BonaireTalk Discussion Group
Diving Bonaire: Water temp in December
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999-2005: Archives - 2002-05-24 to 2002-11-25: Water temp in December
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Elwin Bagley on Monday, November 25, 2002 - 12:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

When looking at the divers visiting the web cam this morning, I noticed that everyone was wearing full wet suits, and some with hoods.
Is the water that cold in Bonaire now.
I was hoping to be able to dive in my fleece skin so as to not have to use the more cumbersome full suit and the associated compensating weights.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Randy P on Monday, November 25, 2002 - 12:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Elwin,

I just got back from a 10 day stay. I dove in my new .5mil fullsuit and also wore a 3mil beanie. Doing 4+ dives per day even the 82F water can seem cool after a while. I dove last year in just a diveskin and was fine, but did get chilled on night dives. I noticed some 3mil full suits on divers as well. It all kinda depends on your tolerance for the cold. I dive Chicago waters in a 7mil Farmer John down to about 48F..But even 82F water IS 16 degrees colder than your normal body temp. And the more comfortable you are, the less air you'll use and the less your personal body furnace will have to work.

You will love it!

Dive safely

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Daniel Senie on Monday, November 25, 2002 - 1:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The webcam site reports present water temperature. That said, I never dive Bonaire in less than a 0.5mm full suit (October, when the water is 84 degrees), and often use a 3mm. I always wear a hood or a beanie. Being warm adds to diving enjoyment and improves air consumption, at least for me.

The 0.5mm is super stretchy and very comfortable. The 3mm I use is a Hyperstretch, which is similarly comfortable.

Most of the year I dive in New England in cold water with drysuit.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Faith M. Senie on Monday, November 25, 2002 - 8:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have known folks who dove Bonaire in fleece skin. However, they were definitely more comfortable with cold than me! Even in October, with the water at 84 degrees, I had my 2mm vest on under my 0.5mm fullsuit. But then, I have no blood... :)

Faith

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Elwin Bagley on Monday, November 25, 2002 - 8:59 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have a five mil wet suit, a 3 mil shorty, a fleece skin that seems like about 2 mil, and a thin skin.
I guess the safest way to go is bring all of them.
I was diving in the keys at a water temp of 82 and was a little overheated with a shorty, but that was in august when the temp out of water was about 92.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James & Margarite Hix on Tuesday, November 26, 2002 - 12:19 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Last Sept. I wore only lycra skins and was quite comfortable until about the fifth day of 3-4 dives a day then I added a little vest "toaster". I know a lot of people only wear the hood to keep their hair out of their faces. I never really got cold, but I do carry around a bit of natural "insulation".....never leave home without it unfortunately. margarite

 


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