Which Suit should I take

[kuki9591]

Hi,

I am flying out to Sharm for a Liveaboard at the weekend and was wondering what sort of suit I should take with me as I have not dived out there at this time of year before.

If I take my dry suit, will my Fourth Element undergarment be OTT?

Many thanks

Mike

[PeeBee]

Hi Mike, depends which fourth element garment you have lol... I was there in May last year and a 5mm one piece wetty was plenty, but I am blessed with some bioprene. I did take my thermoclines to wear either under the 5mm or instead but later in the week I found that the repetetive diving made the 5mm the right choice. you don't say what your options are eg, how many wetsuits do you have and what is your dry suit made of... do you feel the cold easily, will you be deep or fairly shallow? more info you give us the easier it is to answer.

[kuki9591]

Thanks Pete,

have a 3mm Shorty, 5mm full body suit, mebrane dry suit and Fourth Element Artic under garment.

There will be 20 dives in total, I guess the dive guides will not encourage diving beyond 30 Metres.

Having thought about it a bit more, I'm guessing with 20 hours + underwater my bladder will get the better of me at some point and perhaps a dry suit may not be the better option.

thanks

Mike

[PeeBee]

You can forget the 3mm shorty, especially if there is any chance of touching the coral. The 5mm should be enough but be aware that you may get cold at the surface with the wind chill. Membrane suit and some thin thermal like a base layer might be your best option. Alternatively, the Forth Element Thermocline stuff is wonderful, a sort of rubberised polartec fleece it is the equivalent of 2mm neoprene without adding to your buoyancy. I wear it under a wetty sometimes and it's great stuff although not cheap.

[thehappychappy]

The 5mm Suit should do you fine, just remember to get warm between dives.

Take a fleece with you or check to see if the live aboard offers towelling dressing gowns for the guests, these are handy for pre/post dive warmth.

Have fun.

Davie

[Whale Shark]

Originally Posted by kuki9591

Hi,

I am flying out to Sharm for a Liveaboard at the weekend and was wondering what sort of suit I should take with me as I have not dived out there at this time of year before.

If I take my dry suit, will my Fourth Element undergarment be OTT?

Many thanks

Mike

Most definitely....see the same discussions here...
Red Sea Liveaboard: November 1 - 8, 2008

[sailorbuoy]

If it were me i would take the membrane suit with a LS t-shirt and a pair of traccy bottoms... but then i feel the cold!

5mm is usually fine but can be cold on the surface in a wind, and after repeated dives.

[cheryl t]

Was out there 2 weeks ago and was fine with the 5mm with a rash vest underneath. You will feel the cold once your out of your suit cos of the breeze. Im not a complete wimp, but do feel the cold from time to time

[DeniseED]

I live out in Egypt so I am a real softy - despite the bioprene!! But I did a dive this weekend in a (new) 5mm suit and I was not cold at all - just get warm between dives! Fleece for in between dives and socks for on the boat in the evening too. If you feel the cold then the dry suit would be good re the wind chill and you won't get laughed at - it's probably what the guides will be wearing!! Have a great time!

[jptaylor9]

I was out there also at beginning of Feb, I also used a 5mm with a rash vest underneath and I wasn't cold. I also used a 3mm hood on every dive for added warmth (I also think it helps prevent ear infections).