wetsuit thickness in virginia
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msg
Contributor
Do you know what the air and water temps will be at the dive site? Will you be in the Gulf Stream waters? A 7mm suit should be fine. Depending on the duration and location of the dive site. Good luck.
Matt,
You won't have to worry about the Gulf Stream because you won't be diving there until you are certified. I would wonder why your instructor would be doing the confined open water dives in the middle of Winter. If he or she is, then you are going to be close to shore in a confined environment and the water will be cold. So a 7mm will be needed. The diving isn't the problem though. You will be standing around quite a bit while others do skills and such. So you are going to get cold. I would ask before I buy a wetsuit if the class is going to consist of only the classroom and pool dives and waiting until Spring to do the open water sessions. Another question...Will you be doing Winter diving once you are certified. If you are only going to be diving in warm weather buying a 7mm will be a bit of a waste. Then again you have the Laborador currents up that way even though I don't know if they have an effect on VA Beach. I know they do in Nags Head. If that's where you will be diving then a 7mm will be a good investment because the water temps can get into the 60's even in the middle of the Summer. I would get a bit more info before you buy...
You won't have to worry about the Gulf Stream because you won't be diving there until you are certified. I would wonder why your instructor would be doing the confined open water dives in the middle of Winter. If he or she is, then you are going to be close to shore in a confined environment and the water will be cold. So a 7mm will be needed. The diving isn't the problem though. You will be standing around quite a bit while others do skills and such. So you are going to get cold. I would ask before I buy a wetsuit if the class is going to consist of only the classroom and pool dives and waiting until Spring to do the open water sessions. Another question...Will you be doing Winter diving once you are certified. If you are only going to be diving in warm weather buying a 7mm will be a bit of a waste. Then again you have the Laborador currents up that way even though I don't know if they have an effect on VA Beach. I know they do in Nags Head. If that's where you will be diving then a 7mm will be a good investment because the water temps can get into the 60's even in the middle of the Summer. I would get a bit more info before you buy...
adurso
Contributor
Water temps off Va Beach are currently in mid 50s, to hit the Gulf Stream you gotta go really far out, most dive sites from Va Beach run low 70s high 60s in summer
doghouse
Contributor
My buddy did his first cw dive and it was 54 degrees. He used a farmer john 7mm and jacket 7mm. 3mm hood, gloves, boots. He was fine just a little finger chill at the end of class. He was glad that I had the truck running and he climbed in the jumpseat and warmed up.
ams511
Contributor
If you are planning on doing and lake or quarry dives a 7 mil is a must even in summer. Once you hit the thermocline the water is in the 50's. You may want to investigate a 7 mil 1-piece semi-dry suit. It will keep you are warm with less weight needed on the belt.
bvmjethead
Contributor
I'll preface my comment with this....
I'm a newbie to scuba. But I'm 42 and want to make wise choices on my impending purchases.
I've only dove three times and those dives were in Carribean water with only a 3 mil spring suit on.
Since returning from Mexico and spending 400000 hours reading ScubaBoard and every magazine I can get my hands on and spending hours at local shops talking with DM's and Instructors.....
For diving Virginia waters year round I'll be getting a 7 mil wetsuit with hood, gloves and booties for part time use.
I'm a newbie to scuba. But I'm 42 and want to make wise choices on my impending purchases.
I've only dove three times and those dives were in Carribean water with only a 3 mil spring suit on.
Since returning from Mexico and spending 400000 hours reading ScubaBoard and every magazine I can get my hands on and spending hours at local shops talking with DM's and Instructors.....
For diving Virginia waters year round I'll be getting a 7 mil wetsuit with hood, gloves and booties for part time use.
I'm a wuss. Our local quarry is in the 50's at any reasonable depth (and in the high 40's past 45 ft even in summer). I dive it in a 3/2, but only to 20 - 35 ft. If I were to go down below that I'd be buying a drysuit.
My wife turns blue in the pool (78F). Even in Roatan, with 82F water temp, she is cold after the second dive. I don't mean "chilly", I mean COLD!
Why not rent a suit and give it a try? If a 7 mil is enough, buy one. If you are cold in a 7 mil you may want to consider a drysuit, as you want to be comfortable when you dive and it would be a shame to spend the money on a wetsuit only to have to upgrade anyways. There are others here who are manly men and will dive a 2 mil in frigid waters - to each his own, eh?
My wife turns blue in the pool (78F). Even in Roatan, with 82F water temp, she is cold after the second dive. I don't mean "chilly", I mean COLD!
Why not rent a suit and give it a try? If a 7 mil is enough, buy one. If you are cold in a 7 mil you may want to consider a drysuit, as you want to be comfortable when you dive and it would be a shame to spend the money on a wetsuit only to have to upgrade anyways. There are others here who are manly men and will dive a 2 mil in frigid waters - to each his own, eh?
DeputyDan
Contributor
One of my biggest diving suprises was that you can actually see the thermocline in a quarry or lake.
Not necessarily a thrill - just a fact.
Not necessarily a thrill - just a fact.
DeputyDan,
Yes - this is true. The quarry we dive it has visible thermoclines (when viz is greater than a few inches). There's a schoolbus down at 55ft that requires passing through a couple of thermoclines... it is not a particularly pleasant experience for those of us lacking cold weather gear.
Yes - this is true. The quarry we dive it has visible thermoclines (when viz is greater than a few inches). There's a schoolbus down at 55ft that requires passing through a couple of thermoclines... it is not a particularly pleasant experience for those of us lacking cold weather gear.
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