what would you bring for exposure protection?

[MXGratefulDiver]

A few of us will be heading off to Indonesia in March, 2008. Our itinerary will have us diving in Bali, Komodo, and north Sulawesi (Bunaken and Lembeh) over a three week stretch.

We have some options for wetsuits ... I'm leaning toward a 3-mil, full length.

For those of you who've been there ... is this a good choice? If not, what would you recommend?

Last time I was there I was a very new diver, using a rented shortie. I learned the hard way about fire coral. But, as a very new diver, I thrashed around a lot more than I do these days ... and didn't spend nearly as much time in the water as I plan to this time around.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Scuba Susie]

Bob,
I am also planning a trip to Bunaken/Lembeh in 2008. Where are you staying?

While I have not gone there, I have been diving in Sipadan, Lankayan and Southern Thailand. I always recommend a long 3ml suit. If you are doing 3 dives a day, no matter who you are, you will get a chill by the end of the day. Secondly, even for us more experienced divers, it is nice to have the skin protection if you "accidentally" bump into something. Or if you get pushed into something by other crazy divers. This is all just my opinion mind you. I also bring my long skin suit (1ml). I can just dive in that if I want or I can wear it under my 3 ml if I get cold.
Best of luck and do report back on your trip!
Susie

 

[Bora_Horza]

From my experience in the Komodo National Park (using rented gear), I had 3mm long suits, this was fine basically. One or 2 dives in the south of Komodo had water that was a bit cooler and I might have been more comfy with a thicker suit, but overall 3mm was good for me.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Bob,
I am also planning a trip to Bunaken/Lembeh in 2008. Where are you staying?

While I have not gone there, I have been diving in Sipadan, Lankayan and Southern Thailand. I always recommend a long 3ml suit. If you are doing 3 dives a day, no matter who you are, you will get a chill by the end of the day. Secondly, even for us more experienced divers, it is nice to have the skin protection if you "accidentally" bump into something. Or if you get pushed into something by other crazy divers. This is all just my opinion mind you. I also bring my long skin suit (1ml). I can just dive in that if I want or I can wear it under my 3 ml if I get cold.
Best of luck and do report back on your trip!
Susie

We'll be staying at Tasik Ria and at KBR ... four days in each place.

Thanks for the info on the wetsuit.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[TSandM]

Bob -- I did Bunaken and Lembeh in a 3 mil suit with a 2 mil hooded vest. I was fine. I got a bit chilled on some of the longer dives in Bunaken, but there's a thermocline, so you do your last 15 minutes or so in bathwater, and you're warmed up by the time you get on the boat.

Now that I own a heavier suit, I'd probably take it there, but I managed just fine in what I had. And you know me and the cold!

 

[Wayan]

A few of us will be heading off to Indonesia in March, 2008. Our itinerary will have us diving in Bali, Komodo, and north Sulawesi (Bunaken and Lembeh) over a three week stretch.

We have some options for wetsuits ... I'm leaning toward a 3-mil, full length.

For those of you who've been there ... is this a good choice? If not, what would you recommend?

Last time I was there I was a very new diver, using a rented shortie. I learned the hard way about fire coral. But, as a very new diver, I thrashed around a lot more than I do these days ... and didn't spend nearly as much time in the water as I plan to this time around.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Hi Bob

A 3 mm full suit will be fine, might want to consider a hood or a vest if you will spending a long time in Horse shoe bay (Rinca) onlhy 15 miles south of the north part of the park but the water is definitely colder due to the Indian Ocean currents coming up from down south

 

[Bosun]

We have been to KBR and Bunaken in May and a 3mm full was ideal. I have heard the water is coder at Bali though.

 

[JenM]

If you are spending any time in the southern part of Komodo around Rinja, definitely bring a hooded vest with you. Water temps can vary widely and I'm not sure what they are like at that time of year, but when we were there (in Sept) the temps were 70-75 degrees. I'm a wimp, so I froze, even in a full 3mm with a 7mm shortie over it, but if you are used to colder temps, you'll probably be okay with a 3mm and hood/vest, especially if you are only there for a day or two. The diving is amazing around Rinja so it is definitely worth the cooler temps. Cannibal Rock - wow!

 

[reubencahn]

For a similar trip a few years ago I brought both a 7mm and a 3mm together with a hood and a beanie. I'm planning to do this trip again this coming year and will do the same. Horseshoe Bay is cold. I think temps were in the 60s when I was there. I wore a seven mil with a hood and was still cold. The north side of the park was fine with a 3mm with a beanie at most. Lembeh is a little cooler and most of the dives you are barely moving so it's easy to get cold. When I was there, I wore my three mil but I think a seven might be better. We didn't go to Bunaken so can't speak to that. If I were going to bring only one wetsuit, I think I'd opt for a 3mm but bring along a 5mm hooded vest.

 

[Wayan]

For a similar trip a few years ago I brought both a 7mm and a 3mm together with a hood and a beanie. I'm planning to do this trip again this coming year and will do the same. Horseshoe Bay is cold. I think temps were in the 60s when I was there. I wore a seven mil with a hood and was still cold. The north side of the park was fine with a 3mm with a beanie at most. Lembeh is a little cooler and most of the dives you are barely moving so it's easy to get cold. When I was there, I wore my three mil but I think a seven might be better. We didn't go to Bunaken so can't speak to that. If I were going to bring only one wetsuit, I think I'd opt for a 3mm but bring along a 5mm hooded vest.

Hi all - yes Reubenchan is quite right the temps can get down to the low 60's in Horseshoe bay in Rinca the coldest month is generally August - Also can get quite windy at this time of the year (strong southerly's/South Easterly's) the temps in the northern part of the park are generally at this time down in the mid 80's - Pantai Merah Mudah (Pink Beach) can also be quite cool as well.
During the month of March the temps are not this cool.

So yes a 3mm (full length) and have a vest and hood as well will be all the need.