I am a female and a very cold natured diver. We have been to Bonaire and various Caribbean destinations in the past and I always have to struggle to stay warm. It's always a choice between a very thick wet suit (with liner and etc...) and lots of weight (and therefore drag), and a thinner outfit and that creeping cold that ruins a great dive. I have come across a website that sells those reusable gel warming packs that they say can be used for 'scuba diving'. Does anybody know or have experience with this kind of thing? Will it work? It sounds like a great idea but don't want to spend $40 on a useless gimmick. Thanks - Cheryle

Hi Cheryle. I presume you already wear a hood? Hood makes a ton of difference. I am also always cold but with my hooded vest (3mm vest with 5mm hood) under my 5mm suit I am very comfy.

There is no reason to be cold on a dive, in any conditions, but I'd start with the exposure suit, its thickness, its fit, a hood, full booties (not little ankle boots), etc, before going for the hot packs. They sort of work, but not well, I've been told. You might even be able to get a doctor's note about a need for gloves...

You might try steel tanks instead of aluminum, to get some weight off your belt.

Good luck. Being cold is a bummer. I'd choose comfort first, and take whatever that requires.

Cheryl, just wear the thicker wetsuit and hood/beanie. Even with the extra lead required, at you'll be more comfortable in the end. Ever since my first tropical trip, where I froze in my 3mm, I've always used a 7/5 fullsuit. I've been laughed at a lot, but I've never been cold, unlike some of my shivering buddies! ;)

Another option is a 3mm vest layered under your wetsuit.

i agree about a thicker suit. i used to wear a polartec-lined skin. it was ok at first but the last few years i've been getting cold. a few years ago i gave mary a 3mil hyperstretch for her birthday. she loved it. so last year i got a 5mil. yes, i had to add a few pounds of weight...with the skin i wore 4#, now i think i wear 8#, maybe 10...i'll find out in a few days. but the difference in warmth is unbelievable. and i second the suggestion of a beanie or hood.

I wear a 5mm Henderson wetsuit with a 3mm hooded vest. I also wear a henderson skin under all that. I do get cold after a 45min dive if the water temp is less than 80F. I know that may sound a bit crazy, but it is true. Thanks for all the advice. I might give the 7/5 idea a try. I am laughed at as well for all my layers but I don't care!! LOL We are getting ready for a 2 weeker in May and can't wait. I just love Bonaire.

Would be good if this thread focused a bit more on the water temperature for the time of year in question, which looks like May for the OP.

The first half of November, for instance, ocean was 84 degF on my dive computer. During my checkout dive with my 3mm wetsuit I was uncomfortably warm, sweating in my wetsuit, even.
So I did all 20+ dives for that trip in just a swimsuit.
May water will be cooler, of course.

Cheryle, I'm like you - always cold no matter how warm the water is. I bring my 3mm, beanie and full booties. Bring your thicker wetsuit and don't listen to those who laugh at you. You will be warm and that's what matters.

Have a GREAT time.

(Message edited by tlraz on February 4, 2009)

Tom: Men tend to stay warmer than women due to greater muscle mass. Others have 'bioprene' and that helps them stay warmer.

So, girls, let's wear our thicker suits and be comfortable!

Tom, I have been to Bonaire in Jan, March, and August before. Honestly, I always tend to get cold. I have a 7mm Farmer John, but it is difficult for me to carry the weight needed to dive with that bulky thing. It is the only thing that I have been completely warm with. That is why I asked about the Gel Packs. I am just trying to maximize my warmth while diving with my 5mm wetsuit. My husband dives with a rash guard and swim trunks and is fine, but I am still cold :-(

Cheryle: Have you ever thought of using a steel backplate to help shift the weight to a better position, then adding a couple of small lead weights to weight pockets on the weight belt? People think backplates are uncomfortable, but really they're not. I can post a photo of my setup this evening, if you like.

I used to dive a Zeagle Ranger. It has 2 cam straps, and I used to balance out the weight by putting some of it on the top cam band. This is an alternate solution if you have a double cam band bc.

If it's just the problem that you can't lift the bc with all the extra weight, well, you already have your husband/dive sherpa with you... ;)

Cheryle,

Two thoughts:

Consider using a hood with double thickness over your skull, or just a thicker hood: since about 40% of whole body heat loss is through the skull, the hood works on a large percentage of loss for the least amount of added rubber (and buoyancy). I did the double thickness skull back in the days of 1/4" farmer john wet suits and found it very effective; it was suggested to me by a commercial dive suit designer. Maybe a beany on top of a 5mm hood would be helpful. You could do the doubled skull yourself with a part of a hood and some Aquaseal. Several possibilities.

And there are so-called 'tropical dry suits'. Better a dry suit than added neoprene. You already have the good attitude of 'better your own warmth' (and, therefor, safety) than being concerned about the opinions of others. A doubled hood and dry suit might find you toasty.

You must be one of those people with 'cold hands, warm heart'! :–)

(Message edited by glenr on February 4, 2009)

Thanks for all the advice. I dive with a zeagle zena I do have a great dive buddy/sherpa to be sure. am going to try to double my head coverage as suggested. I already have a full 2mm hood and a beanie so that will be no trouble. why did i not think of that?? also what is this about a tropical dry suit? never heard of it but would be very interested in checking it out. Glen, do you know a website that sells them?? Am way too cold natured to worry about the 'cool factor' when diving with others!!LOL.

DUI makes one; there must be others.

http://www.dui-online.com/dry_30se.htm