Let's Talk 5mm Wetsuits

[Zenagirl]

Are you sure you need a 5mm for Bonaire? The water should be about 80 degrees, so most folks will be in 3mm full suits at the thickest.

Although it is all black, ST has a great deal on the Pinnacle Elastaprene 3mm full suits. I actually find it to be as warm as my old 5mm Henderson Hyperstretch, mostly because the material isn't as stretchy and the neck and wrist seals are far superior, preventing the water trickle down my back I sometimes got with my Hyperstretch when I moved my head around.

[gNats]

Originally Posted by Zenagirl

Are you sure you need a 5mm for Bonaire? The water should be about 80 degrees, so most folks will be in 3mm full suits at the thickest.

Hi ZenaGirl,

My original plan was a 3mm... but, I read on a few other threads that a 3mm may not be enough mid-week through a week of diving. Some other divers felt that after diving a few days, they were getting chilled easier.

I do tend to get cold easier. On a typical July summer night in Michigan, once the sun goes down it's not uncommon for me to don a sweatshirt or fleece pull over on.

This is a tough decision for me... I don't want to buy the 3mm and get cold, but I have to admit, I wonder if I will roast sitting around in a 5mm?

The only time I will wear this exposure suit is in the tropics - which could be at any time of the year.

LOL - I may need a new thread now!

Thanks for Pinnacle recommendation!

[Shenanigan]

For a 1 week tropical trip, I just use my 3mm Excel. If I'm going on a 2 week trip, I use the 3mm the first week and my 5mm Henderson instadry the second week. That usually works for me. And with the instadry, I'm not bringing home a damp smelly wetsuit!

[dallasdivergirl]

Originally Posted by gNats

Hi ZenaGirl,

My original plan was a 3mm... but, I read on a few other threads that a 3mm may not be enough mid-week through a week of diving. Some other divers felt that after diving a few days, they were getting chilled easier.

I do tend to get cold easier. On a typical July summer night in Michigan, once the sun goes down it's not uncommon for me to don a sweatshirt or fleece pull over on.

This is a tough decision for me... I don't want to buy the 3mm and get cold, but I have to admit, I wonder if I will roast sitting around in a 5mm?

The only time I will wear this exposure suit is in the tropics - which could be at any time of the year.

LOL - I may need a new thread now!

Thanks for Pinnacle recommendation!

I used a 5mm in bonaire from 4pm to later. you will be happy that you have it.

[James1010]

Look on Scuba toys, they have some great wet suits and if you go to the sale link there are some on there that are a great price. Also Foo so are some good ones also.

[Zenagirl]

Originally Posted by gNats

My original plan was a 3mm... but, I read on a few other threads that a 3mm may not be enough mid-week through a week of diving. Some other divers felt that after diving a few days, they were getting chilled easier.

I do tend to get cold easier. On a typical July summer night in Michigan, once the sun goes down it's not uncommon for me to don a sweatshirt or fleece pull over on.

This is a tough decision for me... I don't want to buy the 3mm and get cold, but I have to admit, I wonder if I will roast sitting around in a 5mm?

The only time I will wear this exposure suit is in the tropics - which could be at any time of the year.

LOL - I may need a new thread now!

Thanks for Pinnacle recommendation!

I also get cold easier...to the tune of wearing a 7mm full in Hawaii in 75 degree water! However, I wore a 3mm Henderson Hyperstretch diving for 2 weeks on Bonaire and although I can't say I was "warm" by the end of the first week, I never was worse than chilly at times, mostly because I could (and did) warm up in the sunshine between dives. Rather than considering taking my 5mm Henderson Hyperstretch for next summer's Bonaire trip, instead I simply bought a warmer 3mm suit, hence the Pinnacle.

You're definitely in a tough spot and I don't envy your position....you just won't know until you've been to Bonaire and back. And since everyone has different cold tolerance, it makes it even worse for you to decide. Let us know what you finally decide and how it works out for you.

[Daz]

Originally Posted by gNats

This is a tough decision for me... I don't want to buy the 3mm and get cold, but I have to admit, I wonder if I will roast sitting around in a 5mm?

I look at it this way: While diving, if you're cold, it's really tough to get warm, but if you're too warm you can always flush some water in to cool off. If you're worried about overheating before the actual dive, don't suit up until you have to - or just take a quick dip before you gear up (with suit on).

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by gNats

Hi Ladies,

I am planning a dive trip to Bonaire in Janaury and thought a 5mm one piece would be perfect.

I already have a drysuit and a 2pc 7mm. My 7mm is a Henderson Hyperstretch, which I love for its comfort.

The 5mm I am looking to purchase should be:

1) Comfortable. Easy to put on with a silk skin underneath.

2) Racy, sexy, feminine. LOL. Okay, my 7mm is black and boring and I feel like a dirty Michelan man in it. I want something that looks good and is very female looking.

3) Affordable.

#3 is a big one. I will probably only wear the 5mm on warm water dive trips. For really hot temp local diving I have the 7mm and will most likely dive dry year round in Michigan. I don't want to spend a lot of money for something that only gets maybe one use a year.

I'm thinking of a budget < $225. I am 5'2" about 110 lbs. equally proportioned.

The only brand I am familiar with is Henderson. What other manufacturers should I consider?

Take a trip to So Calif. and buy a 5mm suit off the rack for about $100 less then your budget. While here do some dives. We have some of the best diving anyplace and the prices are about the lowest of anyplace in the world. But bring youe 7mm suit for divng. Here in So Cal 5mm is what surfers using in Winter.

I think I could make a good living shipping tanks and wetsuits out of state. People in the midwest and the East seem to pay a lot more. I buy a new 7mm suit every two years in summer and have not yet had to send $175.

[BlueC5Kitten]

I must be really odd...after the first day of diving in Bonaire with my 3mm suit, I continued the remainder of the week in just a dive skin for protection against jelly stings only (fortunately I did that, because my dive buddy was wearing a shorty and came up in a big bunch of jellies!). I was comfortable the entire time...this was completing 3-4 dives/day (including one night dive per night).

I would recommend you take a 3 and a 5mm, so you have the option, if the 5mm is too warm...unless you would be comfortable renting a suit from the shops there.

[gNats]

Thanks everyone for your advice!

Since I don't want to afford both a 3 and 5mm, I better make a choice. Neither thickness would offer enough exposure here in Michigan, even during our summer dives. The thermocline can be very chilly in August.

As I've been reading the postings, I remembered I was cold snorkeling in the BVI in April. I usually snorkeled in a poly long sleeve shirt to provide a little warmth. Maybe I am the odd one here? Don't ask how I survive Michigan winters. I wake up everyday between November and May asking myself why I'm still here. (Should have seen me a few years ago when we had a huge snowstorm at the end of April!)

I think I better go with the 5 mil. I do much better a little on the warm side than on the cold side.