Dry suit or Semi Dry for Rhode Island in Summer

This is where the investment in a dry suit makes sense. You have to purchase
a new suit anyway, why not get away from multi-layered wet suits and go for
a dry suit. You will always be warm and comfortable without feeling
restricted. You can add insulation when diving in the colder months and
lighten up during the warm months. A bag type suit will out last a neoprene
wet suit. You will be a happier diver wishing you had done it long ago. We
dive with about 15 guys all in dry suits from June to December at depths to
130ft and beyond with out a hassle. I would never dive the NY/NJ wrecks wet.


"Robert" <osiris@woden.com> wrote in message
newsi0562l520s9tic9gql5hv9aagne12vb03@4ax.com...
> Thanks Jac, my old 3/5mm wetsuit is getting abit ragtag dnow, so
> thought also might just save thta for the caribbean and but a
> semi-dry., I was looking at 1 5mm semidry that reckons it is as good
> as most other 7mm semi-dry's, it has roll back cuffs, and a guy at my
> old scuba club, reckons they are very good indeed, I also have a 1mm
> SKIN top which is great, and a 1.5 full length skin too, that under
> the semi dry may be enough, without being too stiff.
>
> Thanks again
>
> Rob
>
>
> On 10 May 2006 09:09:01 -0700, "Jac" <jacnbox@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>Rob,
>>I was certified in RI and that's were I typically dive. You can do it
>>with a 7mm wetsuit, gloves, and I use a hood through June. Last year it
>>was mid 40s at about 40-50 ft depth on my first dive of the season
>>which was in early June. I know of a few people who do almost year
>>round in wetsuits however. Hope this helps. Jac
>

This is where the investment in a dry suit makes sense. You have to purchase
a new suit anyway, why not get away from multi-layered wet suits and go for
a dry suit. You will always be warm and comfortable without feeling
restricted. You can add insulation when diving in the colder months and
lighten up during the warm months. A bag type suit will out last a neoprene
wet suit. You will be a happier diver wishing you had done it long ago. We
dive with about 15 guys all in dry suits from June to December at depths to
130ft and beyond with out a hassle. I would never dive the NY/NJ wrecks wet.


"Robert" <osiris@woden.com> wrote in message
newsi0562l520s9tic9gql5hv9aagne12vb03@4ax.com...
> Thanks Jac, my old 3/5mm wetsuit is getting abit ragtag dnow, so
> thought also might just save thta for the caribbean and but a
> semi-dry., I was looking at 1 5mm semidry that reckons it is as good
> as most other 7mm semi-dry's, it has roll back cuffs, and a guy at my
> old scuba club, reckons they are very good indeed, I also have a 1mm
> SKIN top which is great, and a 1.5 full length skin too, that under
> the semi dry may be enough, without being too stiff.
>
> Thanks again
>
> Rob
>
>
> On 10 May 2006 09:09:01 -0700, "Jac" <jacnbox@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>Rob,
>>I was certified in RI and that's were I typically dive. You can do it
>>with a 7mm wetsuit, gloves, and I use a hood through June. Last year it
>>was mid 40s at about 40-50 ft depth on my first dive of the season
>>which was in early June. I know of a few people who do almost year
>>round in wetsuits however. Hope this helps. Jac
>

x-no-archive:yes

"Jac" <jacnbox@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Rob,
>I was certified in RI and that's were I typically dive. You can do it
>with a 7mm wetsuit, gloves, and I use a hood through June. Last year it
>was mid 40s at about 40-50 ft depth on my first dive of the season
>which was in early June. I know of a few people who do almost year
>round in wetsuits however. Hope this helps. Jac

My masochistic days are WAY over. Mid 40's in a wetsuit? C'mon, it's
gotta be mid 60's for a wetsuit for me nowadays. What's the point? I
want to actually enjoy the dive, I hate to be cold, or even
uncomfortably chilly and frankly there is no reason to be. Dry all the
way, baby, you'll thank your self forever.
>

x-no-archive:yes

"Jac" <jacnbox@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Rob,
>I was certified in RI and that's were I typically dive. You can do it
>with a 7mm wetsuit, gloves, and I use a hood through June. Last year it
>was mid 40s at about 40-50 ft depth on my first dive of the season
>which was in early June. I know of a few people who do almost year
>round in wetsuits however. Hope this helps. Jac

My masochistic days are WAY over. Mid 40's in a wetsuit? C'mon, it's
gotta be mid 60's for a wetsuit for me nowadays. What's the point? I
want to actually enjoy the dive, I hate to be cold, or even
uncomfortably chilly and frankly there is no reason to be. Dry all the
way, baby, you'll thank your self forever.
>

Al Wells wrote:

> I dove with the Wahoo several times a few years back, always with Janet
> and Hank. I went to dinner with them a couple of times, and they are
> both pretty entertaining. One time we ran with only a total of 6,
> including Janet and Hank. That was in October, and they were the best
> dives I had up here. The only other boat I tried was Eagle's Nest, and
> that experience was beyond the pale.

Ah... Capt Howard!! I great guy if you know him and he knows you. I've
dove on his boat. Nice boat. Leather couch, more videos than
Blockbuster, BUT .... I need that place to crash going to the dive site
and on the way back home.

> We did the Cooper River in Sc last week; the next dives are in SoFL over
> Memorial Day weekend. It looks like I'll be up here (near Philly) all
> summer, so maybe I'll give Sea Hunter a try. how many divers does he
> take on that boat?

The Sea Hunter was built for diving. It's spartan in features, but it's
home for me. Here is a link to the website. http://seahunter.org/
It's a 60' ocean going boat with 10 bunks. All of us dive doubles
w/slings. There is space for 20 of us. The boat is CG rated for 70+.
Since we charter the boat from June to Sept., we basically have a loose
schedule. I am pressing to put one together. We go out every Sunday. 2
dives. Off shore. Wrecks most between 100-130'. Doing some slightly
deeper stuff also (150-200').

Al Wells wrote:

> I dove with the Wahoo several times a few years back, always with Janet
> and Hank. I went to dinner with them a couple of times, and they are
> both pretty entertaining. One time we ran with only a total of 6,
> including Janet and Hank. That was in October, and they were the best
> dives I had up here. The only other boat I tried was Eagle's Nest, and
> that experience was beyond the pale.

Ah... Capt Howard!! I great guy if you know him and he knows you. I've
dove on his boat. Nice boat. Leather couch, more videos than
Blockbuster, BUT .... I need that place to crash going to the dive site
and on the way back home.

> We did the Cooper River in Sc last week; the next dives are in SoFL over
> Memorial Day weekend. It looks like I'll be up here (near Philly) all
> summer, so maybe I'll give Sea Hunter a try. how many divers does he
> take on that boat?

The Sea Hunter was built for diving. It's spartan in features, but it's
home for me. Here is a link to the website. http://seahunter.org/
It's a 60' ocean going boat with 10 bunks. All of us dive doubles
w/slings. There is space for 20 of us. The boat is CG rated for 70+.
Since we charter the boat from June to Sept., we basically have a loose
schedule. I am pressing to put one together. We go out every Sunday. 2
dives. Off shore. Wrecks most between 100-130'. Doing some slightly
deeper stuff also (150-200').

Looks like could be spending 3 months in Rhode Island this summer, so
do not know what the sea temps are, have never dry suit dived, and
wonder if a Semi Dry would be sufficient.

Else will wait till can vacation in the Caribbean again.

Thanks all

Rob

Dan Bracuk wrote:
> Robert <osiris@woden.com> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in:
> :Looks like could be spending 3 months in Rhode Island this summer, so
> :do not know what the sea temps are, have never dry suit dived, and
> :wonder if a Semi Dry would be sufficient.
>
> I've done it, sort of. 31 F in a rented wetsuit, same sort of thing.
> But we all have our own thresholds, you have to find yours on your
> own.

I too have dove wet for a long time in the North East. Chipping ice of
the boat in December for a dive. Oh... what fun! Water temp low 40's
upper 30's. Now, I dive dry (well, most of the time) all year.

TonyP wrote:
> Dan Bracuk wrote:
>
>> Robert <osiris@woden.com> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in:
>> :Looks like could be spending 3 months in Rhode Island this summer, so
>> :do not know what the sea temps are, have never dry suit dived, and
>> :wonder if a Semi Dry would be sufficient.
>>
>> I've done it, sort of. 31 F in a rented wetsuit, same sort of thing.
>> But we all have our own thresholds, you have to find yours on your
>> own.
>
>
> I too have dove wet for a long time in the North East. Chipping ice of
> the boat in December for a dive. Oh... what fun! Water temp low 40's
> upper 30's. Now, I dive dry (well, most of the time) all year.
>

Oh come on now, he's going over the summer. It gets up to at least
50-60 during the summer there. Sometimes even as high as 70.

I found this at the noaa website that might be useful to you:
http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/natl.html

Those numbers are pretty well in line with my personal experience as well.

I should warn you that the popular dive-site guide book is full of local
legends and historical inaccuracies, so if you want the HISTORY of the
sites you dive, it's not that good, but it tells a good story.

Can you spell surface? Do you know what a thermocline is? Does NOAA publish
bottom temps? Beeerrrrrr, 40'F is cold!



"zippthorne" <zipp-post@usa.net> wrote in message
news:ug67g.116$HA2.45@tornado.tampabay.rr.com...
> TonyP wrote:
>> Dan Bracuk wrote:
>>
>>> Robert <osiris@woden.com> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in:
>>> :Looks like could be spending 3 months in Rhode Island this summer, so
>>> :do not know what the sea temps are, have never dry suit dived, and
>>> :wonder if a Semi Dry would be sufficient.
>>>
>>> I've done it, sort of. 31 F in a rented wetsuit, same sort of thing.
>>> But we all have our own thresholds, you have to find yours on your
>>> own.
>>
>>
>> I too have dove wet for a long time in the North East. Chipping ice of
>> the boat in December for a dive. Oh... what fun! Water temp low 40's
>> upper 30's. Now, I dive dry (well, most of the time) all year.
>>
>
> Oh come on now, he's going over the summer. It gets up to at least 50-60
> during the summer there. Sometimes even as high as 70.
>
> I found this at the noaa website that might be useful to you:
> http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/natl.html
>
> Those numbers are pretty well in line with my personal experience as well.
>
> I should warn you that the popular dive-site guide book is full of local
> legends and historical inaccuracies, so if you want the HISTORY of the
> sites you dive, it's not that good, but it tells a good story.