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Water Temperature Wetsuit Guide for Scuba Divers
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Category: Educational
Tags: chart, cold water, drysuit, exposure suit, wetsuit
Comments: 14
Water Temperature Wetsuit Guide for Scuba Divers

Comments
diverray - 5/25/2013 7:01 PM
Good natured ribbing aside, this discussion shows one of the things I love about diving. It’s the perfect combination group/individual activity. Out on the boat, no one cares if you have expensive or inexpensive equipment, whether you have new on old equipment, whether you dive cold water in shorts, or dive warm water in dry suit, whether you use air or nitrox or rebreather. I have found that usually no one cares if you are novice or expert, as long as you are honest about it upfront, so the dive can planned properly.
SCUBAFOX - 5/25/2013 2:11 PM
I did my rescue class earlier this year and when the water temp was just 62/63 degrees F I dove in 3MM full suit booties hood and gloves and I was perfectly comfortable my instructors thought I was crazy as they were suiting up in dry suits. I guess the moral of the story is whatever makes you happy and keeps you warm. I will be in a shorty tomorrow and my buddies will probably think I nuts. Call me crazy but I will be comfortable.
SaintsReturn - 12/28/2012 8:03 AM
I liked reading this, although i run a little warmer than this guide it would work for most people. I was really enjoying diving in Florida in board shorts and a skin while everyone else was in there 3mm. i would almost always wear the shorts unless i was in the springs.... then it was time to wear the 3mm.
mac1954 - 12/21/2012 2:32 PM
I think you need to consider the depth of water, at 40 meters a 7mm full has about 3mm of insulation, also the temp. drops as you descend what might be comfortable on the surface could turn out very cold on the bottom. if you run into deco. and your already cold by the time you get to your first stop things could get hairy. if you feel at all cold get a dry suit. there are old divers and bold divers but no old bold divers.
Eric_R - 12/20/2012 8:57 PM
The key to diving in cold water is to go diving on a day where the air temp is colder then the water. Makes you want to stay in. I did my Ice Dive cert in a wet suit.
SCUBAFOX - 5/25/2013 2:14 PM
My feelings exactly.:)
diverray - 12/20/2012 9:30 AM
Dry suit below 60 for me. Yes, I know, that makes me a wimp. But it makes me a comfortable wimp, especially after the dive.
BoneCrusher - 12/20/2012 6:14 AM
Under 48F a Dry Suit? You must be kidding, I dive 44F with a 5mm full with hood, gloves and booties. Must be a southern guide.
Greg - 12/20/2012 6:41 AM
You must be well adapted to cold water. I dove in 48F with a 7mm Farmer John and nearly froze to death.
RockRat2008 - 12/20/2012 7:31 AM
LOL ... Maybe so ... I’ve dove 40’s in a 5mm full and I won’t say I needed a dry suit, I did wish I had a 7mm though. Guess that puts me as on the border between northern and southern. lol
Eric_R - 12/19/2012 4:23 PM
Under 48F a Dry Suit?
Wimps.:)
RockRat2008 - 12/19/2012 2:33 PM
Yup ... Good recommendations ... I routinely dive 55-65 degrees in a 5mm full with hood, gloves, and booties though and survive. LOL ... My wife is just actually getting me a 7mm full for Christmas this year. Our New Year’s dive will probably be the first time it sees water and I will be glad to finally have it. :-)
Smithsgold - 12/19/2012 2:09 PM
Nice !!!!!