Lets talk about these so called...

[boates]

protection suits.
Protection from what...........bad bouyancy?
In 430+dives....I've been stung once. It happened at the dive ladder, apparently things break loose from jellys etc. Yes it HURT, Greg hastily pressed meat tenderizer on to it and viola..............pain gone
I think the reason for protection suits is to protect the diver from their own coral crashing shame.
In the Caribbean, I dive bare.....swimsuit only.
Just my opinion................

[No Misses]

How about protection from the elements (cold water)?

Come on out and dive with me in 55 degree water. I'll bet that you will want some type of "protection suit"

JM2c. Feel free to continue your rant. The floor is yours.

[CODMAN]

Not always. There are stingies out there! You just need to be at the right place, at the right time! I felt them just recently during a snorkeling expedition where I didn't wear my fullsuit. They weren,t dangerous, just a bit painfull... I can imagine running into the tentacles of a more dangerous species...

All I'm trying to say, protection suits are not just made to protect bad divers who belly rub the coral! They can be trully usefull for avoiding stingers in midwater...

[ReefHound]

Originally Posted by boates

In 430+dives....I've been stung once. It happened at the dive ladder, apparently things break loose from jellys etc. Yes it HURT, Greg hastily pressed meat tenderizer on to it and viola..............pain gone
I think the reason for protection suits is to protect the diver from their own coral crashing shame.

You've been lucky. I don't crash the coral and I've been stung dozens of times. I do a lot of shore diving and maybe the jellies hang thicker there. When loose tentacles float into your face and around your mouth when you're a few hundred yards offshore you can't slap on meat tenderizer right away.

[mselizann]

I actually got a tattoo to comemmorate (sp?) a jelly experience I had- 1 brushed by stinging- not bad
second time I had one wrap around the same arm- same day-ouch
it was low vis- shore diving

you can bet I wear a suit all the time now!

[boates]

Originally Posted by No Misses

How about protection from the elements (cold water)?

Come on out and dive with me in 55 degree water. I'll bet that you will want some type of "protection suit"

JM2c. Feel free to continue your rant. The floor is yours.

Hey I live in N.S. Canada the warmest water is in Aug....60 degrees, that's why I like to dive without neoprene whenever I can 55 degree water.....warm here, protection suit is not in our vocabulary, here we wear suits for warmth

[CODMAN]

Actually Boates, diving with a full 3mm suit is just like diving without one, compared to the double 7mm suit I wear for local diving here! There is no gain in my oppinion from diving without... But that's just my oppinion...

[boates]

Yes, I do wear 3/4" neoprene here(at home). for warmth, not "protection"
But, thats my point, when we travel, I can't wait to ditch as much of the gear as I can. I just don't get the whole "protection" thing.....again, protection from what?

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by boates

Yes, I do wear 3/4" neoprene here(at home). for warmth, not "protection"
But, thats my point, when we travel, I can't wait to ditch as much of the gear as I can. I just don't get the whole "protection" thing.....again, protection from what?

Protection from stinging jellies.

Some areas have more than others. Or do you make your statement based on having sampled the dive possibilities of every location on earth?

When I've dove in the Caribbean, I've gone with just a wetsuit, too, or perhaps a shorty for a touch of warmth on deeper dives. But there are other places where I wouldn't go into the water wearing less than a full skin or 3mm... and not because I was cold or worried about hitting the coral.

[fire diver]

Originally Posted by boates

Yes, I do wear 3/4" neoprene here(at home). for warmth, not "protection"
But, thats my point, when we travel, I can't wait to ditch as much of the gear as I can. I just don't get the whole "protection" thing.....again, protection from what?

I'm lost here. Are you asking a question or baiting for a fight? "protection" is meant as thermal protection. That's why the suits come in so many styles and thicknesses.

Next question?