Br-r-r. After 7 days on a liveaboard I get cold.

[weight-n-sea]

I'm new to this, but need help before the next liveaboard experience. Just finished up a week in Fiji and at end of week I was wearing a diveskin (.5), a 3 mil and a shortie on top. Still wasn't really warm. Saw a woman with a Titanium Henderson 7ml/5ml combination that she wore all week and was warm as toast. If you feel toasty at the end, are you sweating bullets in the beginning of the week? What's your recommendation when you're doing 25+ dives in a row. I'm 5'6 and 125 pounds (and over 50) but I don't know if that has anything to do with anything. Thanks.

[abcitydiver]

I Would think all kinds of factors are or could be at play here. Including how well you are re-fueling (eating) resting, if your suit is dry by the time you dive again, water temperatures, sun..wind..rest, etc.
The bottom line, sounds like you should invest in one heavier suit, and try and still bring your layered options....options, options options!

[Zenagirl]

The other thread has a good link to an article. Basically I think you need to start with a thicker suit to prevent heat loss in the first place. When we did our first liveaboard in Belize, the water was 79 degrees. Everyone thought I was nuts with my 5mm full suit, but within 2 days all the ladies (and some of the gents) were asking to borrow thicker suits from the boat, or layering two 3mm suits.

[ladyfish]

Zenagirl is right. Start off warm and stay warm all week! I've worn a 7 mil in 80 degree water. Why? I HATE to be cold. It was a bit of overkill, but I wasn't sure about the water temps, and I'd rather be too warm than too cold. You can always let the water into your suit by unzipping or pulling out on the neck seal.

I'm known for getting cold easily. I usually wear more neoprene than others. But if you stay warm, your body won't work so hard to keep warm, and you won't get so tired, and you will be able to do all the dives on a liveaboard.

If you have layers, use them. 3 or 5 mil with a hooded vest. Same with a 1 mil underneath. Whatever works. Keep your head covered, that is a key to warmth!

Good luck and stay warm.

[ScubaJenn81]

I never thought about that issue. It makes sense though. I am glad that I have my warm and toasty 7mm suit. I will drag it along for sure when I finally make it on a trip like that.

[skippy11]

Thanks Ladies. I have often wondered the samething. I stay cold out of the water, but was worried about being cold on our next dive trip. I have only done my certification and a few other dives, but they were not back to back. We are planning to go to Cozumel in February. My friends usually just wear a 3ml suit. Do you think this will be okay there...in February?

[navyhmc]

Excuse me for lurking in the womens issues (I was perusing the "New Posts" and found this, honest!)

Nutrition is still a big factor to the warmth. I've done a lot of very cold water dives in wet suits (last one was 49 degrees at depth) and the layers are important, but so is eating a good complex carb snack/meal between dives. In a cold weather medicine class I did for the navy, the first thing we were taught to do if we started getting cold was eat something. Even those nasty peanut butter crackers are a good snack to start your furnace up again.

[BuzzF117]

remember it isn't always the water temp that can make you cold. If you have a cool cloudy day you won't get the warmth from the sun that you normally would thus making your surface interval cold.

[Daved]

Buy a heavier suit. Being cold sucks.

[Beecharmer]

Love those liveaboards where they serve you wonderful Hot Chocolate after the night dive! Night dives are the worst for getting cold!