What to wear diving in the Caribbean?

[LMac8806]

Hey everyone,

I'm a pretty new diver and have only done local quarry (cold water) dives so far. I will be in Turks and Caicos in a couple months and plan to do some diving there. What type of suit should I wear? I see several 2.5-3mm options with short sleeves and and shorts, I see dive shirts, etc. Do people ever dive in just a dive shirt and swim shorts?

 

[Addicted2H2O]

I typically dive Cozumel either in a swimsuit and rash guard (Under Armor) or a dive skin to help protect against sunburn and jelly fish. I've seen people wear 2/3mm wetsuits, shortys, etc. but for me that's just too much insulation. But I'm fairly warm natured, too.

Here's the dive skin I use:
Neosport Unisex Lycra/Spandex Skin Suit

 

[islanddream]

Some people do dive in just a shirt and swim shorts. Here are a few things to consider:
- Temperature of the water and your level of comfort in that temperature
- Number of repetitive dives you're doing in a day (the more dives, the longer is seems to take your core to warm up)
-Possibility of getting into fire coral, jellies, etc.....things that can sting you

If you do choose to just wear a shirt and swim shorts, pack some additional items in your dry bag that you can wear if you get cold or feel you need more protection. A 1 - 2 mm skin doesn't take up much room and might make you happy to have it on board.

Happy Bubbles!

 

[Bubbles McGee]

I've worn a 3mm full suit in St Vincent, Grenada and St Lucia and was totally fine. I will be in the Dominican this fall and Turks in May of 2019 and will wear the same. I've seen lots of people just wear rash guards, shorts etc. I like the full protection. I've never felt too hot. Fire coral and jellies are something to take into consideration.

 

[Bubbles McGee]

Some people do dive in just a shirt and swim shorts. Here are a few things to consider:
- Temperature of the water and your level of comfort in that temperature
- Number of repetitive dives you're doing in a day (the more dives, the longer is seems to take your core to warm up)
-Possibility of getting into fire coral, jellies, etc.....things that can sting you

If you do choose to just wear a shirt and swim shorts, pack some additional items in your dry bag that you can wear if you get cold or feel you need more protection. A 1 - 2 mm skin doesn't take up much room and might make you happy to have it on board.

Happy Bubbles!

Ooops. Sent my reply and yours popped up.

 

[TMHeimer]

I have done one tropical dive trip years ago (to Panama --Caribbean side). 76F water in Jan. I wore my body suit ("rash guard", I guess) just for BC not rubbing on my back and for protection from scrapes, stings, etc. Used my reef gloves and a swimmer's cap instead of my hood (to keep water from going far into ears).

 

[RIHappyDiver]

A couple of things to keep in mind when figuring this out. 1) How warm you are? As @Sh0rtBus said, he’s pretty warm natured. I tend to wear 7mm here in New England when water temps are in the low 60s or lower, whereas a guy I dive with will be wearing a 3mm in the same water. He was on a group trip I did to Bonaire last January, I was wearing a 3mm, and wishing I had a 5mm after the 3rd day, while he wore a short sleeve rash guard and trunks all week. 2) How many dives are you going to be doing? As I said, after the 3rd day, I wish I had had a 5mm with me. I had done 11 dives by this point, all 82 degree water, but it was taking a toll. Even with a hood I was getting cold quick. Flip side, I will dive a 3mm up here in mid 60s or higher, but that’s just 1-2 dives in a day with multiple days between dive days.

Hope that helps some,

Erik

 

[KatieMac]

Depends on you. I dive at 78 degrees for 45 minutes and get cold in a 3mm. I know people who dive with no wetsuit at that temperature.

 

[Lorenzoid]

You will get every answer under the sun because it is such an individual thing--we all tolerate temperatures a little differently. At one end of the spectrum, some people dive in rashguards and boardshorts. (Think Canadians.) At the other end of the spectrum, there are people who would use nothing less than a 5 mm full wetsuit in 82F water. A 3 mm full suit is probably the most common for the warmer months in the Caribbean. In winter months, you may see more people with a 5 mm, or with a combination of a 3 mm plus a vest. I don't care for shorties because they leave skin exposed to possible stings and abrasions.

 

[diversteve]

In Turks/Caicos - in late March/Early April I dove in a t-shirt. My thinner buddy in a 3mil suite but no hood. And did all the dives including night dives.

Or look at rash guards for protection from stinging things.

I don't think you can be too warm but you don't want to be cold - especially on repetitive dives as your core gradually cools off.