Old timer told me to ditch my drysuit for cold water, nearly got hypothermia

This guy named Mike who's been diving 30 years said my drysuit was overkill for 45 degree water here in Lake Michigan. I listened to him and went in with a 7mm wetsuit, and after 45 minutes my hands were shaking so bad I couldn't work the bolts. Has anyone else had a vet diver give them bad advice that almost cost you?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_karen7d ago

Some old timers forget what it was like before they got acclimated to the cold.

rosek736d ago

and honestly I think you're wrong for blaming the old timer here. You made the choice to go in that water, he didn't force you. @the_karen makes a valid point about acclimation but you also have to respect that Mike has been diving Lake Michigan for three decades and probably knows the conditions better than someone who just shows up. Maybe you didn't warm up enough before the dive or your positioning was off. People get too comfortable blaming others instead of owning their own decisions. Cold water is a personal tolerance thing and if you felt shaky you could have called the dive earlier.