Cold in the water

hau, I got cold this Sunday (Jan 11) too. I was using a two piece 3mm suit. The suit has open cell neoprene at the extremities and I had no water circulation inside the suit, however I was still cold. From my limited experience in these waters (about 3 years) I don't think the water gets any colder. Since Sunday I've been thinking about a 5mm too. Last winter I was using a one piece suit that is a little less than 5mm, maybe 4mm and I was warm, but it was a hassle to put on. I also tried the 3mm vest under the 3mm one piece suit approach but I didn't like it because it restricted my breathing too much and I felt I wasn't breathing up properly. I'm now thinking a 5mm top with 3mm pants. Or 5mm torso with 3mm sleeves and 3mm pants.

Rolo told me that Jan and Feb are the coldest months of the year here. From geography class I remember that land heats up and cools down faster than water. This means that although temperatures will rise after Feb the water temp will be behind, maybe a month behind. So for three months of diving out of the year a warmer suit is a good investment IMO. Or you can just tough it out

I bought a 2mm vest from diver's direct for $22. I cut off the hood to wear under the suit. It seems to work. If you could get an open cell one, that might be even better. It makes a big difference for little money.

You know what, before I buy a 5mm I'm gonna give my vest another try. But man I remember it was hard to breath easily. For this same reason Pantoja dives in rashguards shorts and top right into the winter. You should've seen on Sunday Rolo layered him up in odds and ends to make some kind of full body thermal protection. He dove the whole day and I'm the only one that was complaining about the cold LOL I think as spearos we have to brave the cold to a certain degree no? Plus I think maybe getting in and out of yak or a boat makes you colder than doing a consistent long dive. I'm thinking of beach diving.

hau, I have 5mm suits coming in 3 weeks. Think the same comfort you are experiencing now with the 3mm but warmer.

I hate hoods but might consider one if it were an extremely pliable material like Yamoto 45. Does anyone where to get one? My reasons are to keep warm and due to a story I heard bout a dude who had a man o' war wrap its tentacles around his throat as he was ascending and still carries nasty scars today. i've noticed a few in the water lately.

or you can hook this up to the yak and stay downstream

http://www.intheswim.com/shopping/product.aspx?productid=SKU1056&e12=k232270&GCID=C14163x027&scode=I8AFFILI&keyword=E4950&e11=Y

Quote from Macdyver

I hate hoods but might consider one if it were an extremely pliable material like Yamoto 45. Does anyone where to get one?

My wetsuits come with a hood, and the suits are made of a neoprene as soft and flexible as Yamamoto 45. But for my use I cut the hood off. The wetsuit functions perfectly and the seal around the neck stays very good. I have a separate hood which I keep, supposedly for some extreme cold day, but I've never used it. You can get a hood anywhere, Divers Direct is as good a place as any.

Hau, boil some water and keep it hot into a termal coffe receptacle, pour some hot/warm water into your open cell suit, It will keep you warmer for a longer while. Around here the weather is extreme, very cold in the winter (Pacific coast) and too warm to wear a suit during Summer. During winter months The deeper you get the colder the termocline becomes. Try the hot water tip, you won´t regret. Don´t forget to wear a thick hood all the time, along with socks and gloves, an to sip a nice hot cup of New England´s Clam chowder from time to time, (for that you will need an extra termal receptacle)

Hau: Does your wetsuit has a hood? It makes a huge difference as you loose a lot of heat through your head.

In Europe they wear 1 or 2 mm smooth skin vests under the wetsuit during the "intermediate" seasons, avoiding go to a thicker suit.

I use a 5 mil Omer all through the winter down to water temp of 54 degrees. One thing that helps me is
I bulk up to 205# from 190# in the winter. I have a thicker suit but if the water less than 54 I don't need
to be there these days. I would not want to wear a 5mil in Florida.
Cheers, Don

what's a good wetsuit for 55-62F water? prolly 5mil? I have a pinnacle elastoprene 7mm for scuba but wouldnt want to use that for freediving.