Wet suits...

[Jack Long]

This weekend is my big garage sale/get rid of stuff festival and I am wondering about my wet suits. I have two- purchased for surfing in Santa Cruz where it is butt-ass cold. Yeah, butt-ass- that is like... super cold.

Anyway, I can't imagine using them in the lower latitudes but wanted to hit the community for opinions before I commit. Is this something I will regret not saving?

Also what about the booties?

Thanks,
J

[Lancerbye]

Butt ass cold in Santa Cruz. Come surfing on the west coast of Vancouver Island if you want to know what real cold is about. Hell you have to break icicles off your nose. LOL . Where are you selling your suit? What size? Is it going on ebay?

[JiffyLube]

Not sure where you're planning on going, but in San Diego the water is in the mid 60s right now.

[ssullivan]

Depending on how thick they are, I'd say keep 'em!

No matter where you cruise, a wetsuit comes in handy. I have a dry suit on board for my ridiculously cold location.

Even in the Caribbean, you will need a wetsuit if you want to stay in the water for an hour or two in comfort.

[Hud3]

I have a 2 mm Neoprene "shortie", which is about perfect here in the Caribbean, but I snorkle and don't SCUBA. Some folks like the Lycra "skin" suits (long sleeves and legs) for protection againt sun and scrapes.

[GordMay]

I also recommend keeping your wetsuits which, even in warm water, provide insulation* and buoyancy, and help protect your skin from stings (jelly fish etc), abrasion (coral & rock) and sunburn (100% UV protection).

* Warm Water Hypothermia:
Divers also have to be wary of hypothermia in warm environments. A phenomenon callled "warm water hypothermia" can occur even in the tropics, especially during long dives and repetitive dives made without adequate rewarming between dives. In warm water hypothermai (long slow cooling) can take place in water temperatures as warm as 82 degrees F - 91 degrees F. Although warm water hypothermia is not easily recongnized as its cold water counterpart, it definitely warrants attention. The physiological mechanisms of warm water hypothermia have been demonstrated in various medical studies, but they still are not clearly understood. The victim is this situation may not shiver, because the drop in core temperature may not be rapid enough to activate the body's thermoregulator defense mechanism. There may be a discrepancy between the input of the receptors in the body's shell and core, making the diver's skin feel warm while his core is cooling. Warm water hypothermia can cause confusion, fatigue, apathy, incoordination, delayed raction time, and sudden anxiety. These mental and physical disabilities, especially whan concurrent with any problems during the dive itself, can result in panic, embolization, and drowning.

[Ex-Calif]

They are an investment. Keep them...

[Jack Long]

Thanks for the replies guys.

San Diego is about 600 miles north of anywhere I plan to be for the next few years and I can' decide if Gord is making fun of me or not.

I would sell them through CL, eBay, or the garage sale if I do.

Honestly I expected the opposite answers! Mostly I wanted that external validation that it wasn't a bad move. Now I have to think- thanks guys you should know how much it hurts me when I do that!

[ssullivan]

I don't think Gord is pulling your leg.

I did a lot of diving (and a lot more waiting on the top, acting as a mini-dive boat) while spending a season in Bonaire. I was working on a megayacht that had an avid diving family as owners.

They *all* wore wetsuits diving. If you don't, you freeze your butt off. As you descend, the temps get chilly compared to the surface water. It's not uncommon to come up from a dive and have blue lips, hunger and shivers by the time you get back to the boat.

It's *not* as warm as you think it is 600 miles south of San Diego if you are spending any time in the water.

Gord is speaking from experience. He's right on point.

[Vasco]

I wear a full suit whenever I dive in the Bahamas. It gets cold in the water! Occasionally I'll have a quick swim without a suit but for spear fishing I always wear a suit.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Jack Long

... San Diego is about 600 miles north of anywhere I plan to be for the next few years and I can' decide if Gord is making fun of me or not.

Not kidding - warm water can get ccccold.

[Ex-Calif]

I dive in the Philippines with a full suit. I've done a bib suit only and gotten chilled.

It's a different world at 70 feet (or more)

[gettinthere]

Mind if I hijack this?

I'm in the market for a wetsuit, mainly for the Bahamas, for snorkeling, not diving.
What should I be looking for?
I'm considering a light weight suit plus a heavy weight suit to put over the light one. The heavy one will be for diving on the prop in Maine if needed so it will get very little use, hopefully!

Looking for advice on the price/quality issue. The Bahamas snorkeling I suspect will be perhaps once a week or so. Not real heavy use.

Thanks

[GordMay]

Between fall and spring, a wetsuit is recommended for snorkeling and scuba diving in the Bahamas. The chart below will give you a general idea of the water temperatures and what weight wet suit you might need.
Choosing a wetsuit is a very personal decision, some people wear a full suit in the summer and some dive with a shorty in the winter.

Months ~ Water Temperature (Air Temp.) Wetsuit Recommendation

Jan - Feb 72 - 75F (70 80F) Full Wetsuit 6 mm or thicker
March 73 - 77F (70 -85F) Full Wetsuit 6 mm or thicker
April 75 - 79F (75 - 90F) Shorty or Full Wetsuit
May 77 - 80F (80 - 90F) Skin 1 mm or Shorty
June 79 - 81F (80 - 90F) None required
July - Sept 81 - 85F (80 - 90F) None required
October 79 - 82F (75 - 90F) Skin 1 mm or Shorty
November 77 80F (72 - 85F) Shorty or Full Wetsuit
December 75 - 78F (72 - 85F) Full Wetsuit 6 mm or thicker

[donradcliffe]

You will use a light suit even in the topics--for example Fiji and Tonga get a lot of upwelling with cooler temperatures. A suit for Santa Cruz is probably overkill, and you are best off with layers of 2 or 3 mil. I don't know what styles are selling today, but still have the 3 mil long johns plus a long-sleeve top which we bought years ago. A simple hood will help add warmth in colder waters.