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Diving Bonaire: Has anyone tried a .5 mil fullsuit?
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999-2005: Archives 1999-05-18 to 2000-12-28: Has anyone tried a .5 mil fullsuit?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By joanne on Monday, November 8, 1999 - 2:08 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We're going to Bonaire this week! Our dive shop recommended 3 mil full suits, which we're bringing. A friend who's arriving next month was told a .5 mil was warm enough for tropical diving by her dive shop. Has anyone given them a try?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Paul Burton on Monday, November 8, 1999 - 2:42 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

It's really personal opinion. Where do you usually swim, how long do you stay in and how cold do you get?
What time of year are you going? Where else do you plan on using it?
Without answers to these questions, I'll have to be really general.
I would venture to guess that the majority of divers out there, who dive anywhere in the latitudes from Florida to Bonaire wear 3mm neoprene wet suits. This is just a guess. The second most popular garment would be a dive "skin" which is nylon/spandex/polyester fleece mix. Which I'm guessing you're referring to with the 0.5 mil. Smooth on the outside fuzzy on the inside.
I'm going to be really general here, but, as long as you're sticking to these latitudes (and further north during summer months) you should buy a 3mm. Why? because I don't think you'll ever say "I'm too hot." If you do, then it's probably REALLY hot, in which case you don't need anything.
Dive skin is more for protection and a little warmth, but it can get pretty cold at 40-90 feet for 30 minutes.
Just my opinion. I've had a bunch of people ask me this question and have always convinced them to go 3mm. After their trip they always say "thank goodness I bought that one".
Of course, if you've got too much cash to spare buy one of each in multiple colors and make daily wardrobe decisions.
Call Henderson and ask them what they sell the most of.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By joanne on Monday, November 8, 1999 - 4:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks, Paul, I should have said a .5 mil neoprene suit. They're something new, compressed neoprene with a smooth nylon type lining both inside and out. I'm going to Bonaire this week and my friend is going next month. It is the first dive vacation for both of us. We've been in 2piece, 6 mil suits up in Ohio and are looking forward to the freedom of some warm water diving. Planning about 3 dives a day, about 45 minutes at 30 to 70 feet. Too much cash?...unfamiliar with that problem!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - Bonaire E-News on Monday, November 8, 1999 - 5:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

What to wear underwater is a very personal matter, as individual metabolisms and abilites to withstand temperature extremes vary greatly. For example, I'm a big guy (6'3", 240lbs - well insulated), and during warm water times (July through November) I normally wear just a 3 mil shorty (an old one that is quite compressed). However, while doing a 64 minute dive in moderately shallow (30-40') water today (85F temp) I started getting cool at the end of my dive. Had I been doing multiple dives today, I would have needed more thermal protection.

Meanwhile I see tourists here all the time wearing just a t-shirt, diving 3-5 dives a day, with nary a temperature complaint. Go figure - it's all relative...

Jake

PS My wife wears a full 6 mil suit most of the time here on Bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peggy Bowen on Wednesday, November 10, 1999 - 7:28 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Well - If I wasn't afraid of looking like some "old" diver, I might dive in my shell dry suit! But really, I get COLD after about 30 minutes no matter what the water temp is. So I start off with a skin and 3 mm. By the end of a few days, I have added a thin vest and a cap. I really think the cap does more to "keep me warm" than anything else. It is just a simple neoprene cap with a chin strap - I did cut ear holes out and poked a hole in the top so air didn't get trapped anywhere.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George DeCamp on Saturday, November 13, 1999 - 1:26 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have! I purchased a 0.5mm Scuba Pro Steamer for a recent trip to Key Largo. The suit kept me very comfortable but and I mean BUT the water temp was above 80 degrees! Keep in mind that is the temp it was meant for around 80 degrees!

Not sure of what the water temps might be when you are there but I picked up an O'Neill 3/2 for our trip to Bonaire in March. I really never get cold but am hoping to do so many dives in Bonaire that this would be a "problem". :-)

I can say the Scuba Pro Steamer 0.5mm is VERY comfy to wear and easy to don and doff. If you get one it's about $90 USD. Perhaps you could rent a shortie to wear on top of it near the end of the week if the place you are staying rents suits?

Have a BLAST!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Anonymous on Monday, November 22, 1999 - 6:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I dove in the Scubapro .5 mm suit last week in Bonaire and was was fine. I did use a 3/2 mm full suit on all night dives and days where I dove 4 or more times to avoid losing core body temp. I also wore the 0.5 mm snorkeling and loved it. If you dive in it for extended periods, I recommend getting a beannie to help avoid undue heat loss.

 


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