The Tampa Bay Times
Cold water has hit the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico and it broke the 60 degree mark. Just this past week the bottom temperature dropped to 59 degrees in 65 of water. For divers that’s some serious cold. The colder water slows down the fish but it slows down the divers too! The added thermal protection and bulk slow down the divers. Proper thermal protection is a must! Dry-suits are designed for temperatures in this range, but many divers can’t afford a good dry-suit so they save some money and choose a 5mm to 7mm semi-dry wetsuit or the same thickness of an “Open cell” wetsuit for these temperatures. Both the semi-dry and open cell suits (rubber lined on inside of the suit) seal much tighter to the diver skin and they don’t allow water to move around in the suit. This tighter fit keeps out almost all the outside water and this helps the diver retain the warmed water next to the skin. The process is, if water keeps getting in during the dive than the warmed up water will keep going out during the dive; therefore letting in cold water during the dive. Normal closed cell wetuits are better suited for temperatures over 65 degrees and they let more water in during the dive. Most of the divers are spearing mangrove snappers, hogfish, and sheepshead. Divers who are spearing in the bay are finding good visibility and very few sharks.
- Jay Mastry - March 26, 2024
- Captains Corner, Gorta - March 23, 2024
- Dave Zalewski - March 12, 2024
