Which wetsuit for Hawaii right now?

[sshrum]

I just came back from Maui where I did 5 dives...2 in just a 3mm shorty. I also did 2 dives with a 3 mm farmer john with jacket. I never got cold.

 

[rlynch]

btw what is the water temp in mid-summer? last time i was there it was apx 78 ~ 60fsw. I'm booking a trip and wanted to start thining about if i bring my drysuit or not. (i dive Dry in FL springs @ 72 degrees, and only start getting cold at about the 200 min mark with serious unders, i dive the same setup in seattle and locally with an added layer at 48 degrees for about 60 minutes beforee the cold starts setting in)

sorry for the hijack

 

[Thalassamania]

It depends on how cold you get and your activity level. I wear a 7mm suit designed for Monterey when I'm going to spend an hour or so as still as I possibly can be, but I can get by, if I'm moving along, with a 3mm just fine. I was out freediving today, with just a bathing suit.

 

[DiveMaven]

btw what is the water temp in mid-summer?

I was on Maui in early July last summer and late August. In July the water temp was 77-78 degrees and at the end of August it was 78-79. Remember that because Hawaii is in the middle of the Pacific, the temperature at the top is the same as at bottom.

 

[friscuba]

It changes every year. Last year we spent nearly the entire year at 77/78, bumped up to 80 in November then dropped to 76 by December. Won't have a real clue what this summer will look like 'til May/June, then again it could be like this year where it didn't really change, usually the temps start to bump up in late spring or early summer. I'm seeing 75/76 right now, have seen a few 73s on some computers, but I'm thinking it's just the variation between computers as most of our customers seem to match my computers.

 

[rlynch]

good info - i typically get cold easily (and have been doing nothing but cold water dives for a while) so dry it is and a few variations in undergarmets and i'll pack my 3mm shortie as well just incase and for snorkling.

 

[DiveMaven]

Don't forget that your surface interval air temperature will be in the low 90s, making it easy to warm up between dives. Personally, I get cold very easily but find a 5mm full suit is perfect for diving Maui in the summer.

 

[rlynch]

That's what zippers are for have to stip off my wetsuit anyway - my drysuit is quicker to get stipped down