For warmth between cold dives, try the Surf-fur Waterparka amzn.to/3stABU9 Are you a winter diver? Why, what do you like to see? What is your cold-water strategy? Drysuit videos: Drysuits: A Love-Hate Story (Part 1) th-cam.com/video/vbXCteLgWmo/w-d-xo.html Drysuits: Gotta Pee! (A Love-Hate Story Part 2) th-cam.com/video/mK7IU_F6uX8/w-d-xo.html
I'd say below 10 degree C or 50 degree F what I would consider colder temperatures... I'll be using dry gloves, thicker hoods and eventually thicker undergarments. Using a wetsuit for me will be more out of fear of damaging my drysuit when it's not really required for thermal protection or not required as backup inflation. Other than that I'd rather be in a drysuit. So maybe 20-25ish degrees and warmer in a wetsuit, something like that. I like to be warm and cosy in my suit.
California diver here. Also been diving in Hawaii a lot. Most dives here range from maybe 70f but can get in the low 50s far. I tried wet suits, better for lobster hunting. Tried Semi Dry, which is a fancy term for a wetsuit. Did the hollis neotec semi. Finally got a hollis dx300x drysuit. I love my drysuit with my BP and wing setup. Just starting my tech 40 class with ccr been diving for about 15+ years. I'll use shorts on warm water vacation spots depending on the dive. IE wreck, wildlife etc... Yes I'm a winter diver with a drysuit. Good undergarments help, obviously. BTW, my drysuit sprung a seam leak on a live aboard. Seam leak on the legs. Hollis replaced it but also might repair it depending on how bad it is. Has to be a seem issue not a tear due to diver error. Small learning curve on a drysuit but worth the effort. My question is are you always open or not?
Thanks for the post, William. I love this quote, "Tried Semi Dry, which is a fancy term for a wetsuit." Ain't that the truth. Semi dry reminds me of semi pregnant. Always open...meaning open circuit? Yes. If that's code for something else, I have no idea... ;)
Yeah 60 degrees sounds about right for cold. Im used to diving off the shores of Maine where 55 to 63f is about the temperature of the water when Im diving. When im home in Jersey its maybe 70 but thats warm lol
1:00 Definitely 20C for me personally. LOL! When I was younger, I could dive in 10C in just wetsuits, but I've discovered as I have gotten older, sensitivity to the cold has become more of an issue. So today, when the water temp hits 20C, I change over.
2:00 Yes, wind plays a significant factor in drysuit use. I've had this conversation many times with people, even recently, with me diving dry and them in a wetsuit. They'd say, "why the drysuit? The water's still 22C today." After the dive, when they're shivering because the FAT is all of 14C and the wind makes it even colder, I respond, "that's why. Ready to try a drysuit course now?" LOL!
3:40 Hmmm... So, hyper-compressed neoprene doesn't actually compress when diving, and so your buoyancy doesn't change. No compression also means it doesn't lose heat retention capabilities because it doesn't get thinner with depth. If you'd like to see this in-person, I have a Northern Diver Commercial hyper-compressed neoprene drysuit I'd be happy to show to you sometime.
3:48 That being said, here in Japan, most Japanese neoprene drysuits are only 3mm thick (that's very thin), and not "compressed" either, so yes, they do change thickness with depth, making you less buoyant as you go deeper, and colder with depth too due to heat loss. They're really expensive here, but not on par with quality neoprene suits made in Europe, which are also much cheaper than what the Japanese companies charge too.
5:09 For drysuit measurements. It isn't necessarily the case that you have to "try on" the suit before purchase. However, it is highly important to know it will fit you properly before purchase, just like you said. There are 11 primary measurements people should take of themselves (and 4 additional for women), to know what size is perfect for them, or if they actually require a custom-made suit. It is also important to consider the undergarments you intend to wear, and whether you intend to use a neoprene drysuit or a trilaminate drysuit, as both typically have very different fitting styles. With most overly-expensive neoprene drysuits that are only 3mm thick, and non-compressed, you will need to wear some kind of undergarment. For compressed neoprene suits, which mine for example is 6.5mm thick, you won't need anything or you'll overheat.
Hey you are still alive. I figured you were arrested by the Japanese Scuba Police and thrown in one of those tiny jail cells. Exposure time is another factor in warmth, short recreational dives require less exposure protection than 2-3 hour technical dives. So my thicker undergarments that I would use for 50-60F water, I will wear for 72 degree water. But that is due to a 2-3 hour dive including 10+ minutes of just sitting there sucking down an oxygen bottle. But I agree on the Surf Fur and the hood. For me the Surf Fur is the best single purchase I've made for scuba diving. And the hood, I went from hating them to not wanting to dive without one, not just for warmth but to avoid stingy things when diving in (ewwww) salt water.
Thanks for the shoutout! Yeah, at 59 degree water temp in my 8/7 semi dry I can do one dive but that’s it. Game over right at 1/3rds. What’s sad is im the warm one between myself and the other DMC I train with
I guess I really dont know any better. I live in the midwest and mostly dive local quarries. Bottom stays at 44.6 F here. My average dive is around 51 F and I have been using a 7mm Bare reactive. I am fine in the water but as the air temp has dropped I have not been able to warm up between dives. Finally ordered a drysuit for winter diving.
hi the water temp of 75f here is summer water lol . at 50f i am still in my wetsuit , its a 7mm . and my last dive of 2021 was 35f at 50 feet and 44 at the surface. in ontario canada .
I actually hope you talk about 20°C air temperature XD ... German guy here, my warmest dive was around 14°C at around 15m. 30+° on surface. Coldest dive was about 4-6°C at 30-40m. Around 3° surface. Coldest surface around -3° with 7° at 20m. Yes I went wet (semi dry on paper, but not the best sealing)... 7mm and beneath 6-7° additional 7mm ice-west. Hood in both cases 7mm, boots 7mm, hands 3mm. I'm very cold resistant, AND I DON'T RECOMMENT this to everyone. My advise, which I take very serious: When your cold during a dive, allways slow your heating progress on surface. With heating you massively speed up your desaturation-ratio, most likely to a point of sickness! The usual car drive might be same as a Sauna at that point. If interested look for cw/ww test by the us navy. Beeing warm/cold/warm hit even most of the divers at very konservativ dive-plan. Clean gas everyone. Have fun beneath!
I use a 2or 4kg P-weight for both singles and doubles, with singles i add trim pocket on the camband as well. I change undergarments and hood for the dry suit if the water are warmer then 10c, normaly havet between 4-6c under 10m all year around.
29° water on my dive at Kata Beach in Phuket today...rashguard and shorts 🏝 🍹 Cold...anything below 26°. PS: Nice doo...is that what the Japanese girls are going for these days 😁
For warmth between cold dives, try the Surf-fur Waterparka
amzn.to/3stABU9
Are you a winter diver? Why, what do you like to see? What is your cold-water strategy?
Drysuit videos:
Drysuits: A Love-Hate Story (Part 1) th-cam.com/video/vbXCteLgWmo/w-d-xo.html
Drysuits: Gotta Pee! (A Love-Hate Story Part 2) th-cam.com/video/mK7IU_F6uX8/w-d-xo.html
i have a surf fur hoodie and a long coat. to be honest i should've got the next size up. they fit okay, but different.
Where did you go?
I'd say below 10 degree C or 50 degree F what I would consider colder temperatures... I'll be using dry gloves, thicker hoods and eventually thicker undergarments. Using a wetsuit for me will be more out of fear of damaging my drysuit when it's not really required for thermal protection or not required as backup inflation. Other than that I'd rather be in a drysuit.
So maybe 20-25ish degrees and warmer in a wetsuit, something like that. I like to be warm and cosy in my suit.
Some great data to add to the thread. Thanks for adding your thoughts!
California diver here. Also been diving in Hawaii a lot. Most dives here range from maybe 70f but can get in the low 50s far. I tried wet suits, better for lobster hunting. Tried Semi Dry, which is a fancy term for a wetsuit. Did the hollis neotec semi. Finally got a hollis dx300x drysuit. I love my drysuit with my BP and wing setup. Just starting my tech 40 class with ccr been diving for about 15+ years. I'll use shorts on warm water vacation spots depending on the dive. IE wreck, wildlife etc... Yes I'm a winter diver with a drysuit. Good undergarments help, obviously. BTW, my drysuit sprung a seam leak on a live aboard. Seam leak on the legs. Hollis replaced it but also might repair it depending on how bad it is. Has to be a seem issue not a tear due to diver error. Small learning curve on a drysuit but worth the effort. My question is are you always open or not?
Thanks for the post, William. I love this quote, "Tried Semi Dry, which is a fancy term for a wetsuit." Ain't that the truth. Semi dry reminds me of semi pregnant. Always open...meaning open circuit? Yes. If that's code for something else, I have no idea... ;)
If you think 10°C is cold, you should come and try UK quarry diving. I did my open water training in 5°C 🤣🤣
Incredible!
Yeah 60 degrees sounds about right for cold. Im used to diving off the shores of Maine where 55 to 63f is about the temperature of the water when Im diving. When im home in Jersey its maybe 70 but thats warm lol
I dive 16-17°C in a 3mm wet suit. 😀👌
Stronger than me!
1:00 Definitely 20C for me personally. LOL! When I was younger, I could dive in 10C in just wetsuits, but I've discovered as I have gotten older, sensitivity to the cold has become more of an issue. So today, when the water temp hits 20C, I change over.
2:00 Yes, wind plays a significant factor in drysuit use. I've had this conversation many times with people, even recently, with me diving dry and them in a wetsuit. They'd say, "why the drysuit? The water's still 22C today." After the dive, when they're shivering because the FAT is all of 14C and the wind makes it even colder, I respond, "that's why. Ready to try a drysuit course now?" LOL!
3:40 Hmmm... So, hyper-compressed neoprene doesn't actually compress when diving, and so your buoyancy doesn't change. No compression also means it doesn't lose heat retention capabilities because it doesn't get thinner with depth. If you'd like to see this in-person, I have a Northern Diver Commercial hyper-compressed neoprene drysuit I'd be happy to show to you sometime.
3:48 That being said, here in Japan, most Japanese neoprene drysuits are only 3mm thick (that's very thin), and not "compressed" either, so yes, they do change thickness with depth, making you less buoyant as you go deeper, and colder with depth too due to heat loss. They're really expensive here, but not on par with quality neoprene suits made in Europe, which are also much cheaper than what the Japanese companies charge too.
4:39 Ohhhh... LOL! My bad. I thought you were talking about neoprene drysuits earlier. Not thick wetsuits. LOL!
5:09 For drysuit measurements. It isn't necessarily the case that you have to "try on" the suit before purchase. However, it is highly important to know it will fit you properly before purchase, just like you said. There are 11 primary measurements people should take of themselves (and 4 additional for women), to know what size is perfect for them, or if they actually require a custom-made suit. It is also important to consider the undergarments you intend to wear, and whether you intend to use a neoprene drysuit or a trilaminate drysuit, as both typically have very different fitting styles. With most overly-expensive neoprene drysuits that are only 3mm thick, and non-compressed, you will need to wear some kind of undergarment. For compressed neoprene suits, which mine for example is 6.5mm thick, you won't need anything or you'll overheat.
Hey you are still alive. I figured you were arrested by the Japanese Scuba Police and thrown in one of those tiny jail cells.
Exposure time is another factor in warmth, short recreational dives require less exposure protection than 2-3 hour technical dives. So my thicker undergarments that I would use for 50-60F water, I will wear for 72 degree water. But that is due to a 2-3 hour dive including 10+ minutes of just sitting there sucking down an oxygen bottle.
But I agree on the Surf Fur and the hood. For me the Surf Fur is the best single purchase I've made for scuba diving. And the hood, I went from hating them to not wanting to dive without one, not just for warmth but to avoid stingy things when diving in (ewwww) salt water.
Hey, TPL, thanks for checking in. Well, I'm writing a book (to be published Han) and had a lot of life come under the bridge.
Thanks for the shoutout! Yeah, at 59 degree water temp in my 8/7 semi dry I can do one dive but that’s it. Game over right at 1/3rds.
What’s sad is im the warm one between myself and the other DMC I train with
8/7…I’ve never tried. How is that to out on?
I guess I really dont know any better. I live in the midwest and mostly dive local quarries. Bottom stays at 44.6 F here. My average dive is around 51 F and I have been using a 7mm Bare reactive. I am fine in the water but as the air temp has dropped I have not been able to warm up between dives. Finally ordered a drysuit for winter diving.
hi the water temp of 75f here is summer water lol . at 50f i am still in my wetsuit , its a 7mm . and my last dive of 2021 was 35f at 50 feet and 44 at the surface. in ontario canada .
I actually hope you talk about 20°C air temperature XD ...
German guy here, my warmest dive was around 14°C at around 15m. 30+° on surface.
Coldest dive was about 4-6°C at 30-40m. Around 3° surface.
Coldest surface around -3° with 7° at 20m.
Yes I went wet (semi dry on paper, but not the best sealing)... 7mm and beneath 6-7° additional 7mm ice-west.
Hood in both cases 7mm, boots 7mm, hands 3mm.
I'm very cold resistant, AND I DON'T RECOMMENT this to everyone.
My advise, which I take very serious: When your cold during a dive, allways slow your heating progress on surface.
With heating you massively speed up your desaturation-ratio, most likely to a point of sickness!
The usual car drive might be same as a Sauna at that point.
If interested look for cw/ww test by the us navy. Beeing warm/cold/warm hit even most of the divers at very konservativ dive-plan.
Clean gas everyone.
Have fun beneath!
Glad that you are back!!!
Have nice Xmas and a happy new Year!
Thanks, Martin. Happy holidays!
I use a 2or 4kg P-weight for both singles and doubles, with singles i add trim pocket on the camband as well.
I change undergarments and hood for the dry suit if the water are warmer then 10c, normaly havet between 4-6c under 10m all year around.
29° water on my dive at Kata Beach in Phuket today...rashguard and shorts 🏝 🍹
Cold...anything below 26°.
PS: Nice doo...is that what the Japanese girls are going for these days 😁
LOL...thank on the doo...that's what always lives under this hat.
20 celsius is cold ? 20 celcius is a hot tub for me 😂😂😂 this is in a wetsuit 😂
Take a shower and a little bit of mineral oil rent half of it off -----miracle------
What happened to this guy he just ghost the channel kinda sucks I like his stuff
Was wondering the same thing as this vid just popped up in my YT feed