What thickness wetsuit for Caribbean waters?

[Ang]

Hi! New to this board, and to diving. My husband has been diving for about 10 years, but only arund his homeland of Europe. We are taking a trip to the western Caribbean in January and another trip to Central America (Belize area) in April. I have been snorkeling both places, but have never dived.

So... what thickness of wetsuit should we get that's a good "all around" one? Most of our diving, for our entire lives, I'd imagine, will be done in Caribbean waters as that's our favorite vacation destination.

I guess I should also ask - what type of wetsuit is best? I see the ones that look like shorts and a top, or capris and a top, the full leg/sleeve...?

 

[Michael Schlink]

3 mil or a 3/2 should do. I just got back form a two week trip and most everybody were using 3 mils or something close. I dive in a 1 mil with a 2 mil vest. My wife uses a 3/2 and for night dives she'll add a "bolero jacket"

 

[Diver Lori]

Do you get cold easily? I do. Typically I start out the week in a 3mm & beanie; add a hooded vest mid-week and am in a 5mm w/ beanie by the end of the week. Some people dive a swimsuit all week....this is not recommended tho, I've seen about 99% of swimsuit divers get nailed by sealice, jelly stings, etc. At the very least, wear a skin.

 

[H2Andy]

the exposure protection is going to vary with how well you deal with cold. you should
wear at least a skin as protection, but that won't give you any thermal benefits.

i would say you need, at minimum, a 3 mil-one piece. this is because you don't want to get too cold over a week's diving.

my last vacation to Bonaire, i wore a skin and the bottom of a farmer john. this was
enough. the time before that, in the Caymans, i wore a 3 mil shorty, no skin, and
was ok too.

 

[Jersey Chris]

I wear a 3mm full suit in the caribbian. That should be plenty for all but the coldest blooded divers. :wavey:

 

[teknitroxdiver]

I wear a full 3mm over a 3mm Gold Core no-sleeve shorty. Add hood on night dives. Yes, I get cold easy.

 

[goodknight411]

3 mil at least. And layers usually work well because you may need more some days that others.

 

[Ang]

Thanks for the replies!

So - understanding my newbie-ness, and that my husband has only dived wearing a drysuit... is there a good way to cover different water types with a few interchangeable pieces? I see some of you are talking about a jacket you can wear over...

I ask because if we live in the midwest, so even diving during the summer I imagine the water will be cooler.

If we want something that could accomodate our local water as well as the tropical waters when we take vacations, is there a base suit we could get, and certain "accessories" or other pieces we could add to accomodate both areas, or would we need two different wetsuits?

 

[teknitroxdiver]

Well, they say that you can use a Farmer John/Jane and a long-sleeve shorty for colder water, then use one of the pieces in warm water, but you really can't. The arm holes and neck of a Farmer scoop lots of water, which defeats the purpose of a wetsuit, and the shorty's split neck (for the zipper) does the same thing. So you really need two.

 

[H2Andy]

Well, they say that you can use a Farmer John/Jane and a long-sleeve shorty for colder water, then use one of the pieces in warm water, but you really can't. The arm holes and neck of a Farmer scoop lots of water, which defeats the purpose of a wetsuit, and the shorty's split neck (for the zipper) does the same thing. So you really need two.

i dont' find this to be the case. i can use them separately just fine. maybe it has to do with what model you have.