Changed my mind about using drysuits in warm water after a dive off Key Largo last month

I always thought they were overkill until I did three back-to-back shallow reef dives and realized I was way less drained at the end of the day compared to wearing just a wetsuit, has anyone else noticed the same thing?

3 comments

3 Comments

sean_cooper5829d ago

Wait, but I have to disagree a bit here. I tried drysuits in warm water twice now (once in Bonaire and once off Grand Cayman) and honestly I felt way more tired at the end of the day. The whole getting in and out process is a workout on its own, plus you're dealing with that extra buoyancy control issue where you're constantly fighting to stay down even with a weight belt. And for me anyway, I found the drysuit trapped heat so badly that I was actually sweating inside it on the surface intervals, which made me feel gross and dehydrated by dive three. I can see the appeal if you're doing super long deco stops or really cold dives, but for warm shallow reef stuff I'll stick with my 3mm wetsuit every time. Just feels simpler and less fussy for that kind of diving.

wilson.joseph29d ago

My buddy Mike tried a drysuit in warm water once off Roatan and ended up so tangled in the inflation hose he nearly missed the whole dive... he spent like ten minutes just getting sorted while the rest of us were already down looking at the reef. On the surface interval he stripped down and looked like he'd been in a sauna, shirt completely soaked through with sweat and complaining about how much water he had to drink. He swore off drysuits for anything over 75 degrees after that day.

tessa_murray29d ago

Honestly though, the less fussy setup is worth a little sweat when you drop the weight belt hassle entirely.