67F water too cold with 7mm wetsuit

[mike_s]

I dive florida springs in a 5mm and I'm fine. They are all mostly 67f to 68f year round. I know some people who dive it in a 3mm and are fine, but I tend to get cold in a 3mm in that temp. A hood will work wonders. So will the core warmer (vest or shorty) that the others mentioned.

I'm betting your 7mm experience where you got cold was in a "rental suit" that was worn out.

Get hood, gloves and maybe a core warmer. If that rental suit is worn out, it won't stay warm as well. Replace it with your own suit.

Also, if they were getting certified they were 'sitting around' underwater waiting for others to do skills instead of moving. that'll get you cold in 67f water easily.

[cummings66]

A good hood and gloves are needed, but with a well worn suit yours isn't a 7mm anymore. You may need another wetsuit. However, I think a person can do 67 with a 3mm, I certainly can and I don't have issues with it. My 7mm is good down to the low 50's and a drysuit is good at any temps. Honestly I dive the drysuit most of the time and I think based on the fact you got cold that you too will soon be a drysuit user. Find a DUI Rally and attend it and see if you like drysuits. You don't have to buy DUI for what it's worth, but it's worth the dive to try them out.

[Doug B]

Originally Posted by Rick56

Hi folks;

My kids were certified last weekend in 67F water. Although they were ecstatic to be on scuba, we all became much too cold in the well-fitting, but well worn, 7 mm wetsuits we had. Two questions for you all:
1. How much thermal protection might we have gained with hoods and/or gloves?

2. We'd eventually like to dive southern California (e.g., Channel Islands). Given that we run cold, what would we have to do to be comfortable in 55 to 65 degree water? Is a dry suit likely to be our only option?

Thanks!
Rick

Hood and gloves make ALL the difference. I once did 45 degree water without gloves and my hands were in near-pain.

At least for me, at first, the hood and gloves didn't feel "right", and I was worried about mobility and dexterity, but once I got in the water, I forgot I had them on. In the local quarries, now, I don't feel "right" unless I'm wearing a hood.

Get your kids hoods and gloves... and all will be well. Oh, the hooded vest is the best, IMO.

[kenmendes]

I have a 7mm wet suit and i dive in the PNW but i also have golves and a hood. Its keeps me pretty warm

[Steve Scuba]

A 7mm with 5 or 7mm hood and gloves are just fine and dandy in Monterey California, and should also be just fine in the channel islands. My dive buddy is a bit warmer than I, and complained that his 7mm with hood was too warm up in Oregon. So, to each his own, but there is no reason they shouldn't be comfortable out here in Californai with suits that aren't worn out, and with proper fitting gloves and hood.

[divingbuddy]

We regularly dive in temperatures much lower than 67F in a 7 mm suit. As others have said:

- wear a hood
- wear gloves
- wear a vest if additional core warming is needed.
- bring a thermos or cooler full of hot water (pour it into boots, gloves and over hoods before a second dive)

Obviously, with any thermal protection question, each person has their own inherent warmness/coolness and this must be taken into consideration.

Enjoy the dives. Cheers!

[Puffer Fish]

Originally Posted by divingbuddy

We regularly dive in temperatures much lower than 67F in a 7 mm suit. As others have said:

- wear a hood
- wear gloves
- wear a vest if additional core warming is needed.
- bring a thermos or cooler full of hot water (pour it into boots, gloves and over hoods before a second dive)

Obviously, with any thermal protection question, each person has their own inherent warmness/coolness and this must be taken into consideration.

Enjoy the dives. Cheers!

Good fitting suit, hooded vest... gloves and boots... anyone will be warm down to at least 58, depending on depth. Going deep, then use a drysuit.

[divingbuddy]

Originally Posted by Puffer Fish

Good fitting suit, hooded vest... gloves and boots... anyone will be warm down to at least 58, depending on depth. Going deep, then use a drysuit.

Well...when I said we I meant the students - I dive dry every dive. I did two dives this year north of the 49th parallel in a wetsuit - they were in Brockville in July (temp 68F). I was comfortable in the 7 mm suit with a 5 mm hood and gloves.

As for the students - OW dives in mid June will find temps in the low 40s below the first thermocline.

Cheers!

[Puffer Fish]

Originally Posted by divingbuddy

Well...when I said we I meant the students - I dive dry every dive. I did two dives this year north of the 49th parallel in a wetsuit - they were in Brockville in July (temp 68F). I was comfortable in the 7 mm suit with a 5 mm hood and gloves.

As for the students - OW dives in mid June will find temps in the low 40s below the first thermocline.

Cheers!

Even the low 40's can be warm in a wetsuit...Coldest I did last year was 39F, and was very warm...but not a normal 7mm. I think below 60 ft (at least for me) is far more important than the actual water temperature..

[divingbuddy]

Even the low 40's can be warm in a wetsuit...Coldest I did last year was 39F, and was very warm...but not a normal 7mm. I think below 60 ft (at least for me) is far more important than the actual water temperature..[/quote]

I hear ya

I did my Ice Diver course in a very good, well fitting 2 piece 7 mm wetsuit. The dives were fine - but you never saw a guy strip down so quickly after a dive in your life! The turtle was scared for a long time!