Wetsuit thickness/full/shorty/booties question

[gbrandon]

In high 70's (78,79,80) water temp, what do the majority of you wear? Shorty or full suit, or do you bring both? I have a 2mm shorty, but am thinking about a full 3mm. Is that uneccesary? Also, do you wear booties? I was thinking about just taking my full foot fins instead of my strap fins. Whats the general concensus out there? I dont plan on either gloves or a hood.
Ive dove hawaii (less than 30 ft though) and snorkeled cozumel and grand cayman, and had no problems with just a swimsuit and some full foot fins, but never dove either and was planning on it. I assume greater depths is where it will benefit the most?
(even though its being compressed).

 

[deanmartin]

Eventhough I'm from Southern California, I dive 6 to 8 times a year in Key Largo FL.

When the water temp in Key Largo is in the high 70s or low 80s I wear a 3 mil one piece suit. I wear booties for my fins. If I'm diving a wreck, I will wear gloves. I never wear a hood.

In the summer months when the water temp is in the high 80s I will wear just a surf shirt.

On the same day in Key Largo, I've seen divers in dry suits and shorties. I dove with a fellow last month that was wearing a 3 mil one piece and a 3 mil shorty. He was freezing.

Greater depths don't always mean significantly colder water. In Key Largo and Grand Cayman the temperature at 3 atm isn't significantly different than the temp at 1 atm.

What ever you do, stay warm.

Regards

 

[Soggy]

deanmartin once bubbled...
Greater depths don't always mean significantly colder water. In Key Largo and Grand Cayman the temperature at 3 atm isn't significantly different than the temp at 1 atm.

But remember, greater depths does mean lost insulation in a wetsuit. So, while you may be warm at the surface, at the bottom it might be too cold.