The right exposure protection can make or break a fantastic week of diving. Repetitive dives over multiple days, even in the warmest water, will lower your core body temperature. Don’t miss a dive on that bucket-list trip because you are cold.
Selecting the best wetsuit thickness depends on several factors in addition to the water temperature. Do you get cold easily? Will you be in the wind during your surface intervals? What is the air temperature? How many dives are you making per day? If you’re making three long dives per day and you get chilled easily, you may want to wear a thicker wetsuit than someone making two short dives per day, for example.
Below is a wetsuit water temperature guideline:
- Waterproof Neoskin (1mm) 82 degrees+
- Waterproof W30 (2.5mm) 78 – 82 degrees
- Waterproof W5 (3.5mm) 75 – 80 degrees
- Waterproof W4 (5mm) 70 – 77 degrees
Beanies, hoods, and gloves add an extra level of warmth.
