Rant: The guy who told me to skip the hot water suit on a 45 minute dive was dead wrong

Met a diver at a bar in Galveston last spring who swore he never used hot water suits on short jobs. Said it was just extra weight and hassle. Took his advice on a 45 minute hull inspection in 52 degree water and I was shivering so bad after 20 minutes I could barely focus on the welds. Had to call it at 30 minutes and lost half a day's pay. Has anyone else had an experienced diver give you dangerously bad advice like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

hernandez.morgan10d ago

52 degrees? Dude I did a 40 minute bilge job in 60 degree water and it sucked.

craig.tessa10d ago

Wait, hold up. You did a 40 minute bilge job in water that was only 60 degrees? That's not just cold, that's like borderline hypothermia territory after that long. I've done stuff in 50 degree water and tapped out after 10 minutes because my hands stopped working. How did you even manage to hold your tools after that? Your fingers must have been like frozen sausages by the end of it.