Cold water (7-10 deg C) UK Rebreather diving

Drmike

What would be the weighting difference between say a DUI Ultra Thinsulate 400 and Diverite polartec fleece jumpsuit be?

In florida with the polartec I didnt need any weight - but I havent dived with the Thinsulate yet - it looks like it could be very bouyant!

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Nad

Just as reference, water is 4°C in winter here.
I dive a DUI trilam. Weezle extreme (+socks) and Dry Gloves (SITech).
I don't use argon beside on deep trimix dives.
The Weezle is an air retainer but for the temp. it works ok.

The longer dive I did in winter time was around 2 hrs, it wasn't the paradise but I didn't froze.

I think you're going to be ok. I suggest wet gloves for the course, also if you're already an expert.

Best,

Nad

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EBT

Mike, if its a new DUI, they seem to need a small anchor to sink them

I see the OC guys using 4kg of V weight + 2-4 kg of belt weight with those.

At the end of the day, as you know, peoples cold tolerance varies from individual to individual. You need what you need to stay warm and I'd suggest from your description that that means a decent undersuit+base layer (good for wicking and saves your undersuit from being used in chemical attacks). Go with whichever gloves you're comfy with, personally I use 5mm semi drys in winter, or mittens if Im doing long ones.

As someone else said, dont forget to look after your body. Eat well (mixed carbs spread through the day), sleep well (not to be under-estimated), hydrate well and make sure you're warm BEFORE and after your dive (hat, gloves etc). If the boats got a microwave, take some soup or something with you just in case and also ask what the deal is with food. Some boats over here provide it.....

Enjoy!!

/Zak

(PS. dont dash to the loo for a waz after your dive... cold hands/warm anatomy, enough said?)

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Mike

A week last I dived in UK, water was approx 6ºc, I normally dive in the high teens. The first to go are the hands (I wore 5mm gloves), it becomes difficult to press buttons! We were doing 70 minute+ dives, don't! Stay within an hour and your core temperature might just be in the save zone by the end of the week.

Fil
(British but obviously losing the ability to ignore the cold)

Explorer

Mike,

For us Canadian divers, that is great diving temperatures for the BC coast (50-55F). Under the ice now in Alberta, it's 32F.

I use Weezle underwear and have all three thickness for different water temperatures. For you, use the WEEZLE EXTREME PLUS. That's the warmest and also the Weezle socks for sure.

For your hands, use DRY GLOVES for sure. The heavier Blue Glove (Skaana) or similar will keep you warm. The docking system is very simple.

Argon, we use only when diving trimix, other that that, just a hose off the back gas.

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pchanning

HI Mike,

Whilst we all aim to get out weight spot-on, in the winter people tend to chuck a bit more on than they need and offset the cold with the suit for the stops. Dont get cold - just purge the ocean around you!
Your suit, if its a thick one for example, will probably help in that regard.
Where are you diving..??

HTH
paul

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sadave

Never been to the UK (Don't even have a passport!) But having dived in oz, everything from my "local" caves - 7-15dec C, to Local ocean - 11-22degC, to Far North Queensland-26-32degC, its all what your used to...

I'm uncomfortable, but not to the point where its an issue in my NDiver Cortex suit, with NDiver Flectalon 200 suit, plus Polartec Sleeveless vest, plus Polartec socks, and 5mm fingerless wet gloves, 3mm hood in 9deg fresh water for 90mins. (cave diving, can't use full gloves!!!)
But I'm also cold, but comfortable in 22deg ocean diving, in a pair of shorts for 90 minutes...

It all comes down to what your used to... But me personally, I'm VERY happy with my Northern Diver Flectalon 200 and nothing else but Polartec socks and no gloves with 3mm hood in water down to 13deg, below that, I add the polarfleece vest...

Have never dived with dry gloves, or more than a 3mm hood. Down to 7deg. But the 7deg dives were between 45-60mins...

Knowing how comfortable I am in the 200 weight ND flectalon suit, I'm pretty confident the 300weight should be pretty good for most conditions... again, clarification, some people feel the cold more than others, it all comes down to what your used to.......

2nd Clarification, all these dives were OC... CC, take off another 2-3 degrees and thats where I'm comfortable at.

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dive2dive2000

Maybe another 2lbs??? The dry glove that you have, I never had any luck with. Too many little tricks to worry about on vacation, first time in cold.... Might be more comfortable with a mit or a heaver glove. I use Siteck dry, or Henderson makes a 5ml glove with a neoprene seal that limits water flow. We fill with hot water before donning, buys you a little more comfort. I also always wear a hat and try and stay as warm as possible before and after the dive. If your cold going in it is just down hill from then on. Hope this helps and looking forward to your trip report.

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Martin

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Mark Chase

Hi Mike,

I am using a forth element base layer with a 400g Dui Thinsulate under suit. 7mm hood and 5mm semi dry or three finger mitt gloves. For socks i use Forth element Arctic. I feel the cold and that lot is good for 90 -120max with my hands giving up first.

The Weasel Extreme etc type under suits only work if you have a shed load of air in your dry suit. If you do they work well. I don't so I had my one for four freezing cold weeks before i got rid of it and went back to a thinsulate.

My 400g Thinsulate and 5mm compressed Neo suit takes 10KG to sink

I drop to 6kg with just the base layer on. The DUI 400g is very very floaty even running the suit as tight as I do.

ATB

Mark Chase

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Phil

Mike,

I guess it is for your Boris course with Phil in Chepstow or Stoney Cove. I did mine with Phil in October (top 14°C, bottom 8°C), after 4 days I had 15 hours on the unit. Be prepared for 2 dives a day a long one in the morning (2h to 3h) and a shorter one in the afternoon (1h to 1,5h). A little break of 1 hour between dives. Although I am fairly used to cold lake temperature 4°C. I must say that I was getting fairly cold at the end of the day.

Dry Gloves
DUI CF200X
DUI Ultra Thinsulate 400

Very important PEE VALVE on your dry suit! Otherwise

As usual you should concentrate on having multiple layers of good insulation quality rather then one thick jumpsuit. I did not apply this for the course thinking that my thinsulate would be OK.

With the above I only use 2Kg of weight, I could do with nothing, but like to have that little extra air/argon in the suit!

Cheers,

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