What MM wetsuit...?

[AmandaBaz]

Hi guys,

I know it's mostly a matter of personal preference, but for New England diving in the summer months... like up through August/September what thickness wetsuit would you recommend? I know right now for October I'm using a 7MM Farmer Jane suit, and so far haven't been cold in the water.

I plan on diving up here through the spring and summer (but not too early in the spring- brrrr, snow melt!) I also enjoy travel, and will be diving in tropical locations. I'm trying to not have to buy 2 suits because of financial constraints, and figure for now, I can rent in tropical locations. I really only have a handful more dives planned for Gloucester before I'm sure a wetsuit will not be warm enough, but I already have my next trip to Cozumel planned.

I'm thinking that a 7MM will be too warm for tropical water, right? But is a 5MM too cold for New England?

TIA!
Amanda

 

[jaybombs25]

u would be far more comfortable in a 3/2 mm shorty or even a skin for tropical. If you don't want to buy a wetsuit just for that trip I would suggest getting some under armor and buying whatever suit you decide for New England.

 

[RIOceanographer]

I wouldn't bother trying to get one suit for both locations. It's nice to save money, but ultimately you won't be comfortable and if you are going all that way, you'll want to be comfortable and enjoy it!

Keep in mind that 3mm or less wetsuits and shorties are cheaper than the heavier cold water suits (unless you go for one of the pricier insta-dry or hyperstretch suits). Shop around, I think you'll find that getting a second warm water suit is pretty economical when you compare it to what you are already spending for the trip (flights, hotel, charters, food etc.)

As for which suit, like you said, exposure suits are an individual sort of thing. For around Cape Ann/Gloucester or anywhere north of Cape Cod, I'd usually just wear a drysuit, but if I had to go wet I'd be in either a 7mm farmer or a 7mm jumpsuit with hooded vest. Diving in the tropics, if the water is in the 70-75 range I wear my 3mm farmer. When it gets up around 78-80ish I wear my shorty.

 

[RIOceanographer]

Just to follow up my point, look at some of the prices on the warm water women's westuits at Scuba Toys. Womens 2mm shorty $49.95, 3/2 jumpsuit $89.95, 3mm farmer $99.95. That's nothing compared to the price of your trip.

Womens Wetsuits, Bare Wetsuits, Oceanic Farmer Jane, Henderson Hyperstretch, Henderson Gold, full suits, farmer johns, farmer jane, jumpsuits, shortys, shorties

 

[AmandaBaz]

Thanks guys.. LDS is selling this years rental suits off for 1/2price today... seeing if I can pick up a 7MM for cheap. Otherwise, I'll probably pick up a 7MM anyway and not bother to travel with any more than my skin for now. Suits are pretty cheap to rent for now... and less travel with heavy wet gear ;-)

 

[under water]

Thanks guys.. LDS is selling this years rental suits off for 1/2price today... seeing if I can pick up a 7MM for cheap. Otherwise, I'll probably pick up a 7MM anyway and not bother to travel with any more than my skin for now. Suits are pretty cheap to rent for now... and less travel with heavy wet gear ;-)

Depending on where you are going on vacation, you may find, like we did, that you can wear nothing .. er .. no wetsuit needed.
We started off a week in Bonaire last month with 3mm wetsuits and ended up doing the last 10 dives without them. It was comfortable either way, but less weight and less hassle without.

 

[spectrum]

Thanks guys.. LDS is selling this years rental suits off for 1/2price today... seeing if I can pick up a 7MM for cheap. Otherwise, I'll probably pick up a 7MM anyway and not bother to travel with any more than my skin for now. Suits are pretty cheap to rent for now... and less travel with heavy wet gear ;-)

How did you make out at the sale?

It's hard to go wrong with a 7mm set in New England Ocean water. There are times, especially when you head down to the south when you can do well with less but the 7 will cover the bases.

For warm water the suits are less expensive and compared to the cost a vacation well worth investing in. You can get a nice 3mm shorty these days for the price of a tank of gasoline.:11:

The bottom line is that you are probably heading towards a dive wardrobe so snag what you can as deals come by.

Pete

 

[Raptor1969z]

Dry suit with different insulation for different temps....

 

[Eris Lucan7*]

5MM is normal enuv on an wetsuit i say.

E.L.7*

 

[all4scuba05]

We are not all built the same. I got hypothermic last time I dove the carribean. That was in my full 3mm. Threw a shorty over that for the second dive but it was too late. I couldn't stop the shivering. Depends on depth, time of year, and how easily you lose warmth. We are not all built the same.