stacking wet suits

[Mtrewyn]

Here in sw MO we are starting to get in to the time of year where the water in getting colder, ant my 3/2 will not cut it any more. I have yet to be able to get below the thermalcline for long usuly from 30 to 60 ft, depending on the lake. When I went to my LDS and talked about what they thought, they said that what they tell people is that layering works better than 1 thick suit, I know from my cold weather hiking/climbing that we always stacked layer on layer, and it worked very well. would a layer of a "skin" or 1mm, under the 3/2, under a full 3mm, work in temps to around 50 or so, of course Id'e need a hood and gloves, but that is not a real issue. I would like to dive "dry" but that investment feels steep to me seeing that the air temp here realy only stays under freezing for a few days at a time, and the water never ices over, so I'll only be out of the water for a month or two each year.

[Theepdinker]

60' & 50F you're in 7mill full length territory & a one piece may not be enough.

Personal opinion.
Layering works better on land than in water.
Not to say it doesn't work in water.


Theep

[Damselfish]

It's not like on land, layering doesn't work better thermally underwater (plus one of the benefits of layering on land is that you can take layers off and you're not going to do that underwater.) It will work worse if you wind up with additional places for water to sneak in.

What it gives you is more versatility. It's also a way to have more on your core and less on your arms and legs - of course you can have a multithickness wetsuit but that only goes so far.

[skdvr]

I dive in water in the 50's and just use a one piece 7mm wetsuit with a hooded vest that I wear under the wetsuit. Keeps me warm. I have never really tried to layer wetsuits, so I cannot say for sure it it would work out or not.. I do know that it would make it tough to move on the surface and it may be a fight to get into the second suit.

Phil

[divechaplain-sara]

A dive skin doesn't really add to thermal protection, but it sure does make it easier to slide into those thicker wet-suits. I haven't tried the dive skin in between my two three mils (one short, one long) but it might make things easier that way. I went diving last week where the temp was 64 below the thermocline. I was wearing a skin, a full 3mil, a hood and reef gloves. I wished I had had a 5 mil instead.

[DivingsInMyBlood]

i wear a 7mm full suit in the 50's and it feels fine to me.

[comet24]

I have a 5/4 Bare and will put a 7mm arctic vest over it. Works pretty good even down to the 40's for short dives.

http://www.bare-wetsuits.com/product...17&dept_id=170

[Charles R]

a 7mm or dry suit for 50's no other options for me but i get cold easily

[Dive-aholic]

I started out with a 2 piece 7mm, giving me 14mm on the core. I'm warmer in my 1 piece 7/5 than I was in that. So layering doesn't always make you warmer. What makes you warmer is the seal you get on the neck, wrist, and ankles. I will throw a 3mm shorty or hooded vest under my 7/5 for longer dives and it does help, but any more than that would be counterproductive. For the temperatures you're diving in your area, I'd buy a 7mm and put the shorty underneath if you need more than that. A 3mm full won't be enough to keep you warm through the winter.

[diverdad]

If a 7 mil is not enough you might try a semi-dry 7 mil. I haven't tried it myself but i have heard the sork really well.