On Tue, 22 May 2001 10:36:12 +1000, David Strike <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

< SNIP >

I have skipped this thread till now cuz WARM WATER WIMPS (such as da
Feeesh) don't wear wetsuits, let alone a "WARMER wetsuit".  :-)


>Although one of the first to admit to enjoying the warm, pleasant glow of a
>whizz in a wet-suit after lots of coffee, it is a short-lived sensation
>and - as it cools - stimulates the kidneys and starts a vicious cycle of,
>pee-warm-cold; pee-warm-cold; pee- ....!  And even when snorkelling,
>dehydration ain't a good thing!  :-)

You problem is COFFEE, not the whizzing.  :-)   I thought the whole
idea of "keep well hydrated" is that you'll have plenty of natural
reserve for heating up a wetsuit (or even a 1-mm or less "skin suit")
when the occasion arises.  :-)  The occasions, when properly chosen,
serve a DUAL purpose, even when diving in the WARM COZY waters of
Cozumel (as Crusty and I did last week) when you have to go for four
or more HOURS (either in water DIVING, OR on a 6-pak boat without
facilities to whizz <BG>).

As Andy Johnson aptly pointed out, that is how Crusty's Henderson
GOLD turned GOLD.  :-)))

My 1-mm suit is PLENTY warm throughout the dives, but whizzing in
it becomes a necessity (on the 2nd dive) after a few bottles of
HYDRATING liquid during surface interval, in addition to the
hydrating liquids consumed in the morning BEFORE the first tank.  :-)

And DON'T bother to suggest the wimpy idea of insisting on diving on
only boats with "facilities" for whizzing!  :-)

If you're wearing a wetsuit and you need to do a "number 2" during
a dive where there is no ban~o on the boat, then you'd better take
a PADI Advanced Specialty Course on how to remove the wetsuit
UNDERWATER, remove the SWIMSUIT, hide behind a coral head to do
(no pun intended) your thing, noting carefully the direction of the
current flow when exercising the advanced manoeuver... and then calmly
put back the garments in the reverse order to complete the dive with
the rest of the group.  :-)   You can get a SOLO Specialty Cert for
the same dives.  :-))

The Special Course SKILLS are easier for FEMALES than for MALES
because in the course for females, they skip the entire chapter(s)
on how to protect a part of the anatomy from being mistaken for
a WORM by the grouper or a chub or other species of fish capable
of swoooshing down and bite it off in 2 nanosecond or less.  :-)

It's just another chapter in the overall UW education of being
SELF RELIANT.  :-)

-- Bob.













>Because perhaps the major source of loss of body heat occurrs through the
>head - where the blood is closest to the surface - a good, thick, hood
>that's not too tight around the neck may be the way to go?
>
>But in those temperatures, rather you than me!  :-)
>
>Strike
>
>
>(snip)
>> I'm taking some snorkellers out in Loch Fyne in June when the water  temp
>> will be around 12C (54F)   They will be hiring wet suits and in the past
I
>> have worn a dry suit but this is not v good for snorkelling and
impossible
>> to surface dive to 3/5m  unless weighted (and then how do I come back
up?)
>> so I thought about wearing my own 5mm wet suit.   Last year in California
>I
>> was chilly in 16C - so in 12C.......  Brrrr....
>> So how can I, without any huge expense, beef up the thermal properties of
>a
>> wet suit?
>> Wear woollies underneath?
>> Thanks
>> Carol