SCUBA in Hawaii

[ttown]

Any Hawaiians here? Or divers that have been to Oahu?

I'm about to go to Oahu and will be going scuba diving.

Several of the scuba outfits I've researched advertise "everything included"
...and then go on to list: mask, snorkel, fins, bcd, regulator, tanks

None of them are advertising wetsuits -- so are they needed?

Most of the pictures I've seen of people diving at the sites I'm interested in show people in suits -- some full, some shorties.

Are they needed? If so, are they hiding the fact they'll rent you one for "a little extra"? Or do I have to find one elsewhere?

Planned depths are 100' at most -- probably 60' or less. I know it's the tropics, but I have my worries that it'll be too cold.
Everything I'm considering is a two-dive site combo -- so without a suit I'm especially worried about dive#2, when my body temp would be low from dive#1.

Anybody?

(and assuming I need a suit, where to rent near waikiki?)

Thanks
ttown

edit: Just got back. Suits were included, but not completely necessary. Water was mid-70's all the way to 100'. We could have lived without the suits -- but they did keep any chill from setting in between dives.

 

[xanis]

The place will probably rent you a suit. Shouldn't bee too much.

 

[buck]

I have buddies who go spearfishing off Maui a lot and they wear full suits when going deep. The water off of Hawaii isnt as warm as other tropical areas.

 

[moonbit]

My husband just did some diving off the Big Island. I don't know if there's any difference. He used a full wetsuit, but a thinner one than what he normally uses (most of his dives are off the coast of CA).

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/PH/150.html

Figure it will be 78-80 at the surface and drop as you go deeper. My dad usually wears a short suit. I don't know anything about SCUBA. His suit has short sleeves and ends about mid-thigh.

Of course, he usually dives in 38 degree water (Dry Suit) off Whitter Alaska. So YMMV...

 

[jjones]

A 3mm shortie or a 2/3 full would probably be fine. I have never been diving in hawaii but if I were going, that's what I'd bring. I'd also assume that a wetsuit is available for rent from the shop but you never know, so e-mail them and check ahead.

 

[GasX]

I would definitely wear a suit. I went diving off the big island a while back. The water was warm, but it is 2 thermoclines colder at 100'

 

[geckojohn]

I don't think you'll need a wetsuit.. the water's warm in Hawaii.

 

[DrPizza]

Water temperature varies from 74 degrees F (24 degrees Celsius) in Jan, Feb, Mar to 80 degrees F (27 degrees Celsius) in July, Aug, Sept. There is no thermocline. Unless you weigh more than 200 pounds or are very warm blooded, don't even THINK of wearing just a fleece dive skin!

I've looked at other places & they report a thermocline at 60 feet or greater. But, I tend to agree with what's posted there - while 80 degree water feels warm, it's going to cool off most people over time. Most people should at least wear a 3mm shorty. here

here's another site specifically trying to answer the question of what to wear while diving in Hawaii

But, as they say, each person is different. When I was diving for my open water certification, we dove in a quarry. The water was in the high 70's (low 80's?) above the thermocline. Below the first thermocline, it was in the 50's. A very lean girl in my group had a full 7mm suit on, hoody, booties, etc. and couldn't tolerate the water below the thermocline. I had on a 5mm suit & couldn't tolerate the water above the thermocline. I'm 220 lbs and very cold tolerant. While my partner and I swam together, we stuck to a fairly steep area; he stayed above the thermocline where he was comfortable; I was about 10-15 feet below and to his side, where I was far more comfortable below the thermocline.
During lessons in a pool, I was roasting while wearing a shorty; I had to frequently unzip it to cool off; again, that girl was wearing a full 7mm suit in the pool and was shivering.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

I've been diving quite a bit in maui and kauai. A wetsuit will make you more comfortable. A shortie is fine. That being said, you wont freeze if you're new to diving...you won't be going down to 100' unless you have your advanced open water cert. If you are, they will hook you up with a suit usually.

 

[ttown]

i emailed the place shortly after i posted here but haven't had a response yet....

i'll try to figure out where to rent a shortie for a week if it's cheap -- and use it for snorkeling and playing in the water as well as scuba

a weekly rent might come close to a straight up purchase -- but i have no use for a shortie where i am (NW washington state)

ttown

 

[I Saw OJ]

I'm sure if you needed a suit finding one wouldnt be a problem. When are you going? My father is certifying my mom and a couple of their friends mid September. I cant believe they didnt even ask if I wanted to go

 

[ttown]

Just got back.

Did 2 shallow and a deep/shallow dive on two different days -- and the suits were included.

I think without them we'd have been a little on the cool side, but it would have been tolerable.
There was no noticable temp change from 30' to 100' -- probably mid 70's F the whole time.
Saw eels, turtles, rays and baby lion-fish. The other group on our boat got to see pack of dolphin swim by. Definately a highlight of our trip.

Also went to Haunama bay for snorkeling and it was awesome, too. Tons of different fish everywhere.
If anyone reading this goes, I'd recommend going very very early -- as the place was packed by early afternoon on a Wednesday.

Anyway... great diving trips!

 

[JS80]

DON'T FORGET TO BRING A TOWEL.