Gear advice

[Ann Marie]

Look, if you want to dive with your girlfriend here's the secret: make sure she's comfortable! If she gets cold get her a good wetsuit no matter the cost. The bottom line is to try on different brands; they all will fit slightly different.

I dive FL in a 3/2 that's 3 mm of neoprene on my torso and 2 mm on my limbs for ease of movement. It should fit her like a second skin.

Buy the one that fits her best. If you get an ill-fitting cheap wetsuit you've wasted money: she'll get cold. Being cold is no fun and can be dangerous. Want her to dive? Keep her comfortable.

BTW, snorkeling is excellent preparation fir SCUBA. The more comfortable you are in the water, the more fun you'll have.

 

[Ann Marie]

I should mention that it's the Keys that I've dove in. The thickness of the suit depends on the temp of the water where you'll be doing the most diving. If you can find a female sales associate in a shop, have her help your girl friend because she'll probably be able to understand her needs a bit better.

When diving, you can always cool off but to warm up means you have to get out if the water.

 

[Drewbaby]

Thank you Ann Marie,

I have no problem spending money on a good quality suit to keep her warm and I know that comfort is the top priority especially with her because she isn't as comfortable in water. She's been getting better since we started snorkeling, but as a child her brother would pull her under at the beach and she developed a fear of water. I found that out the hard way. I took her to the beach and she acted ok getting in the water until the first big wave came by and she pushed me under and held me there like a raft. This was when we first started dating so I didn't know what to think then she told me that she was affraid of the water. Since then she has gotten more comfortable and I've been very patient the first 3 times at the spring she wouldn't swim anywhere near the opening of the spring. The 4th time she swam over it with me and being able to see all of the fish in he cave calmed her down and she wanted to keep swimming over it. Now she's to the point she wants to go to the next step.

I figured a 3/2 or a 5/3 would probably be good for her if we can find one that fits properly or a 3mm short suit with a 2mm or 3mm full length to cover her arms and legs. Whatever fits her best will be my first choice.

 

[Recty]

I took her to the beach and she acted ok getting in the water until the first big wave came by and she pushed me under and held me there like a raft.

That's funny, I had the exact same experience with my wife when we went to Hawaii together for the first time

 

[Drewbaby]

It scared the crap out of me. I thought she was trying to make me sleep with the fish