Northeast Diving - 3mm gloves?

[sixboots]

Hi,

I just got certified in the caribbean this april and am now thinking about getting my AOW certification here in the northeast (will probably be at Dutch Springs, PA). I'm also interested in maybe diving around the NY/NJ area in the future. Went into one of the dive shops here in NYC and, among other things, asked about wetsuit requirements for the class and the area in general, with the answer being 7mm wetsuit, hood, etc. The rep I spoke to told me she wears 3mm gloves, though, and if she went further in depth about the topic I don't remember. She said she doesn't dive much up here anymore. I'm wondering what type of gloves to buy, so does this make sense to anyone who has done dives in this area or in similiar conditions? What thickness gloves would you recommend?

[scubacat80]

This time of year I don't worry about gloves. Now until early September I have been fine without them in Lake Erie (western NY.) If I want a little protection for my hands I will just using garding gloves.

Depending if you are going diving year round or just during the summer months, and your depth a 7mm might be too thick. Again during hot days in I won't wear one unless I am going deep. It's rare that I will wear a hood in the summer too.

Originally Posted by sixboots

Hi,

I just got certified in the caribbean this april and am now thinking about getting my AOW certification here in the northeast (will probably be at Dutch Springs, PA). I'm also interested in maybe diving around the NY/NJ area in the future. Went into one of the dive shops here in NYC and, among other things, asked about wetsuit requirements for the class and the area in general, with the answer being 7mm wetsuit, hood, etc. The rep I spoke to told me she wears 3mm gloves, though, and if she went further in depth about the topic I don't remember. She said she doesn't dive much up here anymore. I'm wondering what type of gloves to buy, so does this make sense to anyone who has done dives in this area or in similiar conditions? What thickness gloves would you recommend?

[sixboots]

I'll probably just be diving in the summer months. I'm not really one for cold water.

[scubacat80]

I would just get a good set garden gloves then. The water is not really that bad. I would also reconsider a 7mm wetsuit if all you are doing is summer diving. I hope to hear others chime in as well.

[scootermcfly]

I wear 5mm gloves here in Upstate NY and they are plenty warm. If they get too hot during a summer dive I just flood them.

[bassplayer]

Depends on the lake. I dove in Lake Ontario (near Toronto) last weekend and the temp was 43 F at 60' - a little on the chilly side

[mselizann]

3mm is fine for summer- but you may want something warmer for winter or deep diving

[longtailbda]

3mm has always been fine for mid-late summer diving in this area but mid fall through early spring you may get sore and cold hands.

[Sansho]

I dove Brownstone quarry (CT) last week, and things got chilly fast. At 60' the temps were around 40º and the reef gloves I had on were useless. My buddy had 5mm gloves on and they were borderline for him. I have 5mm gloves on order from ST.

[DUnder]

I went diving last weekend. The water temps were 53-60 deg above the thermocline and about 42-45 below the thermocline. My 3mm gloves were fine for the 53 deg water but my hands were to cold in temps below that. I would go with 5mm gloves for colder temps.