What thickness for the Keys?

[spreckelsen]

I will be diving in the Florida Keys in mid July. Do you normally where a wetsuit when diving there? Or is it too warm?
I am usually cold so i am thinking need something. I was going to go with my 2.5mm full. Will that be good or am i going to be too warm?

 

[deeper thoughts]

That time of the year I wear a skin

 

[ktomlinson]

I usually dive with a 3mm...if you're diving reefs you could probably even just use a skin (I use a 3mm and am not hot). If you're diving wrecks I think your 2.5 will be just fine.

 

[simskiscuba]

I was in the Keys last July and was very comfortable in a 3/2 full.

 

[j yaeger]

i'm never too warm!
i have been too cold!!!!!!!
i always wear a 3/2 in tropics
long dives and multiple dives...
if youre too warm,un zip for a bit and rinse out!!!
be comfortable!
have fun
yaeg

 

[pickens_46929]

Water temps will be in the mid to upper 80's... figure 87 as a good guess on my part

There will be no thermoclines unless you are diving deeper than 100 ft. and even at that it is likely only a few degrees cooler, not a "holy cow!" cooler.

While I could get by with a skin or board shorts+tshirt, I generally have a 2mm or 3mm shorty on since I do 3 or 4 dives a day.

I wear a rash guard underneath to protect my arms from the sun on the surface.

If you're prone to being cold or simply have an older, more worn out wetsuit, a full 2mm or so couldn't hurt. Good protection against rubbing against stuff too.

If you run towards the warmer side, a skin, full 1mm or 3mm shorty isn't too bad.

I will be diving in the Florida Keys in mid July. Do you normally where a wetsuit when diving there? Or is it too warm?
I am usually cold so i am thinking need something. I was going to go with my 2.5mm full. Will that be good or am i going to be too warm?

 

[HowardE]

I'd wear a 3mm suit

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Absolutbill]

On the way home from a day of four dives in key largo now! Our boats had everything from women in bathing suits to one couple with Lycra skins under 5 ml full suits with hoods. My wife and I each did a 3 ml shorty and did fine. Some divers with rash guards were a little chilly after the second consecutive dive.

 

[spreckelsen]

Great information. Thank you everyone. I'll go with my full 2.5 and have my rash guard along with me in case i need it.

 

[acteg]

For the shallow reefs I go with just a rashguard. Sometimes it is uncomfortably warm for me until around 40ft. For wrecks a 1.5mm as I get a little chilly on the second dive, but you could easily go with a 2 or 3 as well.