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

Just about to buy a wetsuit, looking at full 7mm for Victoria ( Australian )
waters mainly.

It has since occured to me to consider the option of a 5mm full suit, with
an added vest (probably hooded).

I think the last wetsuit I hired on my OW course was actually a 7/5 anyway
( Pinnacle "Cruiser"), so just wanting opinions of the pros and cons of
each..

Also, what's the go with wearing a hooded vest...under or over..does one
provide better insulation..?

And if I'm a size medium wetsuit, and choose to wear a vest over the
top...do I get a size large vest...or will it stretch enough ??

losts of questions I know...but I'll my likely be purchasing online ( due to
high local retail ), so need to look at all options first....

bc

Unless you have a compelling reason to get a wet suit, I would get a
dry suit. Much easier, nicer and much more comfortable! Once you wear
one you will NEVER wear a wet suit again!

John

On Apr 2, 12:17*pm, "Hi-Soft" <nos...@spam.com> wrote:
> Just about to buy a wetsuit, looking at full 7mm for Victoria ( Australian)
> waters mainly.
>
> It has since occured to me to consider the option of a 5mm full suit, with
> an added vest (probably hooded).
>
> I think the last wetsuit I hired on my OW course was actually a 7/5 anyway
> ( Pinnacle "Cruiser"), so just wanting opinions of the pros and cons of
> each..
>
> Also, what's the go with wearing a hooded vest...under or over..does one
> provide better insulation..?
>
> And if I'm a size medium wetsuit, and choose to wear a vest over the
> top...do I get a size large vest...or will it stretch enough ??
>
> losts of questions I know...but I'll my likely be purchasing online ( due to
> high local retail ), so need to look at all options first....
>
> bc

"Hi-Soft" <nospam@spam.com> wrote in message
news:aZQIj.5281$n8.1178@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> Just about to buy a wetsuit, looking at full 7mm for Victoria (
> Australian ) waters mainly.
>
> It has since occured to me to consider the option of a 5mm full suit, with
> an added vest (probably hooded).
>
> I think the last wetsuit I hired on my OW course was actually a 7/5 anyway
> ( Pinnacle "Cruiser"), so just wanting opinions of the pros and cons of
> each..
>
> Also, what's the go with wearing a hooded vest...under or over..does one
> provide better insulation..?
>
> And if I'm a size medium wetsuit, and choose to wear a vest over the
> top...do I get a size large vest...or will it stretch enough ??
>
> losts of questions I know...but I'll my likely be purchasing online ( due
> to high local retail ), so need to look at all options first....
>
> bc


5mm suit and vest gives you more flexibility if you dive further North but
will it be warm enough for your normal diving. You don't want cold knees

johnvonc@earthlink.net wrote:
>Unless you have a compelling reason to get a wet suit, I would get a
>dry suit. Much easier, nicer and much more comfortable! Once you wear
>one you will NEVER wear a wet suit again!

On a personal basis, I agree. I wouldn't be doing cold water
dives if I hadn't gone to a dry suit. It's like night and day in
terms of convenience and warmth.
This is not a universal conclusion. I dive with someone who
wears a wet suit. A dry suit is way more expensive, and it adds
complication (an extra low pressure hose to control) and makes
buoyancy a bit more complex.
In answer to the original question, it really depends on how
warm you want to be. A warmer alternative would be to get a 7
mil suit with a built-in hood and then get a vest to go with it.
Since it's such a matter of personal preference, the usual advice
is to try to rent something similar to what you're considering
and see if it proves to be something you'd like to live with.

--
Ron
(user ron
in domain spamblocked.com)

"dechucka" <dechucka@vomithotmail.com> wrote in message
news:47f411ba$0$13295$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>
> "Hi-Soft" <nospam@spam.com> wrote in message
> news:aZQIj.5281$n8.1178@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>> Just about to buy a wetsuit, looking at full 7mm for Victoria (
>> Australian ) waters mainly.
>>
>> It has since occured to me to consider the option of a 5mm full suit,
>> with an added vest (probably hooded).
>>
>> I think the last wetsuit I hired on my OW course was actually a 7/5
>> anyway ( Pinnacle "Cruiser"), so just wanting opinions of the pros and
>> cons of each..
>>
>> Also, what's the go with wearing a hooded vest...under or over..does one
>> provide better insulation..?
>>
>> And if I'm a size medium wetsuit, and choose to wear a vest over the
>> top...do I get a size large vest...or will it stretch enough ??
>>
>> losts of questions I know...but I'll my likely be purchasing online ( due
>> to high local retail ), so need to look at all options first....
>>
>> bc
>
>
> 5mm suit and vest gives you more flexibility if you dive further North but
> will it be warm enough for your normal diving. You don't want cold knees

Yeah..I think I'm going to go with a full 7mm...like the Pinnacle / Paragon
Elastiprene.. I have a Tusa 3mm steamer for warm water anyway..

I've often wondered what the hell those dry suits are all about...they look
pretty funny ( unless you're a diver )...but I think way too complicated and
too much fuss for me...and don't you need a special certification to wear
one too ?

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 ;)

--
</Tazz>

"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

just kidding btw

dechucka 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
>
> just kidding btw
>
>
Yea, I know. I did my OW cert through PADI at the LDS. The instructors
didn't bother with the "PADI propaganda", as they called it. Instead
they focused more on safety and common sense instead of 'going through
the ranks and becoming a uber divemaster.

After I passed I ordered my equipment (we used rentals for the course,
so I had a better idea of what to buy). When the choice came to wet or
dry, it had to be dry. I said something like "I guess I'll have to do
the dry suit course now, right?" The instructor/owner said "No, we'll
take you out and show you how it works on one of our 'fun dives'(a
bi-monthly event)." Cool, saved me some $$

--
</Tazz>

"Hi-Soft" <nospam@spam.com> wrote in message
news:aZQIj.5281$n8.1178@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> Just about to buy a wetsuit, looking at full 7mm for Victoria ( Australian ) waters
> mainly.
>
> It has since occured to me to consider the option of a 5mm full suit, with an added
> vest (probably hooded).
>
> I think the last wetsuit I hired on my OW course was actually a 7/5 anyway (
> Pinnacle "Cruiser"), so just wanting opinions of the pros and cons of each..
>
> Also, what's the go with wearing a hooded vest...under or over..does one provide
> better insulation..?
>
> And if I'm a size medium wetsuit, and choose to wear a vest over the top...do I get
> a size large vest...or will it stretch enough ??
>
> losts of questions I know...but I'll my likely be purchasing online ( due to high
> local retail ), so need to look at all options first....
>
> bc

What's the temperature of the water and air in Victoria?

"Adam Helberg" <sendspamhere@yahee.com> wrote in message
news:47f5c210$0$11373$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>
> "Hi-Soft" <nospam@spam.com> wrote in message
> news:aZQIj.5281$n8.1178@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>> Just about to buy a wetsuit, looking at full 7mm for Victoria (
>> Australian ) waters mainly.
>>
>> It has since occured to me to consider the option of a 5mm full suit,
>> with an added vest (probably hooded).
>>
>> I think the last wetsuit I hired on my OW course was actually a 7/5
>> anyway ( Pinnacle "Cruiser"), so just wanting opinions of the pros and
>> cons of each..
>>
>> Also, what's the go with wearing a hooded vest...under or over..does one
>> provide better insulation..?
>>
>> And if I'm a size medium wetsuit, and choose to wear a vest over the
>> top...do I get a size large vest...or will it stretch enough ??
>>
>> losts of questions I know...but I'll my likely be purchasing online ( due
>> to high local retail ), so need to look at all options first....
>>
>> bc
>
> 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