BonaireTalk Discussion Group
Snorkeling Bonaire: Shorty wet suits
Bonaire Talk: Snorkeling Bonaire: Archives: Archive 2001- 2007: Archives - 2001-09-06 to 2003-03-31: Shorty wet suits
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Renee Dooley (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #13) on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 1:36 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

My husband and I are traveling to Bonaire in April. We plan to snorkel and I'm still trying to figure out if I need a wetsuit. (My husband says he'll do without.) Upon looking at prices, it seems the shorties are around $70, which seems like alot, especially because this may be our last trip for awhile. I've seen the debate on the boards that it's not mandatory, but you may get cold if you go without. I may be in the chilly category. I was wondering if you can rent just a wetsuit for a week? Would that be cheaper? Or, would I really be that miserable just wearing a conservative one-piece bathing suit? Also, I am pregnant and will be 4 1/2 months along during our trip (yes, I know scuba is out) and was wondering is anyone knows if a wetsuit could be harmful or at the least uncomfortable on a pregnant woman? (This is my first, so I'm clueless...) Or should I just get one that's kind of roomy? Thanks for any advice...

P.S. If anyone out there's having trouble getting pregnant, just plan a trip to Bonaire! After just about giving up, I found out I was pregnant 3 days after buying the plane tickets. But hell yeah, we're still going!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Stoltzfus (BonaireTalker - Post #50) on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 1:52 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Renee,
I'm a little on the chilly side myself, but was very comfortable last April snorkeling with just a swimsuit. I have a wetsuit for diving but can't imagine wearing it while on the surface. Keep in mind that you'll have the sun for warmth on the surface. At 4 1/2 months along...you could be "popping out" quite a bit. The tight wetsuit may feel too confining. It's been 34 years since I had my first child but I can still remember looking pregnant at that stage. :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #104) on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 2:16 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Renee ... I never used to wear a wetsuit for snorkeling but last April decided to try a 2mm shorty for Bonaire (we were not divers at the time)and found that I was much more comfortable than ever before. Part way through the week the other couple with us decided to rent shortys (ten dollars a day) and were able to stay in the water much longer. Keep in mind that all of us are probably much older than you as I had my first child 25 years ago! Finding a comfortable wetsuit while pregnant might be a problem and you most likely do not want to get a "loose" one as the point is to allow the least amount of water exchange as possible. Hopefully someone who has been pregnant more recently can help on that! Good luck!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mary Lou French (BonaireTalker - Post #41) on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 2:26 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Renee,
First of all congratulations on your little one on the way!! I agree with Linda, I think you will be warm enough snorkeling in a swimsuit. If you feel unsure there are other options besides a wetsuit. There is a company in New Hampshire that makes "warm shirts" designed to wear in the pool. Their website is www.h2owear.com if you look under cover ups there might be something that looks good. They are a very good company to deal with.
Good luck and have fun on your trip!! Mary Lou

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech (Moderator - Post #1332) on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 2:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I wore a hot skin when I was pregnant. Lots of stretch and full length so I kept a little bit warmer and also didn't get sunburned. Although I found it uncomfortable to snorkle at 6 months along. My back ached from the snorkle posture and I also felt like I was sinking more right in the middle :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Stoltzfus (BonaireTalker - Post #51) on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 2:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Linda,
This IS a funny picture! HA!
A "skin" is a good solution ...they're sooo stretchy.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bea and Marvin Jones (BonaireTalker - Post #35) on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 3:03 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Renee -

I use a shorty wetsuit to snorkel/freedive. I can stay out for maybe 1/2 hour without - but I get chilled easily. A cloud over the sun really makes a difference for me. Marvin can stay out for hours - so I bought the wetsuit so I could stay out longer. It has really helped.

Bea

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Freddie Hughes (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3613) on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 3:29 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Renee, Congratulations on the little one.. here is my .02 worth.. You definitely need some sort of protection from the coral and from the sun. after all we don't want you to get a sunburned bottom or a scraped front{not that you are going to go out of your way to hit the coral, but a surge might put you in a position that might not be good!!} You might want to try one of the new hyperstretch suits available now. I think they will stretch as much as you need them to stretch and still not be uncomfortable..

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Corney Ann Carter (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #142) on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 5:20 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Renne, congratulations on the baby. I have to use a wetsuit to keep warm snrkeling also. We use one called a C skin from www.murrays.com
It is only 1/2 ml thick and very stretchy and has the warmth of a 2 mil suit.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michelle Mouton (BonaireTalker - Post #55) on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 6:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I too liked snorkeling in a wet suit. After an hour or so in the water I found myself feeling chilly. I also agree with the protection part - both sun and coral. My husband hardly ever used his but I was so happy that I bought one.
Michelle

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Julia Graves (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #120) on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 8:01 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Renee, a lycra suit should be stretchy enough!
You can hire them and it will do all the protection things. You can hire them from all the dive shops.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Renee Dooley (BonaireTalker - Post #14) on Friday, February 14, 2003 - 12:59 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I appreciate the advice and ideas. Looks like I may be investing in something made of lycra, though exactly what is still to be determined!

 


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