What wetsuit should I get

[KristenB]

Hey Guys I'm starting my open water training next month in august and will be doing my open water checkout dives mid month at Clear Springs scuba park in Terrell Tx.

I have been told everything from I will need a 3 mil fullsuit to a 2 mil shorty. I know about the temp changes with depth and want to get the right suit. I have been told I'll burn up in a fullsuit and also been told I'll be cold in a shorty 2 mil.

I dont want to buy too much of a suit and also dont want to be really cold when I do my checkout dives.

If anybody has any advice I will be really appreciative.

Thanks.

[Eddym67]

What is the water temp?

[Martin2]

Get the fullsuit. You'll be glad for the exposure protection and you can always let some water in if you get too warm. MM depends on water temp. ST has their Thermoprene on sale. Great suit, great price. We have 2 and I'm considering a third.

[Grizbear98]

I wore a 3 mm full suit in the Carribean and it wasn't too hot or too cold. But its probably going to depend more on how you react to the water and what the temperature of the water is. A full suit offers more protection from the elements than a shortie does. You might even want to consider renting for your first dives, that way you will know what your are the most comfortable with.

[rumblefish]

Depends on water temps and how often you will be diving, especially on successive days, and to a certain extent, how deep you will be diving.

The more days you dive, the more your core temperature will decrease. After several days diving, you may find yourself getting cold even in warm Carib temps. Next time you're on a dive trip, look at what all the DM's are wearing. Guaranteed that most will be wearing heavy wetsuits.

Water depth can affect the warmth of a suit because the deeper you get, the more your suit will compress. The more compression = less thermo protection.

Given the choice between a shorty and a full, get a full. Besides greater thermal protection, it will also protect you from jelly stings and scrapes that you might get if you accidently brush up against the coral. As for the thickness, it really does depend on your personal succeptibility to the cold. However, I would probably shoot for a 5mm. Why? It's always better to be too warm then too cold. If you find yourself too warm, just open up the neck seal and let some water in to cool yourself down. When you're too cold, there isn't much you can do to warm yourself up other then getting out of the water or putting on an additional layer of protection.

[Monkeylemon]

I agree--better to err on the thicker side.

[gthomas]

The time I was in Athens the water was about 74. I had a 3ml and got chiled before the first dive was over.

[BuzzF117]

Smack a shin on a coral encrusted wreck and you will wish you had a full suit. While diving a sunken barge in St Thomas I misjudged a distance and smacked my shin pretty good it was one of those times you hit it and don't really want to look. I was lucky I didn't break the skin and yes we had seen a shark on a diff dive just when we dove ealier in day on a reef 100 yds away. So I would always go on the side of caution and comfort when it comes to exposure protection.

[JFH]

Originally Posted by Eddym67

What is the water temp?

I agree. Can't make a suggestion without knowing the temps you are using it for. I like to stay warm but I don't like to wear more suit than I need since that means extra weight. I hate diving with suits but I hate the cold more.

[JillianAnnO]

Im cold natured and shivered the last few hours of the pool and I took my OW at Clear Springs in a full 3.... Now, I can just go in a bathing suit and it's not a big deal... around 18ft, you'll notice the thermocline (depth varies) but even with my "chill factor" I'm good w/ a shorty, if even that! GOOD LUCK!!! It's a lot of fun and we've been going every weekend since being certified.