3 mil wet suit 55 degree water? monterey ca

Hi,

I'm diving in cool water for the first time 55 degrees. I'm only doing two shore dives in the kelp. I have a 3mil full suit, gloves and plan to get a hood. Do you think that will be warm enough? I can dive in 83 degree water with just swim trunks for one hour and not get cold. Also does anyone have shooting advice for kelp/cold water?

Thanks

Robert

I'm diving in cool water for the first time 55 degrees. I'm only doing two shore dives in the kelp. I have a 3mil full suit, gloves and plan to get a hood. Do you think that will be warm enough?

In a word "no". The absolute minimum I'd recommend for thermal protection in Monterey would be a 7mm full wetsuit and a 5mm hooded vest. That or a 7mm farmer john/jacket combination. You'll probably be pretty colde even then. You can rent wetsuits from most of the shops in Monterey or anywhere in the Bay Area easily enough. Probably best to arrange a rental in advance.

Cheers,

Clinton

Thanks,

That's good to know! I was kinda scared I might need a drysuit. I have never worn one and I don't care to learn on such a short trip. I will heed your advice and rent one in advance. Sounds like you know the Cali diving.

Thanks,

 

That's good to know! I was kinda scared I might need a drysuit. I have never worn one and I don't care to learn on such a short trip. I will heed your advice and rent one in advance. Sounds like you know the Cali diving.

Need is a relative thing. I like to do 90 minute dives moving very slowly looking for little critters. I'd freeze in a wetsuit doing that so I stick to diving dry as do most of the every-weekend types. OTOH Most divers you'll see in Monterey dive wetsuits.

BTW if you're new to cold water diving it wouldn't be a bad idea to arrange for a guide to show you around. Diving in kelp and cold water can be a bit much to try and figure out on your own and knowing where (and where not) to dive is important too. The easiest and safest spot is the Monterey Breakwater. If you're here midweek have a look at Point Lobos State Reserve in Carmel. You need reservations to dive there on the weekends and those are gone 2 months in advance but on a weekday you can usually just drive up. You will need a buddy for sure there as the rangers won't let you dive solo. I'd stay away from any other Carmel spot if you don't have a guide as most of the shore diving sites there can be dangerous if you don't have some local knowledge.

Cheers,

Clinton

I dived Catalina for the first time last May. Had a full 7mm and was fine without the hood right up until I hit that thermocline at 70ft. Boy did that suck. Needless to say my dive stayed above 70ft for what air I had left. I used a hood on the 2nd dive and was fine. I hate hoods but out there its needed. I still refuse to do the glove thing. BTW, if this is your first time the advice about bull kelp is good. Take a local with you. The dive will be magical. I had the best time weaving in and out of the kelp.

I will be diving with a guide from bamboo reef. They are the only ones who have replied for a Tuesday dive so far. I almost forgot about the thermocline factor! Temp would probably be in the 40's yikes. I can't wait to be freezing my butt off in the kelp though. I will definitely be renting a "7mm full wetsuit and a 5mm hooded vest. That or a 7mm farmer john/jacket combination" I will hit Catalina and Point Lobos in the future. After my bro gets off his butt and gets certified(he lives in Santa Maria). I am from Dallas so I don't get to dive that often.

Thanks Y'all

Hey Robert,

Catalina is toasty compared to Monterey. If you have a good fitting 7 mil you'll be OK as long as you have a little extra fat insulation. Load up on the carbos. I'm fine there in the wetsuit but my wife almost froze after one dive. I never saw lips that purple before. 53 is very common there. Just in case our friends above didn't convince you.

Steve

55 sounds a little warm for this time of the year in monterey.. have a fun dive!

Hi,

 

I'm diving in cool water for the first time 55 degrees. I'm only doing two shore dives in the kelp. I have a 3mil full suit, gloves and plan to get a hood. Do you think that will be warm enough? I can dive in 83 degree water with just swim trunks for one hour and not get cold. Also does anyone have shooting advice for kelp/cold water?

 

Thanks

 

Robert

The others handled it pretty well. I can dive cenotes (about 74-76 degrees) in a 3mil, no problems. Can dive two weeks in the same range of temps (about 74-79 degrees) in a 3 Mil (2-4 dives a day) for a couple of weeks, no issues (Though I make sure now to to add a vest and/or hood, sooner rather than later, once you start chilling it is not good.)

Did some dives in those numbers (45-55 degree range on wrecks in a dry suit), it gets cold. Stay warm. Hypothermia is not something you want to deal with. I know guys who have had it, in dry suits, in 40 minutes dives in warmer water, 60s, but it is a partial function of work). Also play with the gloves (and think about proper weights) a bit beforehand.

Generally it is a bit easier to slightly cool down than warm up (though you got to keep hyperthermia in mind also in some cases --> diving wrecks in July, air mid-90s and geared up ready to go as you wait your turn to go into the water, urgh )

Catalina is toasty compared to Monterey

Don't do it Robert! You are going to freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze! Even if it is a hot, sunny day, the cold water will zap your body heat before you know it. Trust me, I have made this mistake before. Invest in renting a 7mm wetsuit!

I dived Catalina for the first time last May.

I'll be diving Catalina for the first time in early June. I've never been diving in Southern California before and very much looking forward to it. I'll be renting a 7mm suit that comes with an integrated hood. I've dived in Puget Sound with typical temperatures about 46 degrees and I'm hoping it will seem like bathtub water in comparison

Although I own a drysuit, I've never taken my camera underwater in the chilly waters of Puget Sound, so I decided to rent a wetsuit to keep task loading to a minimum until I'm comfortable with the drysuit AND the camera at the same time.

Did you get any decent images when diving Catalina?

i wear at least a 5mm full suit in 82 degrees..

i am a wuss

I'll be diving Catalina for the first time in early June. I've never been diving in Southern California before and very much looking forward to it. I'll be renting a 7mm suit that comes with an integrated hood. I've dived in Puget Sound with typical temperatures about 46 degrees and I'm hoping it will seem like bathtub water in comparison

 

Although I own a drysuit, I've never taken my camera underwater in the chilly waters of Puget Sound, so I decided to rent a wetsuit to keep task loading to a minimum until I'm comfortable with the drysuit AND the camera at the same time.

 

Did you get any decent images when diving Catalina?

I was just there on business, went out for a day trip and dived Casino Point. I think its very worth diving. I had a great time. I got a couple of nice photos of Garibaldi and Sea Bass. I was disappointed that I didn't get the most beautiful fish there (beautiful blue and red blenny...they were everywhere but skittish), everyone came out fuzzy I also missed a Female Kelp Fish (looked like a piece of floating dead kelp with eyes). When I finally saw it and aimed the camera...she was gone. Casino point is a very easy, fun dive that is a good introduction to diving Catalina. Loved it and can't wait to get back...maybe I'll get back in late June if I'm lucky.

I would recommend the 7mm john/jacket option. Be sure to go to the aquarium (if you haven't been there before). Also a trip to backscatter to check out all the new gear is always fun.

Casino point is a very easy, fun dive that is a good introduction to diving Catalina. Loved it and can't wait to get back...maybe I'll get back in late June if I'm lucky.

I love your second shot. Great angle on the garibaldi.

I'll be diving on The Great Escape on June 7th.

Maybe the water will be 1 or 2 degrees warmer when you dive there in late June

Yes, definitely make sure to go to the Long Beach aquarium which is adjacent to the dock which services Catalina. This is my second favorite aquarium next to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. ACTUALLY, my favorite aquarium is the ocean...that's why I dive!!!

Water temp in So. Ca. was 54 last weekend. For a photographer than is drysuit temp. Monterey will be in the 40s. When I dive a wetsuit up there it is a 9 mm with the addition of a 3 mm vest.

Wow,

Thanks for all the replies. Could you imagine me showing up in a lousy 3 mil. My guide would have flipped out! I will make sure to check out the aquarium. I haven't been there in over 5 yrs. Thanks MBD for the tip to check out Backscatter.