wetsuit : 7mm vs 5mm w/vest ????

While I was dreaming about my next Hawaii visit <47f5865d$0$13246$5a62a
c22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au>, dechucka
<dechucka@vomithotmail.com> wrote
>
>"Tazz" <dmswaine@gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:47f57f78$0$4041$9a566e8b@news.aliant.net.. .
>> snip
>> > but I think way too complicated and
>>> too much fuss for me...and don't you need a special certification to wear
>>> one too ?
>>
>> Special certification?! Riiiight ;)
>
>PADI runs a dry suit course $250 and you get a dive thrown. No wonder PADI
>stands for Put Another Dollar In

Pay And Die Immediately

"Hi-Soft" <nospam@spam.com> wrote in message
news:bfmJj.5819$n8.2289@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>
>> What's the temperature of the water and air in Victoria?
>
> Well..the water is around 19-20 celsius on the summer (approx.65 f), but as far as
> air temp...we are quite famous for being all over the place...often four seasons in
> one day...summer would average around high 20's celsius though.. So if I want to
> dive all year round might need to anticipate range of about 60-70 fahrenheit...
>
> bc

You don't need a dry suit. And you're right, diving with a dry suit is more
complicated, besides the extra expense of the dry suit. I dive in Southern California
with similar temperatures and use a 7/5 with a hooded vest over it. Some put the
hooded vest under the suit. Spray some hair conditioner on your legs and arms to ease
getting the suit on.

Adam

Adam Helberg wrote:

>
> "Hi-Soft" <nospam@spam.com> wrote in message
> news:bfmJj.5819$n8.2289@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>>
>>> What's the temperature of the water and air in Victoria?
>>
>> Well..the water is around 19-20 celsius on the summer (approx.65
>> f),

And down to as low as 9C in winter <50F

>> but as far as air temp...we are quite famous for being all over
>> the place...often four seasons in
>> one day...summer would average around high 20's celsius though..
>> So if I want to dive all year round might need to anticipate range
>> of about 60-70 fahrenheit...
>>
A cold day in Winter can be around 8-10C

>> bc
>
> You don't need a dry suit. And you're right, diving with a dry suit
> is more complicated, besides the extra expense of the dry suit. I
> dive in Southern California
> with similar temperatures and use a 7/5 with a hooded vest over it.
> Some put the hooded vest under the suit. Spray some hair conditioner
> on your legs and arms to ease getting the suit on.
>

First, and probably most important point to consider is, "What is
comfortable for you?" I know divers (generally female, but not
exclusively) who won't dive in Victoria any time of the year
without a dry suit. And I know others who will dive in a wet suit
or semi-dry all year around. A lot depends on your metabolism and
possibly how much "personal insulation" you may happen to have.

I dive in Victoria. Started with a 5mm "Farmer John" 2 piece and
added a 5mm hooded vest later. The hooded vest underneath was a
good compromise since it meant no cold water down the back of the
neck. And with what I was wearing I effectively had 15mm of neoprene
over the torso. Comfortable at 9C (after the initial shock) as
long as I was moderately active. If I had been taking photos, it
would have been bloody cold, though. (I tend to not move a lot
on dives where I'm doing photography.) I'd have to say that in 9C
my arms an legs were "cool". In any case, female partners have
referred to me as the "human space heater", so it's probably fair
to say that I'm less affected by the cold than most.

Another type of wetsuit to consider is the "Probe" brand available
here. They use a "stretchier" type of neoprene. And since part of
the goal is to reduce the water flow, a tighter fit is good. The
only problem is that putting one of these suits on is a tad more
difficult. (But see comments re ways of making it easier to get
a suit on.)

BUT.... Now that I'm doing deco diving, I'm using a dry suit.
Hanging around on the stops I find that I get cold easily since
there is limited movement.

I still haven't thrown the wetsuit away, though. I pull it
out for Summer most years.

Another alternative for getting on tight wetsuits is either a
lycra "skinsuit" or a surfing "rash vest" with long sleeves and
a pair of cold weather bicycle tights. The lycra and neoprene
slide better against each other. I've also seen people put a
plastic bag over their foot to help it slide into a suit.

Hope this is useful

-Don

"Don Gingrich" <gingrich@cs.rmit.edu.au> wrote in message
news:euOdnfG1YduggmHanZ2dnUVZ_quhnZ2d@internode...
> Adam Helberg wrote:
>
>>
>> "Hi-Soft" <nospam@spam.com> wrote in message
>> news:bfmJj.5819$n8.2289@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>>>
>>>> What's the temperature of the water and air in Victoria?
>>>
>>> Well..the water is around 19-20 celsius on the summer (approx.65
>>> f),
>
> And down to as low as 9C in winter <50F
>
>>> but as far as air temp...we are quite famous for being all over
>>> the place...often four seasons in
>>> one day...summer would average around high 20's celsius though..
>>> So if I want to dive all year round might need to anticipate range
>>> of about 60-70 fahrenheit...
>>>
> A cold day in Winter can be around 8-10C
>
>>> bc
>>
>> You don't need a dry suit. And you're right, diving with a dry suit
>> is more complicated, besides the extra expense of the dry suit. I
>> dive in Southern California
>> with similar temperatures and use a 7/5 with a hooded vest over it.
>> Some put the hooded vest under the suit. Spray some hair conditioner
>> on your legs and arms to ease getting the suit on.
>>
>
> First, and probably most important point to consider is, "What is
> comfortable for you?" I know divers (generally female, but not
> exclusively) who won't dive in Victoria any time of the year
> without a dry suit. And I know others who will dive in a wet suit
> or semi-dry all year around. A lot depends on your metabolism and
> possibly how much "personal insulation" you may happen to have.
>
> I dive in Victoria. Started with a 5mm "Farmer John" 2 piece and
> added a 5mm hooded vest later. The hooded vest underneath was a
> good compromise since it meant no cold water down the back of the
> neck. And with what I was wearing I effectively had 15mm of neoprene
> over the torso. Comfortable at 9C (after the initial shock) as
> long as I was moderately active. If I had been taking photos, it
> would have been bloody cold, though. (I tend to not move a lot
> on dives where I'm doing photography.) I'd have to say that in 9C
> my arms an legs were "cool". In any case, female partners have
> referred to me as the "human space heater", so it's probably fair
> to say that I'm less affected by the cold than most.
>
> Another type of wetsuit to consider is the "Probe" brand available
> here. They use a "stretchier" type of neoprene. And since part of
> the goal is to reduce the water flow, a tighter fit is good. The
> only problem is that putting one of these suits on is a tad more
> difficult. (But see comments re ways of making it easier to get
> a suit on.)
>
> BUT.... Now that I'm doing deco diving, I'm using a dry suit.
> Hanging around on the stops I find that I get cold easily since
> there is limited movement.
>
> I still haven't thrown the wetsuit away, though. I pull it
> out for Summer most years.
>
> Another alternative for getting on tight wetsuits is either a
> lycra "skinsuit" or a surfing "rash vest" with long sleeves and
> a pair of cold weather bicycle tights. The lycra and neoprene
> slide better against each other. I've also seen people put a
> plastic bag over their foot to help it slide into a suit.
>
> Hope this is useful
>
> -Don
>

Yeah I've been looking at that Probe....nice looking suit for sure...does
look tight at the ankle...and no zippers there by the looks of the promo
pic..

The Pinnacle (Paragon ) I tried on was the new "Elasteiprene" 7mm, and fit
me way better than the previous "Cruiser" ( non stretchy )., also a little
bit cheaper than the Probe.. so top of my list so far..

"Hi-Soft" <nospam@spam.com> wrote in message
news:zu7Lj.7725$n8.979@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
> "Don Gingrich" <gingrich@cs.rmit.edu.au> wrote in message
> news:euOdnfG1YduggmHanZ2dnUVZ_quhnZ2d@internode...
>> Adam Helberg wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> "Hi-Soft" <nospam@spam.com> wrote in message
>>> news:bfmJj.5819$n8.2289@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>>>>
>>>>> What's the temperature of the water and air in Victoria?
>>>>
>>>> Well..the water is around 19-20 celsius on the summer (approx.65
>>>> f),
>>
>> And down to as low as 9C in winter <50F
>>
>>>> but as far as air temp...we are quite famous for being all over
>>>> the place...often four seasons in
>>>> one day...summer would average around high 20's celsius though..
>>>> So if I want to dive all year round might need to anticipate range
>>>> of about 60-70 fahrenheit...
>>>>
>> A cold day in Winter can be around 8-10C
>>
>>>> bc
>>>
>>> You don't need a dry suit. And you're right, diving with a dry suit
>>> is more complicated, besides the extra expense of the dry suit. I
>>> dive in Southern California
>>> with similar temperatures and use a 7/5 with a hooded vest over it.
>>> Some put the hooded vest under the suit. Spray some hair conditioner
>>> on your legs and arms to ease getting the suit on.
>>>
>>
>> First, and probably most important point to consider is, "What is
>> comfortable for you?" I know divers (generally female, but not
>> exclusively) who won't dive in Victoria any time of the year
>> without a dry suit. And I know others who will dive in a wet suit
>> or semi-dry all year around. A lot depends on your metabolism and
>> possibly how much "personal insulation" you may happen to have.
>>
>> I dive in Victoria. Started with a 5mm "Farmer John" 2 piece and
>> added a 5mm hooded vest later. The hooded vest underneath was a
>> good compromise since it meant no cold water down the back of the
>> neck. And with what I was wearing I effectively had 15mm of neoprene
>> over the torso. Comfortable at 9C (after the initial shock) as
>> long as I was moderately active. If I had been taking photos, it
>> would have been bloody cold, though. (I tend to not move a lot
>> on dives where I'm doing photography.) I'd have to say that in 9C
>> my arms an legs were "cool". In any case, female partners have
>> referred to me as the "human space heater", so it's probably fair
>> to say that I'm less affected by the cold than most.
>>
>> Another type of wetsuit to consider is the "Probe" brand available
>> here. They use a "stretchier" type of neoprene. And since part of
>> the goal is to reduce the water flow, a tighter fit is good. The
>> only problem is that putting one of these suits on is a tad more
>> difficult. (But see comments re ways of making it easier to get
>> a suit on.)
>>
>> BUT.... Now that I'm doing deco diving, I'm using a dry suit.
>> Hanging around on the stops I find that I get cold easily since
>> there is limited movement.
>>
>> I still haven't thrown the wetsuit away, though. I pull it
>> out for Summer most years.
>>
>> Another alternative for getting on tight wetsuits is either a
>> lycra "skinsuit" or a surfing "rash vest" with long sleeves and
>> a pair of cold weather bicycle tights. The lycra and neoprene
>> slide better against each other. I've also seen people put a
>> plastic bag over their foot to help it slide into a suit.
>>
>> Hope this is useful
>>
>> -Don
>>
>
> Yeah I've been looking at that Probe....nice looking suit for sure...does
> look tight at the ankle...and no zippers there by the looks of the promo
> pic..
>
> The Pinnacle (Paragon ) I tried on was the new "Elasteiprene" 7mm, and fit
> me way better than the previous "Cruiser" ( non stretchy )., also a little
> bit cheaper than the Probe.. so top of my list so far..

looking good is crap. diving comfortable is good