What to wear under dry suit

[sarahbethday]

Hi,
I am getting open water certified and my open water classes are going to be in a cold lake in Chicago with the temperature of about 55-60 degrees. I am moving to Australia in a year along the Great Barrier Reef so I am not to concerned about buying a dry suit and all that goes with it, like the thermal underwear. Iwas curious if there is any cheap way to stay warm during the 2 five hours dives I will be making in the lake. I know I can rent a dry suit, but can I wear just normal long underwear under this to stay warm or do I need something more specific to dry suits. Thanks for all and any help!
Sarah

 

[jonnythan]

In those water temps, normal (non-cotton) long underwear plus a layer of reasonably thick fleece will keep you warm.. I'm skeptical of a water temperature of 60 degrees in a lake in northern Illinois this time of year, though.

That being said, since you've never been in a drysuit, and you probably won't be in the future, wear a 2 piece 7mm wetsuit and bring a jacket of some sort to wear over it between dives. Also might want to bring some warm water to pour into the suit before you start diving.. preventing that cold-water creep in you get when you jump in by pre-wetting everything with warm water helps.

 

[ScubaFreak]

I agree with Jonnythan, me thinks anything non-cotton will do the trick.

Welcome to the board by the way

 

[jonnythan]

Well, be cautioned, just cause it's dry doesn't mean it's warm. If all you wear is long underwear you'll be very very cold.

This of course assumes a trilam suit. Neo suits will be warmer by themselves.

 

[Virgil]

Hi,
I am getting open water certified and my open water classes are going to be in a cold lake in Chicago with the temperature of about 55-60 degrees. I am moving to Australia in a year along the Great Barrier Reef so I am not to concerned about buying a dry suit and all that goes with it, like the thermal underwear. Iwas curious if there is any cheap way to stay warm during the 2 five hours dives I will be making in the lake. I know I can rent a dry suit, but can I wear just normal long underwear under this to stay warm or do I need something more specific to dry suits. Thanks for all and any help!
Sarah

Am I missing something here? 2 five hour dives? On an OW referral?

 

[sarahbethday]

Thanks for the help...I have no idea about these things. I have always just snorkeled. What's the difference of Neo and trilam suits? I don't know what type of suits my dive center has...he just said dry suits. Also, what else is a good idea to wear besides long underwear. I am pretty scared of being really really cold and not being able to finish the dive.

 

[sarahbethday]

Am I missing something here? 2 five hour dives? On an OW referral?

I am almost positive that is what my instructor wants to do. First we will do all the classroom and pool work and then he is going to take us out on the lake for one 5 hour dive on both a Saturday and a Sunday. Does this seem like too much or too little? I really don't know that much I guess!

 

[Virgil]

I am almost positive that is what my instructor wants to do. First we will do all the classroom and pool work and then he is going to take us out on the lake for one 5 hour dive on both a Saturday and a Sunday. Does this seem like too much or too little? I really don't know that much I guess!

It may be that the whole dive trip might last five hours but the dive itself is likely to last 45 minutes or so depending on how deep you go, tank size, breathing rate etc. I suspect it might be a simple mis-understanding.

Hope you enjoy and all goes well

 

[MikeC]

I am almost positive that is what my instructor wants to do. First we will do all the classroom and pool work and then he is going to take us out on the lake for one 5 hour dive on both a Saturday and a Sunday. Does this seem like too much or too little? I really don't know that much I guess!

A five hour dive might be OK if you were taking a deco class. Maybe your instructor meant that you would be out on the water for five hours at a time, so that you would be prepared with warm clothes, food, water...

 

[ScubaFreak]

sorry- jonnythan - didn't literally mean anything non-cotton.

More like anything warm that's non cotton.

I dive and teach dry all year round, and have learnt my lesson with cotton