ddub23
Contributor
Oversea, my OW dive was 52F. Not much warmer that where you are but I was fortunate (or sensible) enough to do my drysuit specialty as well. It makes a HUGE difference. Other classmates wore 7mm suit with a 5mm hooded vest. All had 5mm gloves.
Biscuit7 had a goind point about partially flooding your mask to lessen the cold temp shock. Our instructor actually had us remove our mask on the surface (BC inflated of course) and stick our face in the water shouting, "Good morning Monterey Bay." Strange tradition/ritual for him but I guess it allowed us to get used to the temperature and reduce anxiety before we went under to do our drills.
Good luck. Relax and don't think about the cold.
Biscuit7 had a goind point about partially flooding your mask to lessen the cold temp shock. Our instructor actually had us remove our mask on the surface (BC inflated of course) and stick our face in the water shouting, "Good morning Monterey Bay." Strange tradition/ritual for him but I guess it allowed us to get used to the temperature and reduce anxiety before we went under to do our drills.
Good luck. Relax and don't think about the cold.