Maldives

Hi all,

I'm off to the Maldives in a weeks time (Villi Varu) and have just
received my tickets and other bits and pieces. In one of the bits of
bumpf they recommend AGAINST diving in a 3mm shortie, does anyone know
why they say this? I have both a 3mm long and a 3mm shortie and I'd much
prefer to dive in my shortie.

Thanks Nick

Nick,

I dived Full Moon Apr 2001 in a 3mm shorty and was fine, but on the deeper
dives tended to get a bit chilly towards the end.
I am going to the Maldives next year and ill take it again. As I'm older the
cold may get me and in that case I will rent something more substantial.
Depends on time of year.
In an ocean current.
Inside reef/outside reef.
If you don't mind a bit of chill.

Regards

Badger


"Nick Bruton" <nick.bruton@bristol.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:HnKEBv.2CE@bath.ac.uk...
> Hi all,
>
> I'm off to the Maldives in a weeks time (Villi Varu) and have just
> received my tickets and other bits and pieces. In one of the bits of
> bumpf they recommend AGAINST diving in a 3mm shortie, does anyone know
> why they say this? I have both a 3mm long and a 3mm shortie and I'd much
> prefer to dive in my shortie.
>
> Thanks Nick
>

On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 09:57:31 +0000, Nick Bruton wrote:

> I'm off to the Maldives in a weeks time (Villi Varu) and have just
> received my tickets and other bits and pieces. In one of the bits of
> bumpf they recommend AGAINST diving in a 3mm shortie, does anyone know
> why they say this? I have both a 3mm long and a 3mm shortie and I'd much
> prefer to dive in my shortie.

I've always used a 3mm shortie there. The DMs have 5mm or 3mm full
suits. The water temp will be 28C, possibly 27C at depth, no less.

Jason

--
http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for Maldivian trip reports including Kuredu,
Fesdu, Meedhupparu, Summer Island Village and Velidhu

Nick Bruton <nick.bruton@bristol.ac.uk> wrote:

> I'm off to the Maldives in a weeks time (Villi Varu) and have just
> received my tickets and other bits and pieces. In one of the bits of
> bumpf they recommend AGAINST diving in a 3mm shortie, does anyone know
> why they say this? I have both a 3mm long and a 3mm shortie and I'd much
> prefer to dive in my shortie.

I've been to the Maldives twice and does about 25 dives over there. The
first time I dived in a 3mm shorty and promised myself that I would be
diving in my 5mm steamer after that!

The main reason for wanting to keep covered up is to prevent getting
stung by the free swimming plankton and to stop you getting cut if
you are unlucky to brush past the reef (which is possible even if you
do have perfect buoyancy due to the currents). However, saying that I
did see some people diving in shorties and even skin diving.

If baggage allowances aren't going to be a problem you you I'd pack
both and try them out when you get out there.

Nick

On 30 Oct 2003 11:22:16 GMT, Nick Bown <nbown@nospamthanks.ixcg.com>
wrote:

>Nick Bruton <nick.bruton@bristol.ac.uk> wrote:
>
>> I'm off to the Maldives in a weeks time (Villi Varu) and have just
>> received my tickets and other bits and pieces. In one of the bits of
>> bumpf they recommend AGAINST diving in a 3mm shortie, does anyone know
>> why they say this? I have both a 3mm long and a 3mm shortie and I'd much
>> prefer to dive in my shortie.
>
>The main reason for wanting to keep covered up is to prevent getting
>stung by the free swimming plankton and to stop you getting cut if
>you are unlucky to brush past the reef (which is possible even if you
>do have perfect buoyancy due to the currents). However, saying that I
>did see some people diving in shorties and even skin diving.
>

I've not been stung in lots of dives out there (500+ Maldivian dives).
And I dive in a 3mm shortie.

Water temps will be minimum 27C at depth on the outreef, up to 32C in
the lagoon.

Pete S.

On Thu, 30 Oct 2003 13:28:04 +0000, wrote:

> I've not been stung in lots of dives out there (500+ Maldivian dives).
> And I dive in a 3mm shortie.

I've been stung a bit. The sting is pretty feeble though and I can only
feel it on my face or the inside of my arms. It quickly wears off. There's
never a visible mark.

The only reason I can think for having a full suit is if you're crawling
around in wrecks. It's nice to have protection on your knees. But they're
not that keen on you doing things like that in the Maldives anyway.

Jason

--
See http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for Caribbean trip reports
including Cuba, Grand Bahama, Barbados, St Lucia and Mexico

> > I've not been stung in lots of dives out there (500+ Maldivian dives).
> > And I dive in a 3mm shortie.


> I've been stung a bit. The sting is pretty feeble though and I can only
> feel it on my face or the inside of my arms. It quickly wears off. There's
> never a visible mark.
>


I was happy without diving in a wet suit. I just wore an old polo
shirt and a pair of light cotton trousers (play pants type). Was warm
enough and whilst I did get a couple of stingers on the arms, had no
probs with the legs.

Having said that I was only doing 1 or 2 dives a day and not the
liveaboard 3/4/5 schedule so I guess my core body temp didn't drop
that much.

Simon