Wet suit vs dry suit for cold water harbor work - what's your take?

I'm working a pier job in Seattle right now and the water is sitting around 48 degrees. My usual crew is split right down the middle. Half say go with a 7mm wet suit and stack on some hot water between dives. The other half say dry suit is the only safe play for multiple hours in the water. I went with a dry suit my first day and it was fine but the dexterity loss in my hands was rough for the bolt removal work. A buddy who used a wet suit had to call it after 90 minutes because he was shivering too bad. What do you guys pick when the water hits the low 50s and you've got a full shift?

2 comments

2 Comments

sandra7151mo ago

Oh man, that's a tough spot! I've been in almost that exact situation down in Portland. So when your buddy had to tap out after 90 minutes in the wet suit, was he using a hood and good booties too? I feel like that's the make or break detail nobody talks about. I had a 7mm with a cheap hood once and my head got cold so fast it ruined the whole dive. I'm just curious if he was fully sealed up or if he was trying to save on gear somewhere.

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piper1751mo ago

90 minutes in wet suit is basically a rental fee for hypothermia if your hood doesn't fit right, and @sandra715 you're totally right that's the hidden boss of cold water. My buddy was fully sealed up with a 7mm and good booties but his hood was old and let water flush in right at the neck, which is like trying to stay warm with a window open in January. Cheap hoods are just fancy ice packs for your head honestly.