Hi All,
I'm curious as to the average type of wetsuit you where diving - nothing, 3ml shorty, full 3ml etc.

I seem to see a lot of people on the webcams in a full suit, and given the temp of the water that seems like a lot.

It all depends on you. I'm very small and cold natured so I wear a full 3ml in the tropical waters, on diving trips I'm usually not the only one.

I find that a lycra dive skin is enough for me. I wear it snorkeling also, but mainly to protect me from sunburn.

We two span the whole spectrum. I wear a full 7 mil and a thin hood! (Finally, I am warm!) Bob wears a kayak shirt and bathing suit.

It depends how many dives you do a day, many people do four, five or more. 5 hours a day in water lowers your core temp and you need more insulation. Also shore divers need a bit more protection in the surf zone - I find a 3mm full suits me when in Bonaire which is normally around Sept/Dec.

I wear a half mil microprene, which is supposed to be equivalent to a 3 mil. I also have a shorty-but if you're shore diving, you'll probably want the protection of a full suit, in case you slip.

3ml long john with 3 ml jacket. actually an old windsurf suit but works well. Allthough my next suit will be warmer ;-)
nicely covered in the surf too.

Personally, I dive a 2/3ml Oneil shorty. Its 3ml in the chest and 2ml on the arms and legs. In Bonaire, this seems to be almost overkill during the day, but fine at night. I am sure the locals however, have aclimated and require more neoprene to stay warm.

I agree with the depends on how many a day you do comment. Whan I have been to Bonaire I most often just wear a t shirt over my bathing suit. But I have a polartech skin which I some times wear on my 3rd and/or 4th dives of the day and which I always wear on my night dives...

Darryl :

We just got back from Bonaire and also pondered the question very much. We normally do cold water dives so we were not sure. You are in the water for about an hour on most dives, so the 80 degree water does get a little cool after a while. We wore a 2/3mm one piece full suit. We were not at all uncomfortable even after a few dives each day. Occaisionally you felt a little cool but that's it. Also the full suit does offer more protection for shore entries/exits and the occasional brush of corral. We took along both a full suit and shortie, but never put on the shortie. I would recommend a thin full suit. It doesn't have to be anything high end price wise, just a simple, 2/3mm jumpsuit. It's not worth ruining a dive because your cold. On our boat dives we saw a few people not wearing any suits and after a little while underwater you saw them shivering. It's a great place to dive and being totally comfortable makes it all the better.

I've used a .5 mm full suit for two different week long vacations. My wife used a 3 mm full suit. We were both fine the whole time, and we made about 18 dives each trip. The next time i go (September) I plan on doing a few dives without the suit.

My family dove on Bonaire for two weeks last July and will be returning in a week. My wife uses a 3mm full suit (she is the most likely to get cold), my two teenage boys use Henderson microprene skins, and I use a 1 mm two piece skin that was designed for whitewater kayaking. None of us has been cold while diving Bonaire. We do like having the full length suits for abrasion protection for entries and exits. We don't use hoods, and of course, gloves aren't allowed.
Ben

I use a 3mm suit most of the time in Bonaire. Once when we went in March, I used a 3-5-3 mm full suit. The 3mm seems to work fine and we usually do a BUNCH of dives a day!

Hugh wears a t-shirt, but then he's a big chap!

ps: that's in December

I used a full 2mm wetsuit. Felt cold once at about 90', 5:00 P.M.; therefore, I would recommend a 3/2 or 3mm depending on how easily you get cold for Bonaire. Also recommend a full suit; this will help you avoid abrasions.

Oh, I should add, that's when he's doing boat dives, not shore dives or Tec stuff!..

anyone ever seen a dry suit in bonaire? or is that like a heater unit in one of those rental pickups?

just kidding...

I have been to bonaire 3 times and have found a 3/2 full works best. I do have a tendancy to chill easy and I sometimes wear a 2/1 hooded vest, especially for night dives. I found i would rather be on the warm side that cold!!

I have done all my previous dives (Texas, Florida Keys & Grand Cayman) with a 3mm shorty with full poly pro suit beneath. Can anyone tell me if the poly pro will be enough protection from stinging jellyfish and sea urchins? I am also wondering if the poly pro suit, which is thicker than a dive skin, will be enough protection if I should slip near the shore. Has any one out there had any experience with a poly pro suit in Bonaire?

Thanks,
Laura

The polypro will protect from jellyfish, but not much will protect from sea urchins except staying away from them. I have have spines go through 1/4 neoprene gloves, that taught me to watch where my hands are going real quick.

Protection from urchins and corals shouldn't be an issue - you shouldn't be touching the reef AT ALL. If you are, then you are be getting too close, and should be working on your bouency BEFORE you get closer. As for slipping when entering the water, I don't think anything under a 7ml would guareentee protection.

PROTECT the reef!

And don't forget, gloves are not permitted on Bonaire either to remind you not to touch the reef. My younger son (14) dove all last year with full foot fins and walked in and out barefoot. A little tricky in some spots because the coral placque at entries can be rough, but he didn't seem to have any problems with either the coral or the sea urchins.