DreamWeaver21

I know some hardcore people probably go year round, but at what temp does it get uncomfortable? How cold before you trade out a shorty for a full wet suit or at what point to you just say heck with it I'll wait till it warms up? I went a couple or weeks ago and was fine with a shorty while in the water but was cold when I got out of the water.

Pierce07

For me this depends on the boat. If you're lucky and have a good buddy with a enclosed boat that has heat heck we'll dive year round. The waters never really get too uncomfortable for me. I also have 4 wetsuits, a hooded vest, and a torso warmer. The wetsuits are a 3, 4/3, 5, and 7. So I can remain toasty year round. The water starts to cool off around this time of year and continues until about Feb. You'll probably need something more then a shorty by the end of the month maybe the beginning of next month. Last year I did probably 50 dives in the winter and they were all in my 5 mil and I was comfortable. Just depends on your tolerance to cold and how bad you want some tasty grouper.



If you're not planning to dive everyday throughout the winter just a couple times you could always just rent a wetsuit up at MBT it's inexpensive.

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Telum Pisces

It's not the water that you worry about. It's the air temp. I dive year round. A hot water jug does wonders. I turn my hot water heater up to the highest temp the night before. I fill up a 5 gallon insulated jug up. After I come up from a dive, a cup of hot water down the suit does wonders for keeping you warm for about 15-20 minutes. Put one more cup down the suit and then it's time for the next dive.

I have dove with ice on the boat. I'm a little crazy though.

sealark

Right now you need a full suit. When the temp hits 70 it's time for a hooded vest. Now that's for me and yes it's really cold and chilling when you get out of the water and the cold air is blowing across your legs, it cools everything real quick. And I also carry three thermoses filled with hot water in the winter

ul412al

I have had success with my 3/2 to 70 degrees. Add a hood and I can make it to 68 degrees.



As far as getting out of the water, I like to immediately put my foul weather gear on (over the wetsuit). It keeps the wind from air conditioning you. I haven't tried the hot water route, I'll try it this weekend.

Clay-Doh

I have a 3mm for summer. (don't like shorties, I like the protection of a full while spearfishin)



then a 3mm farmer jon, wich would give me a 3mm shorty if I want it, but I use it for fall and spring, cuz then I got 6 mm in the torso.



And I have a 7mm for winter. And a hood. I HATE being cold.



But as said, no matter how thick your wetsuit, it's when you get out that the cold sets in. I got an enclosed boat with sliding glass doors, and a propane heater....you start sweating when you get inside, and peeling out of your suit.

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Splittine

When you piss in your wetsuit and it makes the hypothermia go away you should stay home.

seanmclemore

ITS SIMPLE....

ITS TOO COLD TO DIVE WHEN ALL OF THE SEASONS ARE CLOSED!!!!!!

:banghead

Clay-Doh

I got a permit for that

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arch_diver

Drysuit!! I am diving in the Hudson River (47 degrees) no problem. As for fun diving....anytime the water dips below 70 degrees my drysuit comes out.