How Early Do You Get In The Water?

[blee]

Since the weather's been so great lately and spring has sprung unusually early, I got to wondering when people typically think about re-immersing themselves for the summer season. When do you think is a good time to start diving again? I know there are a few hardy (or is that 'hard core') souls who ice dive, but for the rest of us, what decides you? Temperature tolerance? Available thickness of insulation? Air temperature? Water temperature? (Buoy web site seems to be down right now. Any guesses as to river water temperature, other than 0-4C?)

[fred1diver]

I guess I'm hard core, I already have 5 dives in this year
4 ice dives at the quarry and dove the gaskin
FRED

[owlbill]

The water is apparently still in the mid 34-36F range.

[Tom Falardeau]

If God had meant me to enter water at current temperatures, I'd have enough blubber to appear in a reality show. Mind you, the viz is a lot better.... But good viz is why God made Florida Caves and the Caribbean :)

[w_desouza]

I guess I'm hard core, I already have 5 dives in this year
4 ice dives at the quarry and dove the gaskin
FRED

Sorry, I just can't see getting into any water that's less than 50 + degrees.

[Tom H]

I dive 7 mil farmer john wetsuit. I do 2 dives in a day and use my 5 fingered gloves until about early Nov. From then until early May it's one dive every 1-2 weeks from my house using 3 fingered mits. Then it's back to the former. If we spend 3 winter months in Fla. that's all out the window.

[Joel Fortune]

I spent 5 seconds in the lake this weekend without a suit at all, if you know what I mean! The warm day was deceptive.

[Guy]

I went in up to my knees to put a dock in the water...cool, veru cool!!

Hi Joel..