Thin Suit?

[fleshy]

Im obviously not considering this for this time of year, but I thought I'd drop a question on you guys. Do you think that wearing cold gear under armor during the summer months, when you are diving in water that isnt really cold, would be a good way to dive longer, and considering you can buy it in black or camo, break up your outline to the fish? Just wondering. Im going to try it either way. I figure Ill wear it underneath my new omer weight vest. Which is a nice piece of equipment, keeps me better balanced than all the weight around my middle, sliding around giving us back pains. I also got some cressi sub gara fins, which have yet to be tried (the ymca pool goes down to 5ft only). So, just day dreaming while I cant get into the water... Let me know what you guys think.

 

[ILDiver]

Under Armour will not do much for you other than protect you from scrapes. The water will pass through the material very easy. There is nothing stopping the constant water transfer. Mid Summer you'll be ok for a couple hours or so depending on how much you get below the thermocline. A 3mm open cell will be a good investment for a big chunk of the year when you get the money saved!

 

[fleshy]

Ive been snorkeling and diving for as long as I can remember. Im aware of the benefits of such things. During the summer, even in lake michigan, I rarely use the wetsuit I own, my plain old 5mm. It is not a worthwhile investment for me to buy one, when I wont use it. I sometimes wear a t-shirt when I'm spearing though to protect my skin from my JBL, which has these grips on the back that will tear into your skin pretty bad. And besides that, I'm 18 and I work out a lot, I ripped the last wetsuit i ownded straight down the middle. I would hate to buy an omer or an ellios sub custom made wet suit and do the same to that. So I'll wait for that. Good point about the fabric. However I was thinking that since the heat gear traps heat, and its so close to your body, there isnt much of an exchange of water. Ill let everyone know how it works.

 

[ILDiver]

Water is different than air (obviously). Water transfers heat more efficiently. You can wear a Lycra dive skin and it will make you warmer on dry land, but once it's wet it has very little benefit. They make different types of skins too, some lined. I have been in the water on scuba with classes in 74 degree water in just shorts and t-shirt. But there was no thermocline to deal with, we were above 20' the whole time. I don't like to wear a wet suit if I can avoid it. But for extended periods and multiple days in a row of diving, your better off staying warm from the start.

I test myself and take some pride in my ability to tolerate cold. But when I'm going to dive multiple days, anyones tolerance to cold will drop. It takes your body time to recover it's core temp. I've dove in cold water on a 90 degree summer day, gotten out and it feels as good as a 75 degree day for the rest of the day. But you asked if Under Armour will help. Realistically, no it has little to no effect on warmth. But psychologically, maybe it will. I've dove now with Open Cell suits, thick and thin nylon lined, with and without skins. The biggest thing is how comfortable YOU are.

I was in Florida, 95 air temp, 88 water top to bottom 20' deep. A guy was putting on his dry suit, a lady had on her 7mm full wet suit, black and sitting in the sun. I would have passed out. They were comfortable.

 

[Pinggene]

I like to use my vest in the summer...seems to work great.

If I owned one wet suit, I would still opt for the 5mm that I have. Gives you the ability to dive anywhere, any time. Lake Michigan is a great place due to clarity (most times)...I also like Green Lake. Both can be a bit chilly, but I like to be warm, & seem to cool of faster than most...Perhaps this year it won't be too bad as I've seemed to add an extra "layer". rofl

With the 5mm, if the water is warmer, I don't wear my hood, I don't wear my thick socks & I flush new water in the suit now and then...but like I said, I like to be warm.

Gene

 

[land shark]

I know Elios dont like to sell 1 mil unless you insist. Just to fragil but I have a set of 2mm shorts and a sleevless top smooth inside. I have done some diving in 48 degree water up noth and been find for a while (like under 1 hour} but I like it for mostly open water crawls when I want some surface distance. If its too hot you can just fill the top with a fresh flush of water and good to go.

 

[fleshy]

All good ideas. Thanks guys. Yeah, Im pretty good with the cold, Ive gone spearing in Lake Michigan without a wetsuit, but not for longer than 2 hours. Im going to use my under armor during the summer months when I dont need the warmth, but just as protection/camoflauge. It will be interesting to see if the camo makes a difference.

 

[slingshaft]

Hi Fleshy, I think your idea about using camo is fundamentally sound. All the ambush predators have some kind of cloaking that is relative to the background. Whether it is vertical striping like the Northern pike, or the Tiger's pattern, or a mottled configuration, it is there for a reason. I have some Under Armor and the weave is very close, and I know that I am warmer in the water when I wear the black top. Cheers mate!

 

[dotey]

hey if you are wanting a good wet suit but not pay the price look up a spetton suit that is what i have and it works well