Do I need a shorty for Xmas week diving?

[porsche060]

What is the water like xmas week in the Caymans?

[dcross2002]

I dived 2 years ago on Spanish Bay for 2 weeks and wore a 2/3 O'Neill convertible - you will get away with a shorty. All depends on comfortability.

[Lulubelle]

Originally Posted by porsche060

What is the water like xmas week in the Caymans?

Me thinks you are trying to be an a..h... by rubbing it in that the rest of us will be freezing our butts off that week!

I dive in a shorty most of the time, down to about 72 degrees or so! But I have some natural insulation. My skinny friends have to layer up more.

[DLXM Cayman]

I personally don't need a shorty in winter although my wife does wear one - very much a personal issue I think.

[Skred]

Spent the week before Christmas at Sunset House in 2006. I dove all week 3-4 dives per day wearing a Henderson .5mm microprene and was comfortable all week.

YMMV

[mselizann]

it depends on how prone you are to cold- I wore a full 3mm insta-dry down there last week, and I get chilled by the end of my second dive of the day

[mrm777]

Porsche, What did you end up wearing for Christmas week? We're headed that way soon.

[coloradopomi]

I just came back from Little Cayman on 12/29. I used a 3mil core and 2 mil arm/leg wetsuit and was very comfortable. My bride and daughter each used a shorty and were very comfortable. My son dove with a rash guard top and board shorts and was very comfortable and one of the divmasters dove in shorts only. The question is whether or not you get cold easily. I liked the wetsuit for the first time in my life and was comfortable but would have probably been as happy in the shorties....I just had the thin wetsuit from when I was in Hawaii and it worked well.

[divermax]

definitely at least a shorty. i dive GC every spring and go with a full 3mm wetsuit with a 3mm core warmer underneath. i don't exactly have a lot of natural insulation (5'10 155), so your needs may be different, but i'm usually pretty chilly on a 50ft or 115ft dive with only the wetsuit and no core warmer

[mrm777]

When we were there the weather was overcast several days so I was glad I wore my 3mm and had a good boat coat. Normally, I can dive in shorty or rash guard but only if there's plenty of hot sun to warm up between dives.