Wet Suit thickness in tropical regions

[Maika'i]

What is your average size thickness of wet suits you use in hawaii or GBR or southeast asia as opposed to diving in california? 6-7 mm for california I hear.

 

[snorvich]

I normally use 3mm in Southeast Asia. GBR can be colder and require more. But the more you dive, it seems, the more you tend to get cold. When I was first starting out, I used a skin in "tropical waters" but now, I keep thinking 5mm is about right. Of course, I stay down a LONG time.

 

[philter4]

I have several wet suits, for different dives. For CA I have a 6.5mm semi dry that is great, very little water gets past my elbos or knees. I have a 1/2 mil skin for most of my HI and FL dives, but with the thermals that have been happening down deep the water has dropped in temp at about the 40-50 ft mark and at 100 ft last weekend it was cold so I used my 2/3 mm suit. The only thing to remember when diving with different suits is the weight, it takes a lot more when you switch from 1/2 to 2 mm.

 

[jimbo78]

yeah i very rarely use anything but a skin, in the winter i'll use a 3mm. in the summer i wont even use a skin most of the time.

 

[coral diver]

Short & shirt or 0.5 mil in Hawaii.
GBR 5mm the most

 

[Opes]

3mm shorty for tropical water here.

 

[Maika'i]

I didn't realize the GBR was colder, how long can you stay udner just using a skin?

 

[NJGirlinPhx]

Hawai'i isn't particularly "tropical" The water temp tops out at 78 or so. We dove 2mm shortys and got chilled on every dive (Big Island and Oahu). Next time I'll dive a 3 mm full. I don't typically get cold in the water; fwiw the DM's all wore 3 fulls.

 

[snorvich]

Yes, Hawaii is not warm. Full wetsuit is desirable, at least 3mm.

 

[reefmaster30]

i would recommend a 3mm full

 

[yardboy]

I agree with philter, you need several and even then you won't be comfortable all the time. In the Phils I used a 2mil and it was too hot on the surface and just right at 100 ft.

 

[Maika'i]

what do you think I need for southern california? 5 mm or 6 or 7?

 

[yardboy]

Dry Suit!

 

[Maika'i]

psshh i aint made of money!

 

[coral diver]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13032167#post13032167 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Maika'i
psshh i aint made of money!

Try our SEMI-DRY you might be able to afford it



(Mod if its not OK please do so)

 

[yardboy]

I used a 6-mil in Oregon some years ago and I'm glad I had a string tied to it or I'd have never found it again. :eek1: :eek2: