Should I purchase a full-length wetsuit?

"Jimini" wrote

> I'm planning on diving the Kona Coast in late November-early December. I
> know the water temp will be about 75-78F. I have sufficient "insulation"
> so that I wear only a bathing suit in water to 78F and stay for about 1
> hour. I'm a weanie-warm-water diver so I'm not used to wearing any
> neoprene at all. I have a 2/3 shortie. Knowing much of the diving off
> the Kona coast is macro-related, is a shortie enough for repeat dives,
> i.e. 2-3 tanks per day for 3-4 days or should I shell out for a
> full-length suit? I know warmth is a subjective quality but is there
> anyone in cyberspace who shares my thermal properties and can give me
> pointers?

If you have to ask the question, the answer is probably yes. More than
that, buy the wetsuit as soon as practical and get some time in with it
before your trip. It will affect your buoyancy.

Lee

"Jimini" <jimini@telus.net> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in:
:I'm planning on diving the Kona Coast in late November-early December. I
:know the water temp will be about 75-78F. I have sufficient "insulation" so
:that I wear only a bathing suit in water to 78F and stay for about 1 hour.
:I'm a weanie-warm-water diver so I'm not used to wearing any neoprene at
:all. I have a 2/3 shortie. Knowing much of the diving off the Kona coast
:is macro-related, is a shortie enough for repeat dives, i.e. 2-3 tanks per
:day for 3-4 days or should I shell out for a full-length suit? I know
:warmth is a subjective quality but is there anyone in cyberspace who shares
:my thermal properties and can give me pointers?

Buy one. If you're too warm, it cost you the price of a wetsuit. If
do needed it and didn't get it, you messed up your vacation.


Dan Bracuk
If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.

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Jimini wrote:
> I'm planning on diving the Kona Coast in late November-early December. I
> know the water temp will be about 75-78F.

Only if El Nino hits.


> I have sufficient "insulation" so
> that I wear only a bathing suit in water to 78F and stay for about 1 hour.

Then why are you asking?


> is there anyone in cyberspace who shares
> my thermal properties and can give me pointers?

Buy you a 1 mil suit (like what I use). It'll be more than adequate
given your description of your blubber and 78F tolerance. The suit
will be for protection against the razor sharp LAVA ROCKS when you
are diving in the abominabe Kona surges. Warmth is secondary.

If that's not sufficient, the dive shop should throw in a shortie,
free or at a small fee. It's much cheaper that way, it'll more
scratch/cut resistent than your 1 mil or your skin.

Been there. Done that.

-- Bob.

On Sun, 11 Sep 2005 18:33:51 GMT, "Jimini" <jimini@telus.net> wrote:

>I'm planning on diving the Kona Coast in late November-early December. I
>know the water temp will be about 75-78F. I have sufficient "insulation" so
>that I wear only a bathing suit in water to 78F and stay for about 1 hour.
>I'm a weanie-warm-water diver so I'm not used to wearing any neoprene at
>all. I have a 2/3 shortie. Knowing much of the diving off the Kona coast
>is macro-related, is a shortie enough for repeat dives, i.e. 2-3 tanks per
>day for 3-4 days or should I shell out for a full-length suit? I know
>warmth is a subjective quality but is there anyone in cyberspace who shares
>my thermal properties and can give me pointers?
>
>TIA,
>
>Jo
>

I would suggest you get a 3mm farmer john style. This way you can use
it with or without your original shortie suit. You then have three
different configurations for a suit. If the water is cold enough the
extra layer over your bodys core will help keep you warm.I just got
back from diving in Newfoundland on a couple of wrecks from WWII the
water temperature at 85ft was 44 degrees. I dove both wrecks wet but
was using a full and shortie 7mm suit. For a total of 14mm on my body
core. It was a bit uncomfortable at first but I got used to it before
we reached our planned dive depth. The descent through a thermocline I
noticed a major change in the temp. and the total dive time was twenty
five minutes. I am sure if it was am longer I would have started to
feel the effect of hypothermia.

Wear a full suit at all times for a number of reasons....

1) avoid cuts and scrathes from coral or other obstacles when you might
accidentially bump into something sharp.

2) a full suit will help or extend your air time, I've found out. If the water
is not in the 80's, your body will use up more oxygen to keep warm and shorted
air time or "down time" on your dive.

"[..Ron" wrote:

> On Sun, 11 Sep 2005 18:33:51 GMT, "Jimini" <jimini@telus.net> wrote:
>
> >I'm planning on diving the Kona Coast in late November-early December. I
> >know the water temp will be about 75-78F. I have sufficient "insulation" so
> >that I wear only a bathing suit in water to 78F and stay for about 1 hour.
> >I'm a weanie-warm-water diver so I'm not used to wearing any neoprene at
> >all. I have a 2/3 shortie. Knowing much of the diving off the Kona coast
> >is macro-related, is a shortie enough for repeat dives, i.e. 2-3 tanks per
> >day for 3-4 days or should I shell out for a full-length suit? I know
> >warmth is a subjective quality but is there anyone in cyberspace who shares
> >my thermal properties and can give me pointers?
> >
> >TIA,
> >
> >Jo
> >
>
> I would suggest you get a 3mm farmer john style. This way you can use
> it with or without your original shortie suit. You then have three
> different configurations for a suit. If the water is cold enough the
> extra layer over your bodys core will help keep you warm.I just got
> back from diving in Newfoundland on a couple of wrecks from WWII the
> water temperature at 85ft was 44 degrees. I dove both wrecks wet but
> was using a full and shortie 7mm suit. For a total of 14mm on my body
> core. It was a bit uncomfortable at first but I got used to it before
> we reached our planned dive depth. The descent through a thermocline I
> noticed a major change in the temp. and the total dive time was twenty
> five minutes. I am sure if it was am longer I would have started to
> feel the effect of hypothermia.

One other possibility is to buy what I call I think was called a
polartec suit. Basically it is a lined lycra skin with no buoyancy to
it and then layer it under your shorty. It should definitely make a
diference in warmth without changing buoyancy.

Other than that buy a one piece. Better safe than freezing on
vacation.


On Tue, 13 Sep 2005 12:37:42 GMT, Daniel Kessler
<dkessler@pop.cybernex.net> wrote:

>Wear a full suit at all times for a number of reasons....
>
>1) avoid cuts and scrathes from coral or other obstacles when you might
>accidentially bump into something sharp.
>
>2) a full suit will help or extend your air time, I've found out. If the water
>is not in the 80's, your body will use up more oxygen to keep warm and shorted
>air time or "down time" on your dive.
>
>"[..Ron" wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 11 Sep 2005 18:33:51 GMT, "Jimini" <jimini@telus.net> wrote:
>>
>> >I'm planning on diving the Kona Coast in late November-early December. I
>> >know the water temp will be about 75-78F. I have sufficient "insulation" so
>> >that I wear only a bathing suit in water to 78F and stay for about 1 hour.
>> >I'm a weanie-warm-water diver so I'm not used to wearing any neoprene at
>> >all. I have a 2/3 shortie. Knowing much of the diving off the Kona coast
>> >is macro-related, is a shortie enough for repeat dives, i.e. 2-3 tanks per
>> >day for 3-4 days or should I shell out for a full-length suit? I know
>> >warmth is a subjective quality but is there anyone in cyberspace who shares
>> >my thermal properties and can give me pointers?
>> >
>> >TIA,
>> >
>> >Jo
>> >
>>
>> I would suggest you get a 3mm farmer john style. This way you can use
>> it with or without your original shortie suit. You then have three
>> different configurations for a suit. If the water is cold enough the
>> extra layer over your bodys core will help keep you warm.I just got
>> back from diving in Newfoundland on a couple of wrecks from WWII the
>> water temperature at 85ft was 44 degrees. I dove both wrecks wet but
>> was using a full and shortie 7mm suit. For a total of 14mm on my body
>> core. It was a bit uncomfortable at first but I got used to it before
>> we reached our planned dive depth. The descent through a thermocline I
>> noticed a major change in the temp. and the total dive time was twenty
>> five minutes. I am sure if it was am longer I would have started to
>> feel the effect of hypothermia.

> >
> >> On Sun, 11 Sep 2005 18:33:51 GMT, "Jimini" <jimini@telus.net> wrote:
> >>
> >> >I'm planning on diving the Kona Coast in late November-early December.
I
> >> >know the water temp will be about 75-78F. I have sufficient
"insulation" so
> >> >that I wear only a bathing suit in water to 78F and stay for about 1
hour.
> >> >I'm a weanie-warm-water diver so I'm not used to wearing any neoprene
at
> >> >all. I have a 2/3 shortie. Knowing much of the diving off the Kona
coast
> >> >is macro-related, is a shortie enough for repeat dives, i.e. 2-3 tanks
per
> >> >day for 3-4 days or should I shell out for a full-length suit? I know
> >> >warmth is a subjective quality but is there anyone in cyberspace who
shares
> >> >my thermal properties and can give me pointers?
> >> >
> >> >TIA,
> >> >
> >> >Jo

Listen to the advice given so far about the one piece. Buy the one piece!
You can always unzip it, or stretch the neck to let water in, to get cooled
down. But if you don't have enough protection, there's nothing you can do
about that, and you'll potentially ruin your vacation.

Don't forget that as the days of diving go by, your core temp drops. Lots
of people start out a dive week without wearing a hood, but finish up the
week with one on, even in warmer waters. There's a reason for that.

Thus spake "chilly" <slarson@shaw.canada> :

>
>> >
>> >> On Sun, 11 Sep 2005 18:33:51 GMT, "Jimini" <jimini@telus.net> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >I'm planning on diving the Kona Coast in late November-early December.
>I
>> >> >know the water temp will be about 75-78F. I have sufficient
>"insulation" so
>> >> >that I wear only a bathing suit in water to 78F and stay for about 1
>hour.
>> >> >I'm a weanie-warm-water diver so I'm not used to wearing any neoprene
>at
>> >> >all. I have a 2/3 shortie. Knowing much of the diving off the Kona
>coast
>> >> >is macro-related, is a shortie enough for repeat dives, i.e. 2-3 tanks
>per
>> >> >day for 3-4 days or should I shell out for a full-length suit? I know
>> >> >warmth is a subjective quality but is there anyone in cyberspace who
>shares
>> >> >my thermal properties and can give me pointers?
>> >> >
>> >> >TIA,
>> >> >
>> >> >Jo
>
>Listen to the advice given so far about the one piece. Buy the one piece!
>You can always unzip it, or stretch the neck to let water in, to get cooled
>down. But if you don't have enough protection, there's nothing you can do
>about that, and you'll potentially ruin your vacation.

A light 2 mm one piece would probably work for Kona, if he is, as he
claims, "well insulated". Pack the shorty and he's set.

>
>Don't forget that as the days of diving go by, your core temp drops. Lots
>of people start out a dive week without wearing a hood, but finish up the
>week with one on, even in warmer waters. There's a reason for that.
>
>
I have some pictures of me on our trip on the late Wave Dancer. I can
look at them and know what day they were taken by what I'm wearing.
Skin to polartec to polartec and shorty to polartec, shorty and hood.
You're right, it can get damned cold in the tropics if you don't take
care of yourself.

Our favorite dive operator in Kona says "don't even think of diving in
only a polartec here".
--
dillon

Pain is Nature's way of saying "that was stupid"

I forgot to mention the hood. Excellent point and eithe a light hood
or a bonnet make a huge difference to me.


On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 05:45:48 GMT, Dillon Pyron
<dmpyronINVALID@austin.rr.com> wrote:

>Thus spake "chilly" <slarson@shaw.canada> :
>
>>
>>> >
>>> >> On Sun, 11 Sep 2005 18:33:51 GMT, "Jimini" <jimini@telus.net> wrote:
>>> >>
>>> >> >I'm planning on diving the Kona Coast in late November-early December.
>>I
>>> >> >know the water temp will be about 75-78F. I have sufficient
>>"insulation" so
>>> >> >that I wear only a bathing suit in water to 78F and stay for about 1
>>hour.
>>> >> >I'm a weanie-warm-water diver so I'm not used to wearing any neoprene
>>at
>>> >> >all. I have a 2/3 shortie. Knowing much of the diving off the Kona
>>coast
>>> >> >is macro-related, is a shortie enough for repeat dives, i.e. 2-3 tanks
>>per
>>> >> >day for 3-4 days or should I shell out for a full-length suit? I know
>>> >> >warmth is a subjective quality but is there anyone in cyberspace who
>>shares
>>> >> >my thermal properties and can give me pointers?
>>> >> >
>>> >> >TIA,
>>> >> >
>>> >> >Jo
>>
>>Listen to the advice given so far about the one piece. Buy the one piece!
>>You can always unzip it, or stretch the neck to let water in, to get cooled
>>down. But if you don't have enough protection, there's nothing you can do
>>about that, and you'll potentially ruin your vacation.
>
>A light 2 mm one piece would probably work for Kona, if he is, as he
>claims, "well insulated". Pack the shorty and he's set.
>
>>
>>Don't forget that as the days of diving go by, your core temp drops. Lots
>>of people start out a dive week without wearing a hood, but finish up the
>>week with one on, even in warmer waters. There's a reason for that.
>>
>>
>I have some pictures of me on our trip on the late Wave Dancer. I can
>look at them and know what day they were taken by what I'm wearing.
>Skin to polartec to polartec and shorty to polartec, shorty and hood.
>You're right, it can get damned cold in the tropics if you don't take
>care of yourself.
>
>Our favorite dive operator in Kona says "don't even think of diving in
>only a polartec here".

In article <jb5ki1logrvsigdn0n2l3tq5ietp93738h@4ax.com>,
BillD <billd@myrealbox.com> writes:

>I forgot to mention the hood. Excellent point and eithe a light hood
>or a bonnet make a huge difference to me.

I agree. I addition to keeping the head warm, a hood keeps cold water
off the neck and improoves the neck seal for you setsuit.

Personally, I use a hooded vest in temps such as the original poster
is considering.

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
(hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.