Hi everyone, I'm new to all of this. Bonaire, diving, etc. Not new to the Caribbean though. Travel lots, snorkeled the world. Now, I'm going to take dive lessons. I'm in Northern CA. I need info on obtaining the right dive skins/suits and such for short people. I'm 5ft. Biggest issue I have with wet suits is that I feel so restricted and blown up because rentals are always so 'big'. Any ideas. What will my husband and I need for diving Bonaire in December? Thanks

Welcome to Bonairetalk Judith~

So you're taking the big leap into diving-GREAT! May I suggest going to your local diveshop in Northern Calif. and speaking with the salesperson and explaining what you're looking for in a wetsuit. If you're diving in Northern Calif most of the time, I'm sorry to say, you'll probably need more than one wetsuit but there is hope. I'm from Northern Illinois with water temps anywhere from 32°-80° during the year. A 7mm will work if you buy a zip front jacket and bibs. When I first started diving that's what I bought and it worked well in warm water by just wearing the jacket. If I got too hot I just unzipped the jacket and let the cool water in to cool down than zipped it back up. This is one suggestion, if you talked with a salesperson they would probably have better ideas. There are many different styles and sizes available to us divers and the choices get better every season, there is something that will be just right for you...

Nice to have you aboard!
jiminiŽ

Hi Judith,
It is worth spending the money to buy a wetsuit that will enhance your comfort while diving Bonaire.

I don't think Jim is suggesting you will need a 7 mil wetsuit in Bonaire! Most use a 3 mil or 3/5 mil. Our friend (also 5' tall) visits in Feb and wears a 3 mil. "shorty", dives for about 45 minutes and stays warm. I dive with a 3 mil full length wetsuit when water temps are about 81 to 82 degrees, then move to a 3/5 when the temps drop below 81 degrees.

Scott

My vote is pay an extra $50-100 and get a custom made suit. The problem with wet suits seems to be the bigger around the middle you need, the longer they make the arms, legs and torso.

You may also find a dive shop that can do alterations like shortening the legs and arms.

I dive with a full length 5ml on Bonaire and switch to a two piece when the temp dips. Full length is nice for general all over skin protection. To add warmth, you can always add a hood and/or a vest.

What you need in suit thickness depends on your tolerance of cold. For many people a skin with a light weight hood is plenty, others need up to a 5mm suit. My suggestion is to get a good quality skin, find a friend or someone that does alterations that has a serging sewing machine and have them alter it to fit. If you find a skin is not enough, shorties are for rent or sale at most if not all of the dive operations on Bonaire

When it is time to buy your own wetsuit, check your area for a custom wetsuit maker, or come on down to Orange COunty to Kettenhofen's for the best custom suit made (IMHO).

Thanks everyone for the great feedback. I've got until December to get something ready. I think I will opt to buy a wetsuit as it's too risky renting one at my height. I'll probably have to get it altered so the crutch is in the crutch area and the wetsuit arms and legs end when mine do. I'll be fairly new still and I want a good fit and lots of comfort. Thanks again.

Judith, Welcome to BT. Keep checking in here as there is a lot of information on Bonaire. You will love it there. As far as a suit, it certainly depends on your tolerance to cold like Linnea said. My husband and I dove Bonaire last October and dove in bathing suits and T-shirts (we obviously have high tolerance being Canadians I guess) I only wore my 3mm shorty on one night dive but didn't really need it for the cold. I too am 5'0" but a bit stocky and I purchased an XL suit off the rack. Mine is manufactured by Oceaner in Richmond, B.C. a suburb of Vancouver. Check them out - my full length 3mm and custom made drysuit and also made by them. Have a great time.