Wetsuit thickness and Design for combined diving

[zboss]

Hello,

I am looking for information concerning what thickness of wetsuit I should purchase when I will be diving 50/50 in warm water (tropical) and cold-water (Virginia).

I don't mind being a little warm...

thanks,

zboss

 

[rcohn]

I'd buy two suits, 3 mm for warm water and 7 mm for cold. You'd be better off with a cheap cold water suit and a cheap warm water suit than trying to find a single more costly suit to use everywhere.

Ralph

 

[srkdvr]

I dive in Virginia all year long and I have a 6.5 I use in the Ocean. It is fine, if you need a little more slide a skin under it and bring it up to a 7. As far as tropical, I wear a 2 mm short suit it has done me fine.


Rich :mean:

 

[zboss]

Hey srkdvr!

I live in Alexandria but my brother-in-law lives down in Virginia Beach... he is going through his certification as we speak. I am hoping to head down to the Rawlings in a couple of weeks - I'm eager to get some dives under my weight belt before winter hits.

I noticed on Rawlings website that they offer "package" dives of 10 or so, but to be honest it would only be a weekend thing- do you know what they charge per tank fill?

I think I am going to be stuck buying two suits. This is not necessarily bad but I am wondering if someone makes a suit appropriate for both climates. Doesn't someone make a "layered" wetsuit?

thanks...

 

[Zept]

zboss once bubbled...
Doesn't someone make a "layered" wetsuit?

Oceanic makes some suits that are designed to be layered -- you can wear the pieces separately or together. See Divernet for a review.

You might be better off buying two separate suits optimised for the conditions you'll be diving in.

Zept