Just a note that sometimes a hood can seal a bit too well and trap air between it and the ears...this can cause a painful ear squeeze when one starts to descend. One remedy is, prior to descending, pull each side of the hood away from the face to allow a bit of water in. Your head will warm up this layer of water so the hood will continue to insulate, and it will prevent the ear squeeze issue.
+Jeff Greenfield Good idea. Lots of hoods, particularly dry hoods, have small holes on the top to allow air to escape. A small hole over each ear will not make you cold and will eliminate any possibility of a squeeze. Alec
Great informative video as always. Thank you Alec. Could you make a tech tip video on what to buy and when for people that are new to scuba. First equipment to buy, after this many dives consider investing in______. A day one diver shouldn't go out and spend $1000 on a dive computer. I'm new to the sport, Ive seen all your videos. I really appreciate the fact that you don't plug all your products, you merely show the full range of equipment from top of the line to basic models and sometimes you throw in some of your antiques. You're fun to watch and keep the presentation interesting and to the point, along with all of your personal pointers, Thanks again for greatly enhancing my knowledge of the dive world.
I just subscribed to your channel ...learning a whole lot please keep the information coming I hope to meet you one day and say thanks in person. I would like to suggest some more on dive computers as well
I so very much appreciate all of your videos and thank you for this very resourceful video. You answered all my questions because I wondered why there was leakage with my dive mask and when I put the hood on the mask would leak. You solve the mystery! Thank you so much and keep up the great work!
I ordered the Sharkskin Chillproof hood, much softer for kayaking, and will wear it with the hood down when it's warmer. I don't know if the bib will get in the way of my dry suit seal, but I might have to cut the bib off, and that probably is not recommended. Excellent review of these items, Alec!
I know Kevin dives a Sharkskin in warm water (he shows me pictures of his huge self in it). They are great option instead of a rash guard as they are very warm and windproof out of the water. Safe diving and kayaking.
I’ve recently tried a Lycra hood for hair control (my hair is down to my lower back) and warmth as I get cold easy however I can’t tolerate the constriction of the hood - I feel like I’m choking and it’s very claustrophobic. Given I’m only diving in relatively warm water would a beanie suffice? And are there beanies without the strap and if so will they stay on?
Hello Alec, I really appreciate your videos. Always quite helpful. I'm coming in a little late on this one, but hopefully you will pick up my question. What is your advice on hooded vests? Both the kind with the long bibs that cover the torso and the kind that is like a sleeveless top with a hood. Say a 5/3mm. I dive SoCal in water in the low 50's. Was thinking a hooded vest, under a 7mm wetsuit, would be a good combo in our cool waters. Thanks for your insights. You and Kevin do a great job!. BTW, I was a huge Sea Hunt fan as a kid. Thx, Gene Jameson (Subscriber).
If there is no built in air release vent, a small hole is all you need as the air pressure will find the hole and exit. In the past, heat a small finishing nail, make the hole where air collects the most, then find a rubber patch the size of quarter, glue only the very outside edge from the 8 o'clock around to the 4 o'clock position. This flap should stop water entering your hood but allow air to exit out at the 6 o'clock position. Or buy a new hood with a built in vent. Hope this helps Rocky..
Should you put on your hood and boots before putting on your wetsuit? The legs do not have zippers I enjoy your videos very much and they are very informative. Thank you for doing them.
I forgot to add in ... Dive shops won't allow you to buy a Hood and return it ! So if you can - ask a dive friend to try theirs out to make sure you like it
Great Video! Me and my wife are new to diving, on the hoods, how loose/tight should the neck be. Some fit your neck but are almost impossible to put on others are little loose on the neck. Will that matter when you dive? Thanks for any info. Derek
Different brands will have different fitment, you're best off visiting your local dive shop and trying as many on as possible. I would say, the most important factor is the fitment around the head, the neck is not vital :)
Hi Alec, I dive in cold water (it was 46 during my last dive) and my neck often feels too cold. I have a 10mm dry suit hood like you show at the end of the video, and I think the problem is that water is flowing around my neck because the hood is not connected to the drysuit (and the neck seal is thin silicon and does not provide much thermal protection). Any advice to improve the situation? Are there drysuit hoods that you can tuck under the drysuit seal?
If you're getting a cold neck, try a longer 'bib' style hood that goes farther into your drysuit (almost over your chest). More contact with your skin so when turning your neck on the dry suit less likely to leak. It works for me. A
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Thanks for the reply! My local dive shop didn't have a hood with a bib that would work but I replaced my silicon neck seal with a neoprene neck seal in the hope that it would provide a little more insulation. I think it's making a little difference, but I've only tried on one dive so far.
This may be a minor point but something I'm curious about: Should the mask strap be worn underneath the hood or on the outside? Does it matter? I typically wear it underneath the hood as extra protection against losing the mask, although I see a lot of other people doing it the other way.
I think that most divers wear it on top of the hood. Usually you'd be putting the hood on first and then the mask when you're ready to go under. You do have to be sure that the mask is sitting on your face and no part of the hood is under the edge of the mask. That's where a good buddy is handy. Thanks for watching. Alec
That's just one of the problems I see with putting the strap under the hood. Not only would it be hard to get the hood on if your mask is already in place (I can't quite see how that's done) but you can't easily remove your mask if needed. I think even clearing the mask might be hard. Adjusting the strap is not possible. It seems like a lot of problems just to ensure not losing your mask. If the mask is properly placed with the split strap spread properly at the back, it shouldn't come off. I know it happens but rarely. NO MORE BACK ROLL ENTRIES!! Frankly, while it's obviously not unheard of, I've never seen any diver put his mask strap under the hood. Hold the mask properly when entering and you should be good. Alec
Hi alec. i really like the idea of that ball cap style hood for my Dominican trips in winter. my qwestion is because i myself am also follicly challenged, how well does it stay on your head while under water, and/or do i need to line it with double sided tap (lol)
It stays on, held by the mask strap at the back. Try the hoodie too. It's like a welders cap with a small neck strap. You look like Mickey Mouse with no ears but it's warm! Alec
I can try that Azym. It's a bit hard even for me to convert easily from cubic feet to liters. The reason is that the cubic feet measurement is the number of cubic feet of air that is available to the diver. That is, the number of cubic feet of air that was crammed into the tank by the compressor. To me, raised in that system, that makes sense. The European liter measurement is the volume of the empty cylinder. That is, how many liters of water does an empty tank hold. To me, again raised in the cubic feet system, that's of no use. What do I care how much water the empty tank holds?? So it's not a simply conversion of cubic feet to liters. It's an entirely different method of measuring. We'll see what I can come up with. The best advice for you regarding a choice of tanks is to see what your dive buddies, the guys you'll be diving with, are using. You want your tanks to be similar. Alec
Too warm while diving?? That's like 'that's too many beers', 'this bike is too fast' or ' that car is too loud'. You can't be too warm while diving. If you do feel the heat, pull off the hood or open the jacket zipper. 7mm may be considered overkill for warm water by lots fo divers but that's up to the diver. Take care. Alec
Problem with too thick wet-suit is that you get huge variation in buoyancy at different depths and you must have too much weight at the surface to dive down.
Thank you for the videos Alec. I had a quick question about hoods. Do you recommend a 5mm or 7mm hood in Monterey, CA? Water temp is usually around 55F.
I am a diver that is used to colder water diving, I would recommend a 7mm unless you find that your mobility is limited then I would try a 5mm to see if it is warm enough.
Thanks for the great video, as always! I was wondering about hoods to dive in warm water, for night dives: to avoid freaking out about bloodworms visiting your ears... Would you say that hoods are the best solution, or is there any other tip you could share?
I've never thought too much about bloodworms Antoine. I'm guessing though, if that's a problem you face, the only solution would be a snug-fitting hood. Good luck. Alec
…mmm studies have been done and found that you loose 7 % to 10% of your body heat from your head on cold days . If your body is underwater … your body will lose heat around 20 times faster then you would when your on the ground in that exact same temperature ! I swim long distance of a mile or more during the winters in Lake Michigan wearing a 3mm triathlon wetsuit and a 5mm hood… I quickly found that it’s best to not tuck the wetsuit hoods bib inside the neck of the suit … unless you really enjoy having ice cold water pouring into your wetsuit 🥶 .
If it work for you, great, however the majority of hoods & wetsuits are for slow cold water divers where the wetsuit locks the hood in tight for warmth. I know only a few friends who use hoods but un-tucked in 60F water. Any colder and tuck it in my friend. A.
Some of my bearded divers like it outside, most tuck it inside for warmth. It you're comfortable with it outside (like ZZ Top), go for it. Try both ways to see what works but for very cold, tuck it in. Alec
I've had bad luck buying hoods and vests online. Try before you buy. The hood has to fit closely to your face, neck and chin. See how it fits before you walk out of the store.
I hate hoods, but there's no question they make a big difference. Anytime the water is below 75 degrees (24C), a hood is nice. Because of the size of your head, the vast amount of blood flow in it and the lack of fat, a hood really adds to your body warmth. Particularly if you have no hair like me!! Thanks for watching. Alec
Alec, you are like a living diving encyclopedia. Greatly appreciate your videos.
Wow, thanks!
Just a note that sometimes a hood can seal a bit too well and trap air between it and the ears...this can cause a painful ear squeeze when one starts to descend. One remedy is, prior to descending, pull each side of the hood away from the face to allow a bit of water in. Your head will warm up this layer of water so the hood will continue to insulate, and it will prevent the ear squeeze issue.
+Jeff Greenfield
Good idea.
Lots of hoods, particularly dry hoods, have small holes on the top to allow air to escape. A small hole over each ear will not make you cold and will eliminate any possibility of a squeeze.
Alec
Great informative video as always. Thank you Alec. Could you make a tech tip video on what to buy and when for people that are new to scuba. First equipment to buy, after this many dives consider investing in______. A day one diver shouldn't go out and spend $1000 on a dive computer. I'm new to the sport, Ive seen all your videos. I really appreciate the fact that you don't plug all your products, you merely show the full range of equipment from top of the line to basic models and sometimes you throw in some of your antiques. You're fun to watch and keep the presentation interesting and to the point, along with all of your personal pointers, Thanks again for greatly enhancing my knowledge of the dive world.
Been watching your channel for a while, keep it going. Greetings from Germany
Awesome tech tips! I have made a lot of purchase decisions based on your video. Please keep up the good work!
Thanks for watching Caleb.
I'm pleased that my tips have helped make your diving more fun.
Alec
love the tips, keep 'em coming
Kudos from Australia
I just subscribed to your channel ...learning a whole lot please keep the information coming I hope to meet you one day and say thanks in person. I would like to suggest some more on dive computers as well
Alec, thanks very much.
I so very much appreciate all of your videos and thank you for this very resourceful video. You answered all my questions because I wondered why there was leakage with my dive mask and when I put the hood on the mask would leak. You solve the mystery! Thank you so much and keep up the great work!
Glad it was helpful Brian.
hello Alec I have been diving for the last 10 year's I'm a commercial diver.. maybe a good tec tip could be different jobs in the diving world..
+++++ wow! thanks, always a wealth of knowledge!
Info like a gold, thanks
I ordered the Sharkskin Chillproof hood, much softer for kayaking, and will wear it with the hood down when it's warmer. I don't know if the bib will get in the way of my dry suit seal, but I might have to cut the bib off, and that probably is not recommended. Excellent review of these items, Alec!
I know Kevin dives a Sharkskin in warm water (he shows me pictures of his huge self in it). They are great option instead of a rash guard as they are very warm and windproof out of the water. Safe diving and kayaking.
I’ve recently tried a Lycra hood for hair control (my hair is down to my lower back) and warmth as I get cold easy however I can’t tolerate the constriction of the hood - I feel like I’m choking and it’s very claustrophobic. Given I’m only diving in relatively warm water would a beanie suffice? And are there beanies without the strap and if so will they stay on?
Hello Alec, I really appreciate your videos. Always quite helpful. I'm coming in a little late on this one, but hopefully you will pick up my question. What is your advice on hooded vests? Both the kind with the long bibs that cover the torso and the kind that is like a sleeveless top with a hood. Say a 5/3mm. I dive SoCal in water in the low 50's. Was thinking a hooded vest, under a 7mm wetsuit, would be a good combo in our cool waters. Thanks for your insights. You and Kevin do a great job!. BTW, I was a huge Sea Hunt fan as a kid. Thx, Gene Jameson (Subscriber).
I need to make two holds on my hood to let air out what size and what is the best way to do it. Thank you for sharing your video.
If there is no built in air release vent, a small hole is all you need as the air pressure will find the hole and exit. In the past, heat a small finishing nail, make the hole where air collects the most, then find a rubber patch the size of quarter, glue only the very outside edge from the 8 o'clock around to the 4 o'clock position. This flap should stop water entering your hood but allow air to exit out at the 6 o'clock position. Or buy a new hood with a built in vent. Hope this helps Rocky..
Hi could you please make a video about replacing latex seals, or chaning latex seals with closed dry glove ring seal
Thanks Alec.
Welcome David.
Alec
Should you put on your hood and boots before putting on your wetsuit? The legs do not have zippers
I enjoy your videos very much and they are very informative. Thank you for doing them.
Look back for my video on putting wetsuits on/off. I cover all that and more in S02E10 "Good thing they are stretchy". Hope it helps.
Alec
I forgot to add in ... Dive shops won't allow you to buy a Hood and return it ! So if you can - ask a dive friend to try theirs out to make sure you like it
True today but not years ago when I first did this. Changing times indeed.
A.
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter and years ago , there was only one or two hoods to choose from !
Nice video
Great Video! Me and my wife are new to diving, on the hoods, how loose/tight should the neck be. Some fit your neck but are almost impossible to put on others are little loose on the neck. Will that matter when you dive? Thanks for any info.
Derek
Different brands will have different fitment, you're best off visiting your local dive shop and trying as many on as possible. I would say, the most important factor is the fitment around the head, the neck is not vital :)
Hi Alec, I dive in cold water (it was 46 during my last dive) and my neck often feels too cold. I have a 10mm dry suit hood like you show at the end of the video, and I think the problem is that water is flowing around my neck because the hood is not connected to the drysuit (and the neck seal is thin silicon and does not provide much thermal protection). Any advice to improve the situation? Are there drysuit hoods that you can tuck under the drysuit seal?
If you're getting a cold neck, try a longer 'bib' style hood that goes farther into your drysuit (almost over your chest). More contact with your skin so when turning your neck on the dry suit less likely to leak. It works for me.
A
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Thanks for the reply! My local dive shop didn't have a hood with a bib that would work but I replaced my silicon neck seal with a neoprene neck seal in the hope that it would provide a little more insulation. I think it's making a little difference, but I've only tried on one dive so far.
This may be a minor point but something I'm curious about: Should the mask strap be worn underneath the hood or on the outside? Does it matter? I typically wear it underneath the hood as extra protection against losing the mask, although I see a lot of other people doing it the other way.
I think that most divers wear it on top of the hood. Usually you'd be putting the hood on first and then the mask when you're ready to go under. You do have to be sure that the mask is sitting on your face and no part of the hood is under the edge of the mask. That's where a good buddy is handy.
Thanks for watching. Alec
i hate to wear hood
If your mask strap is underneath the hood, how are you putting down your mask around your neck if you need?
That's just one of the problems I see with putting the strap under the hood. Not only would it be hard to get the hood on if your mask is already in place (I can't quite see how that's done) but you can't easily remove your mask if needed. I think even clearing the mask might be hard. Adjusting the strap is not possible.
It seems like a lot of problems just to ensure not losing your mask. If the mask is properly placed with the split strap spread properly at the back, it shouldn't come off. I know it happens but rarely. NO MORE BACK ROLL ENTRIES!!
Frankly, while it's obviously not unheard of, I've never seen any diver put his mask strap under the hood.
Hold the mask properly when entering and you should be good.
Alec
mask over hood
Where can I buy that cool Dive cap?
Most dive shops carry these neoprene sun caps. They come in many styles this I pulled off the Scuba 2000 rack. Thanks for watching Oleg.
If you're trying to find it online, search for 'Squid Cap' or 'neoprene squid cap'- that's how I found them.
Would you recommend the scuba pro r109 and techna first stage for diving in Aqaba Jordan its in the red sea
+Alec Peirce I thinks it's from the 80s I got the stem from my father
Hi alec.
i really like the idea of that ball cap style hood for my Dominican trips in winter.
my qwestion is because i myself am also follicly challenged, how well does it stay on your head while under water,
and/or do i need to line it with double sided tap (lol)
It stays on, held by the mask strap at the back.
Try the hoodie too. It's like a welders cap with a small neck strap.
You look like Mickey Mouse with no ears but it's warm!
Alec
Heyy Alec.
Please make a video about different cylinder sizes in Litres. Having trouble choosing which cylinder is suitable
I can try that Azym. It's a bit hard even for me to convert easily from cubic feet to liters. The reason is that the cubic feet measurement is the number of cubic feet of air that is available to the diver. That is, the number of cubic feet of air that was crammed into the tank by the compressor. To me, raised in that system, that makes sense.
The European liter measurement is the volume of the empty cylinder. That is, how many liters of water does an empty tank hold.
To me, again raised in the cubic feet system, that's of no use. What do I care how much water the empty tank holds??
So it's not a simply conversion of cubic feet to liters. It's an entirely different method of measuring.
We'll see what I can come up with.
The best advice for you regarding a choice of tanks is to see what your dive buddies, the guys you'll be diving with, are using. You want your tanks to be similar.
Alec
Thank you so much!!!
Glad it helped!
I just got a 7mm wetsuit and a 7/4 hood. Will I feel too warm if I dive in warm water?
Too warm while diving??
That's like 'that's too many beers', 'this bike is too fast' or ' that car is too loud'.
You can't be too warm while diving. If you do feel the heat, pull off the hood or open the jacket zipper.
7mm may be considered overkill for warm water by lots fo divers but that's up to the diver.
Take care.
Alec
Problem with too thick wet-suit is that you get huge variation in buoyancy at different depths and you must have too much weight at the surface to dive down.
Yes, you can actually overheat if you wear too thick of a wetsuit in warm water
Thank you for the videos Alec.
I had a quick question about hoods. Do you recommend a 5mm or 7mm hood in Monterey, CA? Water temp is usually around 55F.
I am a diver that is used to colder water diving, I would recommend a 7mm unless you find that your mobility is limited then I would try a 5mm to see if it is warm enough.
Thanks a lot
Love your vid
Thanks for the great video, as always! I was wondering about hoods to dive in warm water, for night dives: to avoid freaking out about bloodworms visiting your ears... Would you say that hoods are the best solution, or is there any other tip you could share?
I've never thought too much about bloodworms Antoine.
I'm guessing though, if that's a problem you face, the only solution would be a snug-fitting hood.
Good luck.
Alec
…mmm studies have been done and found that you loose 7 % to 10% of your body heat from your head on cold days . If your body is underwater … your body will lose heat around 20 times faster then you would when your on the ground in that exact same temperature ! I swim long distance of a mile or more during the winters in Lake Michigan wearing a 3mm triathlon wetsuit and a 5mm hood… I quickly found that it’s best to not tuck the wetsuit hoods bib inside the neck of the suit … unless you really enjoy having ice cold water pouring into your wetsuit 🥶 .
If it work for you, great, however the majority of hoods & wetsuits are for slow cold water divers where the wetsuit locks the hood in tight for warmth. I know only a few friends who use hoods but un-tucked in 60F water. Any colder and tuck it in my friend.
A.
Dive hood with visor or without visor?
Visors are sometimes needed to keep the water off your face when diving!
Alec.
For divers with beards and other facial hair, should the hood cover the beard, or is it okay to leave it out?
Some of my bearded divers like it outside, most tuck it inside for warmth. It you're comfortable with it outside (like ZZ Top), go for it. Try both ways to see what works but for very cold, tuck it in.
Alec
Now you have rappers wearing these 😂😂
Really? Guess everyone wants to be a diver.
I've had bad luck buying hoods and vests online. Try before you buy. The hood has to fit closely to your face, neck and chin. See how it fits before you walk out of the store.
It's like buying Western boots online. You are going to be disappointed - and have sore feet!!
Alec
Thanks!
Welcome!
I like the cloth one, where can I get one?
Search 'Lycra Diving Hoods'.
Should be available at your LDS.
If not, I guess online will work.
Alec
Bare hoods is dry or not?
Thanks
Welcome.
A
What diving suit with on it not extra
Most wetsuits don't have a built in hood. The diver has to find one that fits comfortably and not choking tight.
A
its funny.
i just sent you questions on hoods.
and then i gound this video afterwords...
I wear hoods all the time.
I hate hoods, but there's no question they make a big difference.
Anytime the water is below 75 degrees (24C), a hood is nice.
Because of the size of your head, the vast amount of blood flow in it and the lack of fat, a hood really adds to your body warmth.
Particularly if you have no hair like me!!
Thanks for watching.
Alec
Hopefully not while chanting around a bonfire
It's all your fault Kevin
hahaha poor kevin gets blamed for everything lmao