Posted by brianc on November 14, 2000 at 14:42:07:
In Reply to: Re: OT, but on the other side of the spectrum, posted by MHK on November 14, 2000 at 14:00:14:
This is a question that I have been dealing with recently.
It is not uncommon for me to be in 20ft or less of +/- 50F water with low viz watching over an OW class. I'm basically sitting for 20-30 minutes getting cold. Not close to dangerously cold, but not comfortable like I am once I start swimming or if I am deeper and have more air in my suit.
I'm not going to swim around and take my attention away from the students. That's an absolute. I've got plenty of thermal protection for a normal diving situation. Any more and I would sweat to death on the surface. I added a couple of extra pounds to allow me to put in some air to maintain loft. This works, but I keep looking for alternatives. I don't think that Argon is going to happen. I already spend enough on these classes and I have been very comfortable on pleasure dives down to 44F. But hey, all suggestions considered - including "Stop whining about being cold in cold water."