Your water temperature tolerance

    What are the water temperature points where you switch from one kind of wetsuit to another, from warmest water to coldest water? I know it also depends on air temp but to keep a constant lets stick to water temp. Also if you can mention where you usually dive.


    I would offer mine first but I honestly don't know. I don't pay attention to the temp, if I feel cold I put on more suit. I usually bring in my bag a change for one level up for if I misjudge how I'm going to feel. But I can offer my progression without the corresponding water temp.


    1. Speedos and Lycra rashguard (no hood). Or 1mm inside and outside lined pants and Lycra rasguard. I haven't found ideal pants to go with this yet. Lycra pants seem a little fruity.
    2. 3mm open cell inside lined outside jacket (no hood), with 1mm lined inside and outside pants.
    3. 3mm open cell inside lined outside jacket (no hood) & pants.
    4. 5mm open cell inside lined outside jacket (no hood), with 3mm open cell inside lined outside pants.
    5. 5mm open cell inside lined outside jacket (no hood) & pants.


    That's it I haven't dove colder than this. I dive from Homestead to Port st Lucie but most often near Miami.

    Up front: I'm strange in terms of tolerance, and I don't spend a lot of money on different suits, so I make do with what I have.


    Anything from 48 to about 75, I am perfectly comfortable in 5mm farmer johns plus a 7mm jacket. I don't seem to overheat very much at all, nor do do I get cold that easily. I can withstand 58 and above in 5mm alone.


    However, anything above 70, any suit I wear is more for sun protection than insulation. I'll throw on whatever I have at the moment (7mm or 5mm jacket by itself) to prevent the burn, but I have trunked it in 73 degree water and been fine.

    Alex

    I mainly used a surfsuit up until recently, but I wasn't diving nearly as much as I am now. But for kicks I'll put my cards out:


    45-60 7mm open cell jacket and FJ's with neoprene gloves
    50-70 5mm open cell jacket and FJ's with hood and neoprene gloves
    70+ surfsuit with hood or for long hours 5mm jacket with 3mm closed cell high waist pants with mechanics gloves


    I don't know how you Fl guys don't use hoods! I feel naked without one!

    Long Beach Neptune


    USCG 50GT

    82 and up = 1.5 mil or rash guard
    75 to 81 = 3mil two piece with hood
    60 to 74 = 5 mil two piece with hood
    below 60 = Suit an tie at the office (I hate cold water diving)


    Cheerz :toast:

    <59 - don't dive, until I get a 7mm Pursuit top :@


    60-70 - 5mm open cell top with hood and pants bottom


    70-76 - 3mm closed cell top with hood(usually off) and pants bottom


    over 76 - rashguard long sleeve top and board shorts

    The problem here is that the surface temps can be pretty good (70+), but it drops very quickly with depth. Because I do a lot of aspetto and slow moving, I tend to wear a thicker suit than others here. Few divers in RI do the style of freediving I do. Most do a lot of swimming and lots of up and downs. I tend to do a lot of relaxation, slow movements, and reduced heart rate stuff. That's what gets me really cold. So in the summer, when some get hot in a 3mm, I'm in a 5mm. Most of the time, I dive with a 7 top and 5 bottom.

    3 mm hooded open cell all year long. If I feel hot, I let some water into the hood. During summer it happens often.


    The wetsuit I'm wearing now (a Jomer) has lost some thickness (and insulation). The water is getting colder here (77°F) and I have to switch to a TRUE 3 mm jacket.

    Marco Melis

    A bad day fishing is ALWAYS better than a good day at work.

    NOt sure of the temperature but
    Summer, 3 mm hooded vest with a long sleeve shirt.
    Fall and spring, 3 mm hooded vest and 1.5 mm full suit
    Winter, 3.5 mm full suit with 3 mm hooded vest.

    In Mallorca
    Winter -7 mm pants and jacket- whole socks 5mm
    spring, fall 5 mm - whole socks 3 mm
    summer 3 mm
    special fishing more than 30 mtrs jacket 5 mm - pants 3 mm in the summer


    Depending on the kind of costume, microporous exterior monoforrado, gum, smooth exterior microporous
    is the same thickness for all

    7 mil in nor cal , 5 mil in socal and spring baja , 2 mil shorty in summer baja , Hawaii , and costa rica
    I get cold ez and cold is the main killer of breath hold time
    Phil

    Nice avatar Ramon:thumbsup2:

    Well I guess I should say something about wet suits and water temp.
    Year round I wear a Pursuit 5mil top and bottom with attached hood. When the water gets less then 54 degrees I puss out and ride my mountain bike.:D The suit is warm but my face, hands, and feet freeze.


    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

    Edited once, last by Don Paul ().

    Quote from ddonnell

    I mainly used a surfsuit up until recently, but I wasn't diving nearly as much as I am now. But for kicks I'll put my cards out:


    45-60 7mm open cell jacket and FJ's with neoprene gloves
    50-70 5mm open cell jacket and FJ's with hood and neoprene gloves
    70+ surfsuit with hood or for long hours 5mm jacket with 3mm closed cell high waist pants with mechanics gloves


    I don't know how you Fl guys don't use hoods! I feel naked without one!


    Theres your answer.
    :excited1:


    And a bump.
    I dont have enough experience to provide a useful answer.

    50-57 7mm 2 piece open cell w/hood 5mm socks
    57-65 5mm 2 piece open cell w/hood 3mm socks
    65-75 3mm 2 piece open cell w/hood 2mm socks
    75-80 1.5mm 2 piece nylon in and out 2mm socks
    80+ 8 oz 2piece lycra suit with hood for sun and jelly protection. 1-2mm socks


    Even in the warmer water I wear socks to prevent chaffing/blistering from the foot pockets. It's not for warmth, but comfort.

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