Water temps Turks & Caicos?

Hi,

I'm off to the Caribbean in 2 weeks time. What water temperature can I
expect? In the Bahamas in August it was warm enough at 29C/84F just in
shorts but I'm expecting quite a bit cooler in January.

Will I need a full 3mm suit or might I get away with a shorty?
--
Regards,

Bob

Bob Mortimer wrote:

> I'm off to the Caribbean in 2 weeks time. What water temperature can I
> expect? In the Bahamas in August it was warm enough at 29C/84F just in
> shorts but I'm expecting quite a bit cooler in January.
>
> Will I need a full 3mm suit or might I get away with a shorty?

This must rank as one of the silliest questions ever asked in diving.

Why don't you bring both and figure it out when you get there?

Water temperatures can vary from site to site, from day to day, even
during the day as currents and tides and thermal changes move the water
around. Even if someone is in the Turks & Caicos (which are rather
spread out) right this moment, and can report the current water
temperature, it might be different by the time you arrive at your dive
site on a particular island. The best you can hope for is an estimate
accurate within 2-3 degrees.

But beyond that simple fact, the most important determinant of what
sort of suit you yourself need is completely subjective. How is
someone in the newsgroup, who isn't you, supposed to know whether you
stay warm in a shorty in 75-degree water (as did one diver on my last
trip) or whether you're chilled even after layering a 3 mm with a 3 mm
"core warmer" shorty on top of that (as I was on my last trip)?

Of course even that example doesn't fully explore the stupidity of your
query, for one 3 mm may have completely different thermal properties
than another. My layers utilized Henderson Hyperstretch, which while
extremely easy to don and very comfortable to wear, have the insulating
properties of aluminum foil. The cut of the suit, zipper location, and
how closely its fits will all have a bearing on your comfort.

Activity during the dive is another determinant. One diver may be
chilled because he's sitting in one place videotaping male jawfish
agititating eggs for a half-hour while another diver is overheated from
kicking against a light current.

How warm you stay on the boat will affect your core temperature, which
will affect your underwater comfort especially on multiple dives. Is
it hot and sunny, or is it overcast, raining, and windy?

What about accessories? Hood? Booties or full-foot fins? Gloves?

Do you pee in your suit or take a hot shower before entering the water?

Oh, and finally, Turks & Caicos isn't even in the Caribbean. Duh.

Depends on you. I wear a 3+3 full suit (3 jacket plus 3 farmer john)
but I am a local. Water temps are similar to Florida 70+- but it
depends a lot on depth, currents and duration of the dive. If you can
only bring one, take the full... you can always add water to cool down.
That's why I like the 3+3 set up. I can always leave the farmer john
on the boat and dive with the jacket.





Bob Mortimer wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm off to the Caribbean in 2 weeks time. What water temperature can I
> expect? In the Bahamas in August it was warm enough at 29C/84F just in
> shorts but I'm expecting quite a bit cooler in January.
>
> Will I need a full 3mm suit or might I get away with a shorty?

Greg Mossman wrote:

> Bob Mortimer wrote:
>
>> I'm off to the Caribbean in 2 weeks time. What water temperature can I
>> expect? In the Bahamas in August it was warm enough at 29C/84F just in
>> shorts but I'm expecting quite a bit cooler in January.
>>
>> Will I need a full 3mm suit or might I get away with a shorty?
>
> This must rank as one of the silliest questions ever asked in diving.

And I guess your reply one of the most patronising ...

> Why don't you bring both and figure it out when you get there?

Because there's more than one of us diving and flying transatlantic means
space/weight is at a bit of a premium.

> Water temperatures can vary from site to site, from day to day, even
> during the day as currents and tides and thermal changes move the water
> around. Even if someone is in the Turks & Caicos (which are rather
> spread out) right this moment, and can report the current water
> temperature, it might be different by the time you arrive at your dive
> site on a particular island.

Duh. You don't say ...

> The best you can hope for is an estimate
> accurate within 2-3 degrees.

Which would have been helpful, however your post doesn't seem to give an
estimate.

I do of course realise that even for a given temperature an individual's
needs are subjective. But hearing others' experiences is nevertheless
sometimes helpful.

> Oh, and finally, Turks & Caicos isn't even in the Caribbean. Duh.

Now I think you're being nit-picky. So enlighten me.

Bob

Bob Mortimer wrote:

> And I guess your reply one of the most patronising ...

If you want milquetoast, stay on the .uk groups. Veddy polite there,
old chap.

> Because there's more than one of us diving and flying transatlantic means
> space/weight is at a bit of a premium.

How much does your shorty weigh? Wear it on the plane if it's a
problem. Depending on the color scheme, you'll really impress the FA.

> Which would have been helpful, however your post doesn't seem to give an
> estimate.

I'd hate to steer you wrong. It was 84-86 (that's Fahrenheit, not
Centigrade, in case you were wondering) in September. Hope that helps.

> I do of course realise that even for a given temperature an individual's
> needs are subjective. But hearing others' experiences is nevertheless
> sometimes helpful.

It was 75-76 in Maui last week and I was wearing the same suits, yet
somehow felt just as warm. The only reason I can think of is that I
had to pee more often. Was it the cold that was physiologically
causing me to pee, or was the cold psychologically causing me to pee,
or was it that I was just drinking more coffee because we had to start
out so damn early?

> Now I think you're being nit-picky. So enlighten me.

A map would be even more enlightening. The Turks & Caicos are merely
the butt end of the Bahamas, adjacent to the Caribbean islands to the
south. Just as you wouldn't say that Grand Cayman is in the Bahamas,
likewise you wouldn't say that the Turks & Caicos are in the Caribbean.

"Bob Mortimer" <Bob@_nospam_mortimer.nildram.co.uk> wrote in message
news:5fCdnRRobrFhohvYnZ2dnUVZ8tW3nZ2d@pipex.net...
(snip)>
> I do of course realise that even for a given temperature an individual's
> needs are subjective. But hearing others' experiences is nevertheless
> sometimes helpful.

(snip)

I wear my full 3mm no matter what the water temp. Perhaps I wouldn't do
that if the water was 86 degrees and I was only going to dive a couple of
dives over the course of my vacation. However, when diving every day, day
after day, I need the extra warmth, as do most people. I dove my full 3mm
every day in Thailand and the water temp was 84+. The dive master was also
wearing a full 3mm.

There is another reason to wear a full suit and that is protection from
scrapes and/or stings. Sure, you are supposed to control your bouyancy well
enough to avoid scrapes and stingy things, but stuff happens, ya know?

My advise to you, is that it is easier to cool yourself off than it is to
warm yourself up. Take your full suit and one less pair of shoes, if you
are worried about weight issues.

"Bob Mortimer" <Bob@_nospam_mortimer.nildram.co.uk> wrote in message
news:f_SdnRDG97FeiBjYRVnyuAA@pipex.net...
> Hi,
>
> I'm off to the Caribbean in 2 weeks time. What water temperature can I
> expect? In the Bahamas in August it was warm enough at 29C/84F just in
> shorts but I'm expecting quite a bit cooler in January.

I've no idea what the water temps in the Caribbean are at this time of year.

>
> Will I need a full 3mm suit or might I get away with a shorty?

I'm perfectly happy in a dive skin and/or t-shirt down to about 72 F. Of course, my normal
operating temperature is 99.3 F. YMMV.

> --
> Regards,
>
> Bob