wet suit for gulf this time of year

[D2Durham]

I am new to diving in Panama City during the winter, what thickness wet suit should I buy.

[Billybob]

Water temp can drop into the 50's and with the cold air to boot when you get
out it can drain you, especially if you're an old fart like me!

I used to dive with a farmer john 3MM (6 MM on the core) and a 3 MM hood but I just got where I would get cold even during the dive. If you're young and tough the farmer john would still be adequate but just that, adequate. The beauty of buying the farmer john is you
can dive the top (or bottom) well into the Summer for protection

I just switched to a 7MM Semi-dry and dove it last weekend and it was the
deal! Toasty warm with a built in hood.

Ya still get cold on cold days out of the water but if you have an enclosed cabin you can heat it up or take some hot H2O out with you to add to your suit to warm you back up.

[jfjf]

A 5 mm freedive suit or a 7 mm scuba suit.

[PatMyGreen]

I use a 5mm pinnacle merino lined suit and a hooded vest. I lose more heat on the boat after the dive than I do in the water. I am 5'11" 150#s and I hate being cold. I have never been so happy as my first couple of Winter dives with this suit. I have 100 dive in it so far and am very happy with it.

[griffinwh]

I just bought a 5mm hooded vest to go with my 3mm wetsuit. I'm sure that's enough for the springs but do you think it's enough for PC in the winter?

[SpearitDM]

I think your going to freeze you ass off with that but wait I guess you will have to get in the water first lol... When are we going diving again..?

[DVD]

get a 7 mill ..................................... 5m frezzzzzzzzzzzzzer burnt





and some warm water that is the tiket + cabin= fish

[Captain Bil]

I have a Pinnacle Black Ice Neoprene Drysuit. My buddy dives a Pinnacle Evo2 drysuit. Too many years of freezing in wetsuits in sub 60 water have cured me. Spend the money and dive dry - you'll never go back! (Yes, I am a p***y!)

[Clay-Doh]

I pulled out the 7mm. Lot of guys I dive with dive 5mm, or 3mm farmer john doubled, but I hate being cold.

A hood and a 7mm and you will have no wories.

Just remeber...LOT of extra lead. If you get a 7mm, take your suit you been diving and see how many pounds it takes to sink it in a barrel. Then o the same with yuor new suit.

Whatever the difference, is how much extra lead youll need.

[Wayward Son]

I get by with a 5 or 7mm.

The water isn't the problem, the air is. Keeping warm between dives is critical. A dry suit make s that easy. A wet suit, not so much. You also need something like a dive parka to wear & a cabin of some sort to get in out of the wind.

if you can keep warm between dives, you can dive wet. if not, go dry.

[smilin jim]

I have a really expensive DUI drysuit that I wore for the first year, then I bought a Henderson hyperstretch 5/7 and with a hood I was much warmer, the only prob is back on the boat if it wasn't warmer, you still get cold, if you go out right now with a wetsuit take a cooler full of hot water, when you return to the boat take a cupfull and pour it into your wetsuit, it's a good idea to put a cupfull in before you get in also to relieve the coldshock!!!! Hope this helps..

[Wayward Son]

FWIW, be wary of having drysuit buddies.

When I shot that cuda on the 20th, both guys diving with me were diving dry. Their POV was "Hmm, sharp teeth. Sharp spears. Hmm, I think he's doing fine in that epic battle. I think I'll stay over here, where my suit isn't at risk..."

LOL

[Wayward Son]

my wounds are almost healed now...

[smilin jim]

It was difficult to relieve yourself in a drysuit anyway, I know some of you think that wastes heat, what the heck, it is worth it.

[Wayward Son]

Jim said "If you can do 3 tanks in that 5mm, you're a better man than I"

I replied "Prepare to be humbled" & did 3 tanks.

Plus, I could pee on demand