Cold Water Diving Tips You Won’t Find in the Manual

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Cold water diving is not for everyone, but as divers, we all would LOVE to extend our dive season and be able to dive year-round, regardless of the temperatures. While you can find some general tips for diving in the cold in your courses, unless you plan to take an Ice Diving specialty, you won't find specific courses on "cold water diving" traditionally. That's why, in THIS video, I share my tips for cold water diving. From dry suits and hoods, to gloves and booties, staying warm on surface intervals, and more. If you're a cold water diver, let me know down in the comments and if you hate cold water, let me know too!
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At Circle H Scuba, we share education and experiences you'll love to plan your next adventure. As a PADI Professional Scuba Instructor, I want to make you a better-informed scuba diver!
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[@CircleHScuba]

Hand Warmers 👉 amzn.to/3uvBmj7 Surf Fur Water Parka (10% off with code `CIRCLEHSCUBA` on Surf Fur Website) 🧥 geni.us/surf-fur My Drysuit (Hollis DX-300X) 🤿 amzn.to/3UzMRAz Hollis DX-300X vs Apex Thermiq Dry Advanced Dry Suits ▶ kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5qupa2OeLCIhNk

[@macmccollum6064]

Back in the 1950s, before any effective warmth protection was available, scuba companies claimed it wasn't really necessary above 55 degrees F. As wetsuits were improved throughout the 1960s and 1970s, they helped, but wetsuits were, what now would be considered "stiff", and easily damaged, regularly requiring repairs. Nylon was added to the inside of the suits, later to the exterior, making them more durable. Wetsuits are amazing today (compared to then), the only thing I think would be an improvement is to move the zipper back in front like it used to be. In my opinion, the only real improvements to scuba gear over the last 1/2 century are definitely wetsuits, and the computer replacing the watch and depth gauge. Great video Thomas.

[@CircleHScuba]

Thanks Mac, always love hearing your insights too. I’ve seen a few front zip wetsuits still but definitely not many nowadays!

[@nonzerospy]

Been watching your videos since I did "Try Scuba" 2 months ago. My open water classes finally started this week and right after I will be doing my dry suit. If all goes well you will have to come up to New Hampshire and go diving with us at aquatic specialties. The owner is a great dude and dives literally all year around!

[@CircleHScuba]

I have family in New Hampshire! It could happen! Haha

[@nonzerospy]

​@CircleHScuba Heck yeah! That would be awesome perhaps next winter we can cross off ice diving for you!!. And frankly myself lol

[@kimvandegriend139]

My biggest problem in the colder months is getting out of the water. My last dive had a bottom temp of 9 C. The first thing to do is drying of and in warm clothes. Put your gear in a save space and dry off!

[@CircleHScuba]

Definitely! Getting out and freezing more is terrible. Get that wetsuit off (or dive dry and dry your head!) ASAP. Where I am, the winter has around 9 C or lower water temperature too. But that sometimes is warmer than outside temp, so changing quickly is a must.

[@Kamilo]

About two months ago, in Poland, water temp 2*C. Two of the four men breathing APExes froze. We use drysuits, but it was still freezing! Can't wait for summer!

[@CircleHScuba]

That’s cold!!! Coldest I’ve done so far is around 8 C, and that was enough for me 😂 I wanna try ice diving some day though!

[@user-oo1zv2lh3k]

Well, I dive for 5 years .. and in few days I will dive first time in tropical water . My record ice dive in - 25 C air and water 2c .. best regards from Russia 🤙

[@CircleHScuba]

That’s so cold!!!!! Haha

[@rAgnaAAAA]

I dive all year on my local lake. The water temperature fluctuate from 8°C (46°F) late Winter, early Spring to 25°C (77°F) late Summer early Autumn (Surface temp goes from -10°C (14°F) on the coldest days to 43°C (129°F) on the warmest days ). I use a 7mm semi Dry Suit all year and the only difference (apart from hoodie and gloves) is how I leave the wrist and ankle seals, my suit has double seal so i can turn one inside and water won't flow at all unless i break that seal. What I would add to other divers is: * With Gloves you just lose all your dexterity so practice at home clipping and unclipping bolt snaps SPECIALLY with 5mm or 7mm. I sacrifice my warmth/comfort and make my diving limit my hands using 3mm gloves. * If you're planning on doing multiple dives bring 2 Hoodies and swap them between dives. * HYDRATION. Please Drink Water, Unsweetened Gatorade or some kind of Isotonic pill to stay Hydrated. I've seen more ppl F them up with dehydration than hipotermia. * If you are not a Cold Water diver check regularly your SPG cause you are going to chug all that gas insanely fast. * Remember that been to HOT can accelerate Off Gassing OR On Gassing and trigger DCS (This is WAY more important if you are using Drysuit with heated undergarments). * Aqualung lip-shield does help a lil'bit.

[@CircleHScuba]

These are FANTASTIC tips! Thanks so much for sharing these too!

[@badgermoon9229]

When diving a wet suit in cold water (Lake Michigan in Dec. and Jan.) I used to bring a thermos of warm water to pre-charge my wet suit. When you start out with warm water the shock of cold water that enters is much reduced and you will stay warmer not having to sacrifice body heat to warm the water that will be entering your wet suit. Just be sure to not get it too warm so as not to scald yourself. There is no quick way to get the water out of the suit if it is too hot so take some time to assure you have the temp correct. Not much can be done about the face, so I would just bite down hard enough to make sure to keep the regulator in my mouth when my face went numb. Even better than all the above is to go online and book an airplane ticket to a warm place.

[@CircleHScuba]

The plane ticket 😂 I’ve seen too many folks burn themselves with too hot water that gets trapped in their legs then boots, so I don’t recommend it now normally. It’s nice, but if that temp is off you’re going to burn yourself, and I’ve seen 1st and 2nd degree burns come from it unfortunately

[@badgermoon9229]

@@CircleHScuba Agreed. It is easy to get the water hotter than you realize, that is why I said to make sure about the temp. I suppose a stronger warning about that was was warranted.

[@bunjeeventure]

When diving wet, make sure everything is flush and snug against you. Any air pockets like in the hood, gloves and booties will mean that body part will constantly be cold. I have to manage my long hair differently under my hood differently in cold water vs warm water otherwise I get brain freeze! 😅 Different socks to fill all the space in the booties otherwise toes will freeze even in 6.5mm booties.

[@CircleHScuba]

Great tips!!! thanks for sharing those too, wish I could add them to the video!

[@jeffconley6366]

Another, Great Video. I have gone Ice Diving when I lived up North. A long time ago. Burr I have lived in the south since 1979. No more Ice diving for me. If changing outside don't forget a nice thick mat to change on. You mentioned sealed regulators. Basically you are referring to first stages. For second stages all metal ones are less likely to freeze. Since all metal second stages are rare now. Look for the ones with a metal air barrel. Metal transfers heat better than plastic. Your breath will keep the metal warmer.

[@CircleHScuba]

Thanks Jeff! I’d like to try it but it’s not gonna be something I do regularly lol

[@CircleHScuba]

Our quarry is high 40s now and I taught an open water class in it, so still cold haha

[@jeffconley6366]

Still to cold for me. 😊

[@mikeadam6776]

An insulated ice fishing shack with a heater work wonderful. Just set it close to the hole and all is good.

[@CircleHScuba]

I need to look that up, I haven’t ice fished before!

[@jeffconley6366]

Congrats on 12,000 subscribers!😊

[@CircleHScuba]

Thanks Jeff!!!! Crazy milestones!

[@johndavid7783]

Well if you look up tobermory in ontario it's awesome ship wrecks . Water temp can play between low 40 to 70 degrees depending where you dive. And there is Brookville ontario where you dive the st Laurence river . People forget about canada but we do have great places to dive . 😁

[@CircleHScuba]

I have friends up north that said they’d take me ice diving 🤣 But those warmer temps aren’t bad!

[@johndavid7783]

I did ice diving and I found it cool . Water is crystal clear. I found it's a lot of work and you need a suport team and lots of prep for a 30 to 45 min dive. That being said it is fun .

[@SummersideDiver]

Thanks for another great video. Lavacore (and the like) is another great option for layering- it’s a felt liked thin neoprene under layer for wet and semi-dry suits. And for those that have not yet experienced a thermocline, you’ll know when you pass into it.

[@CircleHScuba]

Yes! I use exowear from bare but it’s similar to lavacore, sharkskin, etc

[@Suleku]

Lol just fly out to the southern hemisphere when it gets cold up north 😅

[@CircleHScuba]

🤣🤣

[@MrBear2002]

15.5 degrees Celsius. lol. That is about the warmest it ever gets here in Canada. You get that for about 3 weeks. It’s 2 degrees here now….. wish we had warmer water.

[@CircleHScuba]

I wish you had warmer water too! I want to try ice diving with some friends of mine in Canada though haha

[@souswes]

I bring several beanies. You can never have too many. Scarfs are underrated as well. You’ve got a huge artery in your neck moving tons of blood, keep it warm! Hot water thermos also great if you’re in a wet suit. Dump it down there post-dive. If you’re diving dry, I know that air at the end of the dive can feel warm….but don’t do it 😂 Full face masks are GOATed. So much great advice in this one!! Nice video brother!

[@CircleHScuba]

Thanks so much! Hot water down the wetsuit is something I don’t recommend actually because people think pouring boiling hot liquid is good 😬 “Luke warm” is ok, but I’ve had friends who are instructors recommend students pour hot water down their suits, and in at least two cases, the water was too hot, pooled in the calves area around the ankles, and the student got 2nd degree burns in one case and 1st degree in the other case. I mean, luke warm is fine, but if you say “pour hot water down” sometimes people take that literally and get WAY too hot of water 😭

[@souswes]

@@CircleHScubagreat point

[@josephdracula7487]

👍🥶🤿🇵🇭! I envy those who can do cold water diving. Even as I dive in warm waters in the tropics I can get cold depending on my depth and even if the sun is shining. As cloudy days without the sun I may need a thicker wetsuit and a shorter dive which is a little embarrassing to me as others are in a rash guard only and find the temperature great! So I guess without saying this is a must for me to get dry suit certified 🥶!

[@CircleHScuba]

Haha, everyone has different cold tolerance so I think it’s totally fine that you get cold easier 😎

[@redpepper70]

awesome video. i spearfishing at the NorCal area. it is getting pretty cold during winter. I bring hot water in my portable sports cooler for hot shower after dive.

[@CircleHScuba]

That’s always nice for sure with a portable shower too. Just be careful with too hot after scuba diving, that nitrox buildup can be released faster with hot showers, it’s one of the ways people sometimes get bent is a really hot shower or hot tub after repetitive dives at depth. Studies vary on the subject but just calling it out 🤙

[@Mike-bq4ot]

As a slight twist of your topic, when the weather turns cold and the water in your go-to dive spots is 60F or less, consider coming down to Florida and diving our many fresh water springs and caverns. Because they're fed by the Florida aquifer which stays at a constant 72F year 'round it's a great alternative for us cold water wimps to stay wet even during our "winter".🤣

[@CircleHScuba]

Very true haha. I’ll be in the FL Springs teaching some classes at the end of March actually 😅

[@HenryWilson-vr8td]

first and love the vids keep it up

[@CircleHScuba]

Thanks!!! Congrats on being first haha

[@MopH3ad]

Its always cold water diving in the UK lol

[@CircleHScuba]

True lol

[@johnrockland18]

Living in canada, we do not have the same parameters for "cold water" 😂😂😂 Is it covered by ice ? No ? Its warm 😁

[@CircleHScuba]

That’s why I said this is for cold water and not ice diving 😅

[@amadeuss3341]

Hand warmers is a bit tricky when you use drysuit and Nitrox , ask me how i know 😂

[@CircleHScuba]

Hmm, explain how so? I’m talking about using them mostly before and after diving not so much in the dry glove during a dive haha

[@amadeuss3341]

@CircleHScuba the chemicals inside react to oxygen. When you use higher content , they are getting hotter, - I would say uncomfortable hotter 🤣 at the same time if you using argon - they don't get hot at all after few minutes, since they used up all the available oxygen.

[@CircleHScuba]

Oh man, yeah idk if I’d try putting my hand warmers into a closed system like that haha. Same reason I refuse to use heated undergarments (for now) haha

[@amadeuss3341]

@CircleHScuba there is a company (not sure of the name ) who makes an inflation valve with wiring passed thru. Basically, the idea is that the battery is located outside where you have access. But it introduces new problems, keeping water away from battery packs and etc. So the only solution is to dive naked - be a man 🤣🤣

[@CircleHScuba]

100th dive every dive? 😂😂

[@romanmelnikov9834]

No offence but it's funny all you say. You american have no real cold waters in USA and u are giving tips 🤣 Scandinavian (or maybe Russian) divers are ones who knows what real cold water is. Water temp is 4C most of the time here and everything above is considered warm water. Here is whats considered normal setup to dive our waters. Depth doesn't matter temp is the same at all depths, time is what matters. Lets say you wanna do 2-3h DPV dive (DPV makes u cold MUCH more, some would 100% more). You need drysuit and dryhood. You need two layers of merino thermoactive underwear. Than you put either Santi heated vest or Santi heated Flex 2.0 undersuit AND on TOP of that you put heated Santi BZ400. So you have two electric heated layers. If you say 7mm wetsuit makes you feel like michelin man than u are funny dude 🤣 Taking 18-20kg of lead is nothing unsual. For hands you get yourself Santi heated gloves and another pair of some thermoactive/polar pair of gloves on top of them to keep warmth in. For your feet get 3 pairs of merino socks. You need your drysuit boots 2-3 sizes bigger than your actual feet to do that. To run all these heated undergarments you need four 24ah batteries on you. All these is just for fun dives with no deco ceiling so you can surface anytime when u get cold. If you do tec dive with long deco where u don't move much you take even more batteries as redundant source. FFM is not acceptable in tec diving so nobody is using it. We just use face creams/vaseline for exposed parts of face and lips. For inflating your drysuit we use argon which is much warmer than air.

[@CircleHScuba]

That’s another level of cold for sure. I’d say that’s basically ice diving, which I said isn’t what I was detailing though. Just colder water tips overall haha.