What wetsuit, where?

A question that comes up time and again here is what wetsuit thickness will I need for XXX destination during the month of XXX.

So I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread where people could post all these questions and the answers could act as a resource.

Also feel free to chip in info from places you have been recently. When you went and what thickness of wetsuit was ideal.

Alex

In Malaysia: Sipadan in a 2/3 mm long in October was perfect for me. Palau Perhentian was way too hot in the same suit in the same month.

In Melbourne Australia: 7 mm top and bottom with 14 mm over the chest and a hoody. 5 mm is OK too. In the middle of winter, a dry suit might be nice, but only folks with no ticker need look there.

Oh whoops.... Might've shot myself in the foot re the other thread I'm having a discussion in....

And here was I thinking this thread would have a photo of Alex sans wettie and hood! Hehe.

i can't answer this thread or i will seriously skew the results...

7mm everywhere....

7mm everywhere....

Have to agree with Mike with one addendum - drysuit in local waters and cooler

7 mm in Antarctica?? You're more of a man than I thought Mikey!

..snip...

In Melbourne Australia: 7 mm top and bottom with 14 mm over the chest and a hoody. 5 mm is OK too. In the middle of winter, a dry suit might be nice, but only folks with no ticker need look there.

 

Oh whoops.... Might've shot myself in the foot re the other thread I'm having a discussion in....

 

And here was I thinking this thread would have a photo of Alex sans wettie and hood! Hehe.

ahem brrr that's cold

anyway for people wanting to dive in the south of france around antibes, nice, cannes, monaco:

winter (ie anything outside of july, august, mid-september) a 6.5 semi dry with layers underneath when required - coldest the water goes to is 15-16degrees C. though i am now strongly considering a dry suit.

summer: well it depends how deep you want to go, because even in the middle of summer at 30m the water goes down to 17-18degrees C. so some people put up with a 5mm, others like me stick with the semi dry

hth

January Red Sea 5mm 23C

June Red Sea 2-3mm 26-28C

October Sudan - rash vest 33-36C

English Channel anytime - drysuit 7-18C

Edited to add temp. ( as well as I remember them )

here in Yap its pretty much 28-29C year round 80-84 F

palau it drops to around 26-27 in jan-march.. 28-29 the rest of the time

Solomon Islands. 82-86F , 3mm + hooded vest or 5mm+hooded vest.

US Virgin Islands. 78F in the winter months, 5mm + hooded vest (most people dive 3mm or nothing.. crazy!)

Cor

Stop making us jealous Mike.

UK Diving, irrespective of location Otter Britannic Superskin worn with Fourth Element thermal underwear, various grades, depending on the water temperature. Keeps me warm and toasty

Winter temps, down to 4 deg C or 39 deg F, would wear a fourth element xerotherm arctic as the water warms up towards a pleasant 20 deg C or 68 deg F, switch over to fourth element xerotherm. If I'm teaching in particularly cold water and could be stationary for a bit I may be tempted to combine the two sets of undergarments. As with all polartec style materials they have the benefit of keeping you warm even if the dry-suit leaks a bit around a seal, or if on the odd occasion the zip isn't fully home!!! Water up to the knees!!

not to be a stickler.....

but, i think it would help more if people posted average temps for the places as well as wetsuit thickness.

in 78 degree water some might think thats great for a skin, i would want a semi dry...

different strokes for different folks...

Better add my bit.

In the colder months Jul-Sept-Oct the Exmouth Gulf can get down to 19 degrees and I wear me Drysuit

The other dive sites get to about 21 degrees...5mm or Dry Suit

In the hotter months the Exmouth Gulf can get to 30 degrees...budgie smugglers.

The other dive sites get to about 27 degrees...budgie smugglers or 3mm.

It's quite strange that in Jan when it's 48 degrees air temp, the water is still 21 degrees in some parts so you still need a 5mm, but you soon warm up.

Great info. Keep it coming.

I dive in Cayman a lot.

January-March - 25-26ËšC or 77-79ËšF - I like a 5mm.

March-June and October-December. 26-28ËšC or 78-82ËšF - I like 3mm (full or shorty depending on exact temp)

July-September 28-31ËšC or 82-87ËšF. Very warm. Rash vest and shorts.

Alex

so glad photo pro pic was not taken in the warmer months.....

I was going to say what Mikey Said .. cold is relative .. some people can handle it better than others.

I would have said .. info needed is

Place Name

Month

Water Temp @ depth

Wetsuit used

Additonal:: i.e. hoodie .. gloves etc.

oh and you shiverers .. check out this suit .. Rip Curl H Bomb

It has power heaqted blocks you position (suggested) on your back to keep your core warm. I don't think it says if this suit is suitable for scuba diving or depth .. or if it is just a surfing topside type suit.

Don't speak to soon.......

Singapore, Riau Archipelago (Indonesia) and East coast of Malaysia: pretty much 27ºC to 30ºC all year round: skins or 3mm suit.

Mauritius: 27ºC to 29ºC in summer (November to April) : skins or 3mm suit

22ºC to 24ºC in winter (May to October) : 7mm with a hood (yes, I know, I join Mike in the ranks of the wimps )

Cayman

Nov - May

Avg 80 Low 77 High 82

Old worn out loose 3mm Wetsuit

No hood No Gloves No Booties

Cayman

Jun - Oct

Avg 84 Low 80 High 88

Shorts (maybe a rash vest for jellies which just irritate don't hurt)

No Hood No Gloves No Booties

(yes, I know, I join Mike in the ranks of the wimps )

actually i wear 5 or 7mm in 30 degree, so you have a way to go to catch me in the wuss factor....