wetsuit diving in winter....

[MAXFACTOR]

Michele,  it also helps if you think warm.  lol 

[MAXFACTOR]

HI MICHELLE 
JUST THOUGHT I WOULD TELL YOU THAT  TWO OF US DOVE WET/DRY SUITS THIS WEEKEND ON GOOSE,  AND WE WERE BOTH JUST FINE.  NOT COLD AT ALL.  HONEST.
MAXFACTOR > :-*

[LKunze]

There are a few factors involved in determining how cold one gets on a dive.  I remember when I was very new to diving and started in a wetsuit my tolerance to cold was actually better than it is now.  The reason, because I wasn't as relaxed early on and my dive skills weren't that great yet.  I was actually exerting more energy and generating more body heat in the process.  Once I became more proficient with my buoyancy skills, learned to frog kick which improved my air consumption and helped me relax, my tolerance to cold went way down.  Another factor is how long your dives are.  There will be a huge difference in how you feel comparing say a 30 minute dive to a 60 minute dive.

[Michele]

Thanks to all of you. I think I'll wait until I get back from CZ to try anything.

[AandA]

I dive a 7mm semi dry, with a 3/2, and a one mil under that.  I wear two pair of neoprene socks under my 7mm booties.  I also wear a pair of three finger mitts over my 7mm gloves.  All of this neoprene requires a bit more weight.  I'm currently using 26 pounds.  I also wear a full face mask so that my face does not get cold.  I'm really not a fan of my face hurting at first from the cold  and then going numb : :.  I'm quite comfortable, without preheating my suits for 30+ minutes.  If I preheat the suits ( I keep them in a cooler with HOT water) that buys me another 15 minutes.  I am NOT a fan of being cold!  When I start to chill I get out of the water right away.  As a matter of fact I plan my dives so that I get out BEFORE I start to feel at all chilled. 

The advantages to diving wet in cold water are quite few.  The primary advantage is initial cost.  One actual advantage is I never have to worry about a leaky seal and getting wet,  as I'm wet already.  It actually surprises me that I am not infrequently warmer than other divers who are diving dry (but are less experienced or have equipment problems or both).

Dry is quite simply the eventual answer.

We're heading down to Cozumel in April, and really looking forward to it.  When are you going??  Bring us back some DIVE reports and Photos 8) 8).

[Michele]

When I get back I want to go diving. I will not be diving in CZ. It's a strange new thing to actually dream about diving.

[sagacity]

Not sure to whom that question was directed, but, we're going March 15-22. My first time there; her first time there as a certified SCUBA diver. We have 2 cameras, and lots of film; so we'll bring back many DIVE reports AND pictures. I'm quite excited. We're planning on at least 10 dives. I wanted to do more, but, my buddy said there's more to Cozumel than just diving. Really? Then she showed me some stuff about ancient ruins, submarine trips, waverunner tours, etc. One of the dives we're planning is SCUBA with dolphins; which is rare, but there's a place that offers it there. Plus we'll be there for the Vernal Equinox, and hope to be in on the celebrations at the ruins on the mainland - I'm really looking forward to that! I can't believe our fortunate timing! So, I reckon we'll do 2 boat dives for 5 of the 8 days we're there. None on day 1 or day 8, and probably 1 day will be for "touristy" things. I'm hoping to add some shore diving, so, maybe I'll get an extra 5 dives in. ;-)

[Kelly]

I was just in Cozumel in the beginning of feb.  Did about 6 dives, all of them were ok, but there is alot of damage from HW(Hericain Wilma).  If you can I'd recomend using Nitrox, or watching your time close.  The dive masters that I went with didn't worry too much about the time down.  I had a computer so it was tracked as a multilevel dive, but for those that didn't trying to log a few of the dives could be intresting, 85' max depth for 35 mins(hmm the dive table stop short of 35 mins at 90'  :o :o)  Anyway's Have fun in Coz, I wish I was still there. 

As for using a wet suit for Ice Diving, I've done it with my 7mm 2 piece and was fairly warm.  ;D

Kelly

[AandA]

IN my mind fairly warm means ya were really kinda cold but not quite frostbit....
I would LOVE to hear some more about exactly where ya were in Coz and what dives ya made, wer'e heading down there in just a few weeks.
Give us some more info, maybe a new thread on the distant locations forum specific to Coz...

[Michele]

I hope you all have a great and safe diving experience in Coz. CZ was great even tho I didn't dive. I still wanna try to dive before it gets warm....might have to make a trip to Scuba Dive and travel.