What thickness wetsuit for 68 degree water (no thernocline)?

[matt_unique]

I used a 7mm double layer wetsuit with hood for years before I upgraded to a dry suit. You should be fine at those temps but I would definitely wear a hood. Plus it will help your ears if you are doing a lot of dives over a short period of time.

--Matt

 

[jonnythan]

I'd do that dive in a full body 3mm with gloves, no hood. I've done a pair of 45+ minute dives with a 1 hour SI in 60 degree cloudy weather that way and been fine. I'm a warm person though. Maybe a 7mm FJ or 5mm full body.. or even a semi-dry would work for most people

 

[Wendy]

Thanks for the replies... I tend to get cold easy, so I'll go w/ 7mm I think.... And nope, I'm not going to bonne terre mines. I'm headed to Vortex springs in florida. It's 68 degrees year-round.

72ºF is the temp of most Florida springs. I have reach 68ºF in the springs before but that was at way lower depths.

I wear a 3mm long sleeve shorty and a 3mm farmer john under it. I don't like wearing hoods, but I think most of my friends do. And if they have them, drysuits are popular for those temps. I am good in my wetsuit at those temps for about 2 hours before I get really cold, but I guess I am just used to it.

 

[adder70]

I have noticed that in the typical spring basin you are usually in shallow (30ft/10m) water (I don't know depth of vortex.), and I am fine with a 3mm wetsuit with no gloves or hood.

WHen I go deeper for cavern/cave or the occasional deeper spring (ie 40 fathom), I go with a 5mm hooded vest with the suit and usually feel fine to about 100ft/30m or more.

The big deal is air temp! In hot weather, I might even go 3mm for moderate depths (60ft/20m) just so there is less to tear off before I die of heat stroke. OTOH, in cooler weather (50F/10C), I get cold on my surface interval even with the hooded vest, so I might wear it to regain and build warmth during the dive even in shallow dives.

See, it's a simple problem with one clear cut answer!

 

[Ron Brandt]

Two piece 7mm with a hood

Or a drysuit

Ron

 

[Ontario Diver]

What thickness wetsuit would you wear in 68 degree water (no thermocline)? Would you wear a hood?

Thanks

Obviously it is personal...

I'd be in a shorty but I'm used to cold water and I have my own insulation.

I have dove in the cenote's in Mexico at 68F and got hot in a 2 piece 3mm

Hood is always the first thing to add if you are cold.. The head loses alot of heat compared to its size.

 

[Warren_L]

What thickness wetsuit would you wear in 68 degree water (no thermocline)? Would you wear a hood?

Thanks

A full 3mm would be more than enough for me. I could probably go without any exposure protection but probably not more than half an hour or so.

 

[TCooperWFI]

Thanks for the replies... I tend to get cold easy, so I'll go w/ 7mm I think.... And nope, I'm not going to bonne terre mines. I'm headed to Vortex springs in florida. It's 68 degrees year-round.

Don't know if you've been there before or not, but here's a link to Vortex Blue Spring . Last time I was there, the service wasn't that great...would love to hear how it goes.

 

[Genesis]

What's wrong with it? I've been there a few times.

BTW if you're coming down and would like someone to come dive give a holler. I'll show up there. If you're comfortable with overhead environments its actually quite nice (the OW part is kinda wah-wah IMHO)

 

[TCooperWFI]

What's wrong with it? I've been there a few times.

Customer service issues, but I went back and no improvement.
I expect when I'm in the area I'll go back again.