What to wear to the boat

[Saudi-Diver]

Speedo's aka Budgie Smugglers are a really bad idea for guys who don't have the body of a greek god. I wear shorts and a rash vest that I can slip my wetsuit over. I also carry a lightweight fleece and a short waterproof in a dry bag for when its windy, it can even get cold in the Red Sea in August with a brisk breeze blowing over the deck and a squall of rain.

 

[boulderjohn]

The length of your rides in Cozumel depends very much on where you stay. If you are anywhere near town and diving the best southern sites, you will be on the boat a long time. In the middle of winter, you will want to follow Lynne's advice for something warm on the way back. Aldora's full length windbreakers are excellent.

It will also depend upon whether you will be on a big boat with a cabin area or a smaller six pack. Cozumel has both. I generally bring a mesh bag with my gear. I have a dry bag in it so I can keep stuff I want to keep dry in it right by my seat. That includes a shirt, jacket or fleece if I'll need one, my hat, sunglasses, etc. You may want to bring some money, too. Many surface intervals are done on shore in places where you can by a snack and a drink. You will also want to bring some tip money.

 

[friscuba]

A swim suit (speedos - yuck), t-shirt, hat, sunglasses, wallet, keys and light footwear. If you gotta take a bag, make sure it's a mesh bag or a small dry bag so it won't take up tons of space, otherwise store everything in your hat. As mentioned earlier, a lightweight windbreaker or chammy might be handy after the dives, although if it's sunny and over 80 it should only take minutes to air dry.

Every now and then we get people on board that pack like they're the Howells going on a three hour tour. Less is better.

 

[Fish in a Barrel]

Lots of good tips, guys. I found a nice, light pair of running shorts that I'm going to go with. They should dry out quickly and fit under the suit nicely.

I'll have to throw in one of my fleece jackets, too. That's good advice. I hate being cold.

 

[SoccerJeni]

I just noticed you live in St. Louis. You must be hating it now. I know I am. Have fun in on your trip!

 

[captain]

Is it difficult to pull the wetsuit on over shorts? Where I normally dive there's a locker room, so I just go commando under my skin and 7mm wetsuit.

I hadn't even considered that there are specialty dive shorts. In retrospect that should have been obvious.

I like to ware a Speedo under shorts, it's easier to get into a wet suit with a Speedo. I ain't proud and if others can't deal with it for a minute while I get into my wet suit tough.

 

[fjpatrum]

I've never understood the hating on speedos for situations like this. Sure, on a beach where all you do is lay around, why wear them, but when you're going directly to a wetsuit what's the big deal?

We're all flawed, some of us have a little extra in the middle, some of us have a lot of extra hair, who cares?

Wear whatever you're comfortable in, be it a speedo, commando, or whatever under your wetsuit/skin/whatever. Bring appropriate coverage for wind and sun and be considerate of others with your t-shirt slogans etc etc, if you give a damn. If not, don't worry, most people I've met on boats tend to be fairly relaxed about things.

 

[Fish in a Barrel]

I just noticed you live in St. Louis. You must be hating it now. I know I am. Have fun in on your trip!

You know it! I decided last year that I wasn't going to spend the next winter shivering indoors. So I started planning a trip somewhere warm and decided to give scuba a try so I'd have something to do when I got there. Turns out it's kinda fun.

 

[Booyakasha]

The key is the less cotton the better. I like to have a tshirt for sun protection for the way out and the way back so I use the polyester type, everyone makes them Nike, Adidas etc. I also have to have my sunglasses so what I have started doing is bringing my mask in it's case. When it is time to go in I take my sunglasses wrap them in the shirt which fits easily in my mask case (as they are so thin) and I am ready to go. When I am done I have a nice dry shirt and sunglasses that are not broken. :cool2:
I dive in a wet suit and usually put the bottoms on before we start going unless it is really hot or a long ride.

B.

 

[ronbeau]

Is it difficult to pull the wet suit on over shorts? Where I normally dive there's a locker room, so I just go commando under my skin and 7mm wet suit.

I hadn't even considered that there are specialty dive shorts. In retrospect that should have been obvious.

Under Armor or the generic equivalent from Walmart work well.
It will generally prevent family jewels from getting strangled by a loose-fitting swim suit under the wet suit.