, as well as the chill from the wind. I was there in Oct. with a 5mil and was very glad I hadn't brought the 3mil. If you're working, which means diving every day, or at least very regularly, then I'd think the 7mil would be a better choice. Perhaps by April, though, it might be warm enough for the 5. IF you can only take one I'd go for the 7. The divemasters I dove with were talking drysuit for the winter......

Have a great time!
Beck

 

[mania]

It depends where are you going - if Hurghada I would advice 5+5 mm or even 7mm (I hate being cold and I get cold very quickly) for January till the end of February - mostly because of the wind. April - 5mm is absolutly enough. If Sinai (Sharm) I would use 5+5 till the end of March. February and March are the coldests months. Later 5mm is ok, end of April it could be even 3mm.
But I have seen guys diving in drysuits during the winter....
Mania

 

[steve_r0binson]

I was in sharm in Feb and wore a 7mm two piece. I feel the cold! It was a bit windy then as well and we had to cancel the trip to the thistlegorm. after 30 mins in the water the cold started to get in and on a night dive it gets colder too.

 

[Belushi]

It is absolutely freezing! I wore a dry suit from November to March whilst in Hurghada.
Take a dry suit, your gonads will love you for it!

 

[DJ69]

I use a two piece 5mm semi dry all year around when diving in the red sea.
Eilat/Dahab/Sharem.
The water temprature variations in the red sea are very small and it's coldish all year around. In the med for example during the summer we dive with lycra only and during the winter with 5mm and sometimes even 7mm.

 

[Ari]

5mm one piece and a seperate 3mm hooded vest. You can use only the suit, and add the vest on the second or third dives.

As the temperature will be around 21 C (68-70 F), which is not that bad.

Ari :errrr:

 

[adamsh]

Hi,

I plan on diving in Sharm at the start of march for one week, it will be 2 dives a day.

I currently have a 3mm Shadow Titanium 3mm 1 Piece, after reading many sites I realise this may not be enough for that time of year. Should I purchase a 5mm wetsuit or should I purchase Shadow Titanium 3mm Shorty to wear over the top of my full suit? (giving me 6mm round the chest).

Cheers
Adam

 

[DJ69]

Should I purchase a 5mm wetsuit or should I purchase Shadow Titanium 3mm Shorty to wear over the top of my full suit? (giving me 6mm round the chest).

Cheers
Adam

Will you have a more use for the 5mm ?
If not I suggest that you first look into renting a suit for the duration of the week.
You can allways purchase the suit in sharem and it will probably not cost you more then buying it in the UK.