Cold in the water

hau · 01-13-2009, 04:28 PM

spearos---I need some help. I am getting cold in the water with my 3mm suit and wanted to know if I should buy another suit or not.
This is my first winter up here in Miami and want to know if the water is going to get colder than it is now and/or when does the water start to get warmer. I am old and like to stay in the water for 5-6 hours. I am using a 3mm suit and using a hooded vest over that now and still getting cold after only 2-3 hours in the water.
Thank you for your advise.
hau

Dan · 01-13-2009, 04:36 PM

hau, I got cold this Sunday (Jan 11) too. I was using a two piece 3mm suit. The suit has open cell neoprene at the extremities and I had no water circulation inside the suit, however I was still cold. From my limited experience in these waters (about 3 years) I don't think the water gets any colder. Since Sunday I've been thinking about a 5mm too. Last winter I was using a one piece suit that is a little less than 5mm, maybe 4mm and I was warm, but it was a hassle to put on. I also tried the 3mm vest under the 3mm one piece suit approach but I didn't like it because it restricted my breathing too much and I felt I wasn't breathing up properly. I'm now thinking a 5mm top with 3mm pants. Or 5mm torso with 3mm sleeves and 3mm pants.

Rolo told me that Jan and Feb are the coldest months of the year here. From geography class I remember that land heats up and cools down faster than water. This means that although temperatures will rise after Feb the water temp will be behind, maybe a month behind. So for three months of diving out of the year a warmer suit is a good investment IMO. Or you can just tough it out

JimCuda · 01-13-2009, 10:27 PM

I bought a 2mm vest from diver's direct for $22. I cut off the hood to wear under the suit. It seems to work. If you could get an open cell one, that might be even better. It makes a big difference for little money.

Dan · 01-13-2009, 11:12 PM

You know what, before I buy a 5mm I'm gonna give my vest another try. But man I remember it was hard to breath easily. For this same reason Pantoja dives in rashguards shorts and top right into the winter. You should've seen on Sunday Rolo layered him up in odds and ends to make some kind of full body thermal protection. He dove the whole day and I'm the only one that was complaining about the cold LOL I think as spearos we have to brave the cold to a certain degree no? Plus I think maybe getting in and out of yak or a boat makes you colder than doing a consistent long dive. I'm thinking of beach diving.

hau · 01-14-2009, 06:59 AM

So the water is going to be cold like this for another month or 2 at least?
Is there a web site that might give me the history of monthly water tempatures here in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale please?
Thank you.

hau · 01-20-2010, 12:01 AM

OK, this post is 1 year after the last post.
Same problem. Cold in the water
Now I am using a great 2pc OPEN cell suit (I finally learned the open cell / closed cell lesson. I'll NEVER use closed cell again. Closed cell suits are so unnatural and ineffecient compared to open cell suits)
I am IN 68F water for up to 8hours a day and I am 60yr old

1. Is it "better" to buy a 5mm open cell 2pc or is it better to layer( like we used to layer cloths on up north) one suit on top of another open cell suit?
Thanks

Dan · 01-20-2010, 10:24 AM

hau, I have 5mm suits coming in 3 weeks. Think the same comfort you are experiencing now with the 3mm but warmer.

Macdyver · 01-20-2010, 12:30 PM

I hate hoods but might consider one if it were an extremely pliable material like Yamoto 45. Does anyone where to get one? My reasons are to keep warm and due to a story I heard bout a dude who had a man o' war wrap its tentacles around his throat as he was ascending and still carries nasty scars today. i've noticed a few in the water lately.

LunkerBuster · 01-20-2010, 03:53 PM

or you can hook this up to the yak and stay downstream

http://www.intheswim.com/shopping/pr...rd=E4950&e11=Y

Dan · 01-20-2010, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macdyver

I hate hoods but might consider one if it were an extremely pliable material like Yamoto 45. Does anyone where to get one?

My wetsuits come with a hood, and the suits are made of a neoprene as soft and flexible as Yamamoto 45. But for my use I cut the hood off. The wetsuit functions perfectly and the seal around the neck stays very good. I have a separate hood which I keep, supposedly for some extreme cold day, but I've never used it. You can get a hood anywhere, Divers Direct is as good a place as any.