Question Cardigan Bay - water temps - wetsuit

[DancCooke]

My general playground as I get started will be the West Coast of Wales Cardigan bay is pretty much the side of Wales but here is the average water temps

No I was swimming after night shifts in just my under crackers into September but it was ball wrenchingly cold. So the question. 5mm or 7mm wetsuit I plan on spear fishing as well as foraging for scallop, razor clam etc as much and year round as possible.
I’m reasonably portly (tubby) and don’t feel the cold to much but I also know being immersed for longer periods that sea temp is going to test a wetsuit.

Cheers in advance

Dan

 

[7BDiver]

How long do you intend on being in the water? I use a 6.5 two piece smoothskin unlined tailored suit and 5mil socks/gloves in 37 F fresh water and don't get a shiver for at least an hour. But then again I am getting nearly zero water in my suit, gloves and socks.

 

[DiverC]

My beach is on the shore of the Puget Sound of Washington State, so the temp is a few degrees colder (degrees F) than your chart. I started out with a 3mm shorty with a 3 mm full suit over it. Very flexible, but my legs got cold after 1/2 hour. (Shorty has to be tight and the full suit a bit
"baggy"). I recently went to a 5mm Henderson "Green Prene" - It's pretty warm - but it's a bit thick and it wasn't a budget buy. If you could rent a 5mm wetsuit you could test it and see if you are warm and can offset the buoyancy and can spearfish with it.

 

[DancCooke]

Thank you. I’m thinking if I go for a 5mm I’ll be able to get out most of the year and if I’m really really loving it then I can save for a 7mm top if I need it. I will need weights. I’m not exactly slim (understatement award) but 30 years of national and international competitive martial arts and div 2 Welsh rugby have me reasonably fit.
It’s going to be a fun learning curve.

 

[DancCooke]

How long do you intend on being in the water? I use a 6.5 two piece smoothskin unlined tailored suit and 5mil socks/gloves in 37 F fresh water and don't get a shiver for at least an hour. But then again I am getting nearly zero water in my suit, gloves and socks.

Until I really start I can’t answer that. The coast line here is very impressive. There’s lots of marks I’ve sounded out with the kayak fish finder. Some nicely swimable hugging the coast. Others once I’m more comfortable using the kayak to get to and dropping anchor on the kayak using it as a large float

 

[DancCooke]

It’s a shame my dry suit isn’t suitable as a dive suit. But it’s definitely a surface dry suit. I have a cheapo shorty wetsuit I use in the summer on the kayak but usually it’s the dry suit. Sat with the wind on your back for 8 hrs anchored fishing can get cold even in what seem like toasty days.
thanks for the replies. Just need lockdown to get out of the way.