BonaireTalk Discussion Group
Diving Bonaire: 6,5 mm Neopren - to hot for november ???
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999-2005: Archives 1999-05-18 to 2000-12-28: 6,5 mm Neopren - to hot for november ???
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By sharm el schorsch on Saturday, October 28, 2000 - 2:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

whats your opinion about diving bonaire with
a 6,5 mm wet suit ? is it to hot for shore dives ?
i normally use it for egypt-red sea boatdiving
up to 27 Celsius . as it is having a front zipper
there is no problem of coolin down.

whats the suit you are using ?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly Hirsh on Saturday, October 28, 2000 - 11:13 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I think a 6.5 mm is MUCH too warm for Bonaire in November. The maximum suit is 5mm and you won't need that for several months. I use a 3 mm and it keeps me very comfortable, even on a night dive.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Daniel Senie on Sunday, October 29, 2000 - 4:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

While on Bonaire earlier this month, I used a 0.5mm neoprene skin. My wife used the same, but with a 2mm vest underneath. By the end of the trip, I would have been a slight bit warmer in a 3mm suit.

5mm is a good thickness if you live there, and your blood has thinned. If you're visiting from someplace cooler, a 3mm is plenty.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By lonnie hoover on Sunday, October 29, 2000 - 6:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ofcourse, it is your own personal preference, but I think you will find a 6.5 way too warm. Take a look at the underwater web cam. The water temps. have been running around 84. That's what I experienced last week when I was there. The water is very warm this time of the year, and November will likely continue to be quite warm, unless a major storm churns things up for several days. Even then, recovery is usually rapid. Personally, I find Bonaire water to be warm enough year round to go without a wet suit. Especially this time of the year, you will probably find the temps. comfortable with no wet suit at all.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Sunday, October 29, 2000 - 7:02 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'll counter with the fact that Linda always wears a 6.5 suit while diving here on Bonaire, as it allows her to stay comfy during the entire dive. Must be the thin blood we get by living on Bonaire - can't stand any cold :-)

Water temp this morning was 84F, with a thermocline at 50 feet to about 82F.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly Hirsh on Sunday, October 29, 2000 - 10:01 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jake... "natives" seem have that problem. Walt (Sunset Beach/Harbour Village)is still looking for a tropical drysuit. I thought he was kidding, but he is serious !!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem on Monday, October 30, 2000 - 2:03 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

And, of course, none of us wears a hood in
Bonaire waters. So, as we were all taught in
Basic Course, 40% of our heat loss is
unimpeded!! Even an 1/8th inch hood makes
a big difference. I was trained here in the
Northeast that shivering at the end of a dive is
'normal' but being warm is better.

I would think that if a 6.5 is good for you up
north, you won't need it down in Bonaire. As
you say, you can always open the zipper. Even
leave the bottoms on shore. Do bring the
hood. And just smile at anyone who makes
remarks about it. Because you will know that
glow of warmth that they are missing: .

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Monday, October 30, 2000 - 2:13 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Glen,

When water temps drop below about 82 or 81 here, I usually wear a hooded vest with a shorty over that, and feel quite comfortable. So what if it makes me look odd - better warm than fashion conscious :-)

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem on Monday, October 30, 2000 - 4:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jake,

Try the hood in even warmer water. When I
doubled the skull and back of the neck on my
1/4 inch hood up here in MA years ago there
was this lovely feeling of warmth.

Everyone should try it and then decide. That 40
percent bare head loss is still large in the
equation. Even a dry suit on your body can no
more than about halve your heat loss since it
works against only 60 percent of the total!!

And then are the cold hands, too, since the
island bans gloves instead of teaching how to
use them. But that is another soapbox!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech on Monday, October 30, 2000 - 8:38 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'm the cold hands type. I use to wear a 3mm full length suit plus gloves. I was warm and toasty most of the time. Without gloves, I freeze so I switched to the two piece thicker suit which amkes me warm enough for multiple dives per day. I just bought a hood but haven't tried it yet.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By NikiH2 on Monday, October 30, 2000 - 10:57 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I bought a bonnet, or a hood with a chin strap, while on Bonaire and it makes a big difference. My neck is still exposed, but I make sure the full wet suit does the rest of the job. You'd think this was cool water, but it's just a cool body...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peggy Bowen on Tuesday, October 31, 2000 - 12:22 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

My little neoprene cap (the type with a chin strap) works - makes me feel so much warmer. I still wear a full suit with a skin underneath and sometimes a vest. But then I get cold in a warm pool..... But, I know I would be warmer with gloves.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Cousino on Tuesday, October 31, 2000 - 5:54 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I am a warm blooded New England diver, however in addition to a 3mm shorty, I wear a light hood when doing multiple dives on Bonaire.

It has been my experience that when I wear the hood, (which some people look at with amused expressions) I am warmer and less tired. I am able to spend more time diving.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem on Tuesday, October 31, 2000 - 12:38 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

For a resident:

FMI: As I remember, 'Bonaire' 'outlaws' gloves
while sport diving.

Does this have the force of law, is it a Marine
Park reg, or what? In print? Wording?
Exceptions?

Who enforces? What penalties if
apprehended?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By jan flubacher on Tuesday, October 31, 2000 - 2:35 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

when i learned diving on bonaire i brought my 3mm sailing-shorty (in january), which was too cold, especially on nightdives. i added my teachers hood to the shorty and felt much more comfortable with the combination-a big difference!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech on Tuesday, October 31, 2000 - 2:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jack or the new BMP manager would be the best to answer the legal question but here are the words straight from the brochure:

Please don't wear gloves (you won't need them because you're not going to touch anything).
You may:
- stow one in your pocket to be used to go up and down the mooring line
- use gloves during clean up dives
- wear gloves while wreck diving
- wear gloves to get into and out of the water if you are shore diving the windward side east of Willemstoren

If you have a medical reason for needing to wear gloves, please contact the Marine Park.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack Chalk on Wednesday, November 1, 2000 - 3:20 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Glen,

Yes, it is against the law to wear gloves other than the stated exceptions that Linda refers to. It is written in the Bonaire National Marine Park Ordinance. All dive operators on the island are required as a condition of their permits to enforce all aspects of the Bonaire National Marine Park Ordinance, however the actual legal enforcement is up to the BNMP Rangers and the District Attorney's office.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem on Wednesday, November 1, 2000 - 5:17 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

TKS, Jack.

 


Visit: The Bonaire WebCams - Current Bonaire images and weather!
The Bonaire Insider - the latest tourism news about Bonaire
The Bonaire Information Site, InfoBonaire
Search Bonaire - Search top Bonaire Web sites


Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration