Channel Islands Exposure Suit Recommendations

[Joe Blow]

I have a trip on the Vision coming up next week and have been wondering what to bring for exposure suits. I have a 7mm one piece wet suit, a 3mm wet suit, and a White's Nexus 3 dry suit. I plan on bringing the dry suit regardless, but I'm sort of in a toss up on the wet suit. I've read lots of people wear a 3mm in the summer, and I've also heard people wear a 5mm. When it comes to talking 7mm, most of the info I find is pansy Californians that won;t get in the water when such equipment is required, any tips here folks? Thanks.

[enchantmentdivi]

Prior to owning a dry suit, I did one trip off the Conception in a 7mm. I survived, but a drysuit is so much more comfortable. Next two trips, I only took a drysuit. I would personally skip the wetsuit unless you want to take it as a back up.

[CaptnJack]

+1 on not bothering with the wetsuit. Its bulky, heavy and not worth packing.

[kdupreez]

+1 on drysuit, I've done a couple Channel Islands trips and was really happy for the drysuit.

[CaptnJack]

And yes California divers are pansies.

[enchantmentdivi]

And yes California divers are pansies.

They will also complain that the viz is just awful when it's <50 feet.

[Joe Blow]

Thanks for the advice so far. What about undergarments? I have a fleece that I could use, or I could just go in a rash guard under the suit. I think I'll still bring a wetsuit in case the weather is really hot.

[Grateful Diver]

Dress like you would dress here. The water might be a few degrees warmer than here ... and it might not, depending on where they take you.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

[CaptnJack]

Thanks for the advice so far. What about undergarments? I have a fleece that I could use, or I could just go in a rash guard under the suit. I think I'll still bring a wetsuit in case the weather is really hot.

Just wear the same suit you would here. The surface waters are typically a bit warmer in late summer (mid 60s). But below about 35ft or so you'll find 53F water which is basically the same as here.

[LCF]

What Bob and Richard said. I've also encountered a thermocline at 90 feet or so where the water dropped to 43.

You'll love hanging out in the shallows at the end of the dive, in the warm water. You'll get much longer second and third dives than the wetsuit folks, too.