Northwest Dive Club

So, am I gonna freeze my chonies off in a 3 mil shorty in Maui? Most say that you need a full 3-5mil. However after checking the reported water temps, they are in the high 70's to low 80's. That sounds pretty warm.... There is not supposed to be a major thermocline in Hawaii either.....

Anyhooo,... any one with any experience there have any suggestions???

Samson wrote:So, am I gonna freeze my chonies off in a 3 mil shorty in Maui? Most say that you need a full 3-5mil. However after checking the reported water temps, they are in the high 70's to low 80's. That sounds pretty warm.... There is not supposed to be a major thermocline in Hawaii either.....

Anyhooo,... any one with any experience there have any suggestions???

I did a week worth of diving (about 24 dives) in Kona in a 3 mil shorty and never once got cold. Water temps were about the same, however I was diving in early August.

Everyone told me I was going to freeze. I was fine.

Samson wrote:So, am I gonna freeze my chonies off in a 3 mil shorty in Maui? Most say that you need a full 3-5mil. However after checking the reported water temps, they are in the high 70's to low 80's. That sounds pretty warm.... There is not supposed to be a major thermocline in Hawaii either.....

Anyhooo,... any one with any experience there have any suggestions???

We usually go to Maui in January or February (when the water's at it's coldest) and I always use a 3mm full and am plenty warm for 2 dives a day. If I do 3, I start to get a little chilled towards the end of the 3rd dive.

Samson wrote:So, am I gonna freeze my chonies off in a 3 mil shorty in Maui? Most say that you need a full 3-5mil. However after checking the reported water temps, they are in the high 70's to low 80's. That sounds pretty warm.... There is not supposed to be a major thermocline in Hawaii either.....

Anyhooo,... any one with any experience there have any suggestions???

Chonies? Is that some some sort of slavic translation of cajones?

I'm a pretty warm blooded guy but I wear a full 3mm suit when I visit the Big Island in the winter. I own one of those marino wool lined Pinnacle suits that I feel (maybe my imagination) keep me as warm as a 5mm. I'm rarely cold after a 3 dive day.

With that said, my buddy who lives on the Big Island dives nearly every day and wears a full 5mm with a hood but he's a skinny little bastard and gets cold in the blazing sun.

-Eric

I was just there a month ago- no diving, but I was spending an hour or so at a time snorkelling in a T shirt and swim shorts. I was never cold, so I'm guessing a 3 mil would be just fine for most people.

A 3mm shorty might be a bit too little. I wear a 3mm full there, my GF wears a 5/3. Seems like nothing compared to my DS.

Bonaire's about the same water temp-high 70s, low 80s did I mention I'm going to Bonaire in 36 days? and I wore a 3mm Hyperstretch fullsuit, and was comfy the whole time. Did I mention I'm going back in 36 days? There were divers in my group that wore shorts and tshirts, and were fine, 36 days!and some had shorties and were fine, too. I think it depends on your personal level of comfort. 36 days! Our DM wore a 5mm full with a core warmer and 2 hoods, but he had about 3% body fat, too... 36 days!

The thing I notice when I dive Maui is that almost no one wears a hood. The dive master on one of my dives wears a 7 mil and goes bare headed and complains about being cold in 76-degree water. How long do you think he'd last diving the NW? Your mom was right when she said you loose most of your heat from your head.

I think you'll be fine in your shorty. just take a hood. If you get cold, wear it. I use a 3/2 full and an old hood I cut down some. I never get cold on Maui.

Sockmonkey wrote:[Chonies? Is that some some sort of slavic translation of cajones?

-Eric

LMAO!! yea bro,... chonies,.. more of a redneck/LA/chicano hood slang for cajones..... but hey,.. I like it!

Thanks for all the great advice! Hopefully we will have a good report and some great pics once we get home to report.

Thanks again!

I'll never go back to a shorty 3mil, having dove a long 3mil on Maui. But I know plenty of people who get by with less.
I'd say, if you already own a shorty, just bring your hood in case, but if you are looking to purchase a wetsuit, spend the extra bit and get the long.

my thoughts...

The bigger question is: Where do you plan to dive? Maui is great for shore diving. We usually do one boat dive, but they are expensive ($135, give or take a couple of bucks). Several dive shops (Maui Dreams and Maui Dive Shop) have cards you buy for $40 that are good for 10 tank rentals. At that price why snorkel?

We are diving at Black rock..... We have signed up with Maui Dive shop for tanks. It should be a good time....I hear that the rock gets pretty crowded with snorkelers, but hopefully it wont be that bad under.....