Staying Warm

[gemnjam]

Hi,

I've just started out on the Ocean diver course and in about 6 weeks or so we will be going to guildenburgh (sp??) and stoney cove. I've just bought a second hand o'three msf 500tb with a set of point below base thermals (long johns and jumper-type things) along with gloves and hood. I plan to get myself a set of thermal booties as I really feel the cold in my feet and the boots are 6-7 when I'm just a 5 so some extra filler would be good as well.

My question is as someone who really tends to feel the cold will I still be shivering in this lot and should I invest in some more layers?

I know its hard to tell how someone else is likely to feel but if others could share their experiences and opinions that'd be great.

Many Thanks

Gemma

[NickBCotswold]

Hi,

I've just started out on the Ocean diver course and in about 6 weeks or so we will be going to guildenburgh (sp??) and stoney cove. I've just bought a second hand o'three msf 500tb with a set of point below base thermals (long johns and jumper-type things) along with gloves and hood. I plan to get myself a set of thermal booties as I really feel the cold in my feet and the boots are 6-7 when I'm just a 5 so some extra filler would be good as well.

My question is as someone who really tends to feel the cold will I still be shivering in this lot and should I invest in some more layers?

I know its hard to tell how someone else is likely to feel but if others could share their experiences and opinions that'd be great.

Many Thanks

Gemma


Hi Gemma and welcome!

congrats on the OD course, i didnt do mine so long ago (couple of years) and remember the feeling of achievement!!! Go for it!!!!

regarding the base layers and how to keep warm theres lots of threads on this forum - type in "base layer" or "under suit" into the search! However I'd ask the instructor or members of the club (if you're with a club) for advice!

MY advise would be to wear non-natural fibres such as lycra next to the skin - cotton tends to soak up the sweat and then slowly turn cold not to mention keep you wet! garments such as athletics running tops (silky tight lycra jobbies!) that you can purchase from most high street sports shops tend to do the job! Then its a case of layers on top! I wear again, man made nylon, kind of cyling/mountain shirt type top on top of the tight fitting base layer, then my warm wooley undersuit on top of those! millets and other outdoor /adventure /mountainerring shops sell them.

however for legs, woolley long johns are good as legs dont tend to sweat so much! I have a couple of female friends who wear tights under their long johns too!! (i've never been so brave to try!!)

think: layers - better to be slightly too warm and then you can shed layers - remember that the second dive you cool down much quicker than the first so sometimes i add another layer before the second dive!

good luck anyway!!! sure others will have more or other advice!

Nick

[Steve Walsh]

bridgedale hiking socks for inside the drysuitboots. naturally wicking and antibacterial too so no sweaty smell build up.

call 03 and ask them how much for neoprene insoles. I was an odd size boot and the insoles helped a great deal in getting the right fit. they also mean you dont trap air and risk the boot popping off if you end up inverted, believe me thats not a fun thing.
Decathlon does really cheap ski base layers and these work great under my PBB in my MSF500tb . I have done nearly an hour in 5 degree water at capernwray and it was my hands that got cold first.

[northern_diver]

remembers lays add bouyancy though...i added a polo shirt once and i swear i actually could feel the ever so slight bouyancy change.

fast wicks at the skin and thermals over top. i normally wear a pair of ron hill running tights and a fast wick/light weight running top with normally a rugby top over it in winter, under my 100gram undersuit. been to 3 degrees in that and ok, but its personal.

have fun, its really a great sport/hobby.

john

[Maria CM]

Hi Gemma,

I think it is a case of try it and see how you get on. If you are really cold you can always get one of those heated kidney belts to wear:D

Absolutely agree with what's been said generally.

best wishes,

Maria

[Hickdive]

Don't go overboard with layers on the feet, too tight and you'll restrict bloodflow and your feet will feel colder than with less, looser insulation.

[tony J]

I know its hard to tell how someone else is likely to feel but if others could share their experiences and opinions that'd be great.

Many Thanks

Gemma
Eat more pies.

I get cold, very cold

I have helly hanson thermals (base wicking all the way up to microfleece) under a 300g flectathon for ND

The only way I have found to stay warm (i.e. I'm always warm at the start then I feel the cool creeping into my core) is to wear my eletric tanktop http://www.simplyscuba.com/ProductDetails.aspx?StockID=17847 but it is a faff

The worse bit about being cold is that the better you get , the colder you will get (less air used / less metabolism/ less heat produced by muscles)

When I started I did 4 degrees in a 100g otter thinsulate - I now use this for 22 degrees in the red sea.

Tony

[jeanag]

Hi,

I've just started out on the Ocean diver course and in about 6 weeks or so we will be going to guildenburgh (sp??) and stoney cove. I've just bought a second hand o'three msf 500tb with a set of point below base thermals (long johns and jumper-type things) along with gloves and hood.
~snip~
Many Thanks

Gemma
Hiya Gemma

I to suffer from the cold, but it's my hands that feel it first.

I wear thick woolly tights (from Asda, they're the best!) under my thermals and then ski socks from tk maxx. Feet stay very cosy :D

For my top half I have about 4 different layers, one of which is a sleeveless thermal to keep my core warm. Primark have great thermals you can build up on and they are great value for money. But it has taken me a while to get the right layers :rolleyes:

Enjoy your diving :)

jeana

[DarrenA]

bridgedale hiking socks for inside the drysuitboots. naturally wicking and antibacterial too so no sweaty smell build up.


Another vote for those socks. I wear them under my drysuit. Fantastic.

Agree about layers with a thin non-cotton skin layer. Fourth Element stuf over that and/or M&S thermal under garments are cheap and excellent.

[Steve Walsh]

Another vote for those socks. I wear them under my drysuit. Fantastic.

Agree about layers with a thin non-cotton skin layer. Fourth Element stuf over that and/or M&S thermal under garments are cheap and excellent.


for those of us in London, there is a cracking little place on cavendish court off devonshire square ( near liverpool street) that does really cheap skiwear and thermal base layers. I got a top and bottom for £20 yes thats £10 each.

if i get time today I will save a map as a JPG and post the location up.

[PeteM]

for those of us in London, there is a cracking little place on cavendish court off devonshire square ( near liverpool street) that does really cheap skiwear and thermal base layers. I got a top and bottom for £20 yes thats £10 each.

if i get time today I will save a map as a JPG and post the location up.

Bet than a JPG: Cavendish Court (http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=cavendish+court&countryCode=GB#map=51.51673,-0.07975|17|4&bd=useful_information&loc=GB:51.51673:-0.07975:17|cavendish%20court|Cavendish%20Court,%20 London,%20England,%20EC2)

[Steve Walsh]

Bet than a JPG: Cavendish Court (http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=cavendish+court&countryCode=GB#map=51.51673,-0.07975|17|4&bd=useful_information&loc=GB:51.51673:-0.07975:17|cavendish%20court|Cavendish%20Court,%20 London,%20England,%20EC2)


its invisible :D


thanks for trying though.

[Yazzyfooty]

Hi,

I've just started out on the Ocean diver course and in about 6 weeks or so we will be going to guildenburgh (sp??) and stoney cove. I've just bought a second hand o'three msf 500tb with a set of point below base thermals (long johns and jumper-type things) along with gloves and hood. I plan to get myself a set of thermal booties as I really feel the cold in my feet and the boots are 6-7 when I'm just a 5 so some extra filler would be good as well.

My question is as someone who really tends to feel the cold will I still be shivering in this lot and should I invest in some more layers?

I know its hard to tell how someone else is likely to feel but if others could share their experiences and opinions that'd be great.

Many Thanks

Gemma

The base layer you mentioned does me fine in the winter diving in 4 degrees water for about 45 minutes and I feel the cold. Yesterday I dived for an hour using 4th element xerotherms in 10 degree water. Maybe try one more thin thermal layer would give you some added warmth but without affecting your buoyancy too much.

It is cold hands that tend to end my dives early as I cant stand 5mm gloves and stick to my 2mm with plassie gloves underneath.

[northern_diver]

It is cold hands that tend to end my dives early as I cant stand 5mm gloves and stick to my 2mm with plassie gloves underneath.

regardless i would have plastic...well nitrile actually gloves on as i take my used ones from the lab after lectures etc they make donning gloves massivly more easy and also, when the correct size tend, for me, to add a little more warmth...semi-dry suit principal maybe?? dont care really, but antidoltal evidence it works lol

for donning gloves, plastc petrol station gloves work too:D

john