Wet or dry???

[deepdiverbob]

For me, its about the surface interval, not the dive. I dove wet year round my first few years diving. Dry suot just makes repetitive dives more enjoyable in the winter time. My dry suit has never seen Florida. I did get a bit chilled doing the New Years Eve dive at Peacock a few years ago. I think air temp was in the 30's.

[jcr]

Aside from water temp., the most important factors are the depth, duration, and method of propulsion. The fact is a wetsuit or neoprene drysuit will compress at depth and offer significantly less insulation than on the surface. This may be acceptable if the dive is shallow, short duration, or a swim dive. On a shallow dive the neoprene will compress less and retain some of its insulation-but recall that even at 33fsw the air spaces will be half the size they are at the surface. On a short dive your core temp. may not have time to be affected. And finally, a swim dive may keep your core temp. elevated depending on the exertion level. Of course, as you ascend for deco the neoprene regains some of its insulation so as you stop swimming and cool down you have the extra insulation you need.

Staying warm throughout the dive should be your primary consideration since it affects your decompression efficiency and overall enjoyment. As a secondary consideration, wetsuits and tight fitting neoprene drysuits offer much less drag than the typical drysuit. On a swim dive in a high flow system, most divers would be suprised at the difference in their speed and gas consumption.

[FFdiver]

Up here where I live we dive dry almost always as the salt temps are from 45-65 degrees (surface temps) year around. In Mexico I feel perfectly warm with my 5mm wet and a 3mm hooded vest on dives up to 2 hours. Getting ready to head to Marianna next month, planning on learning SM wet. Hopefully that will be warm enough. I hate putting on the drysuit when its hot out

[LCF]

See Post #6.

Well, yes, except you said you're in a bathing suit above 76. The only time I've been in 76 degree water in a bathing suit was when Danny Riordan made me. It was swim or forgo the cave card, so I swam. 76 is 5 mil suit and 2 mil hooded vest for me, or nowadays, dry.

[adam0321]

This alone has got me wanting to dive my dry suit.

Nobody worry about having to walk out of a cave in a wetsuit with a failed wing and 104's?

I'm a wimp. I like my drysuit.

[Sludge]

you said you're in a bathing suit above 76. The only time I've been in 76 degree water in a bathing suit was when...

Well, I guess I'm just more of a manly man than I thought I was!

[DiverLS]

For my Intro in Florida in November I used my almost drysuit. For diving in Mexico in May I used a 5 mil and a beanie. Yep - they cost a bunch but with my boyfriends contribution (whopee) I'm going to buy a new one with the help of DUI's 12 month no intrest payment plan for the remainder before I go for my Apprentice in November again in Florida. And I'm bringing a coat. I froze on the surface last year. There is one rediculous picture of me with my undergarment wrapped around me like a shawl.

I want that drysuit as backup if I have a failed wing and need to haul twin 104's out.