Cristina Zenato

Cristina Zenato Instagram – What is cold? Is it a specific temperature, or a personal feeling that changes due to situations, life (younger or older), being used to a particular climate, diving frequently or not, being a woman, or a man?
The PADI manual recommends planning a dive 10ft deeper when the water is cold. I always ask my students: When should we consider planning 10ft deeper?
The answer is personal.
Cold is personal, it is affected by many variables that it will never even be the same for us under the same circumstances.
When I dive, I want to be focused on the dive; I like to be alert and comfortable to take care of my divers, and students. Being cold is a deterrent factor, it can be debilitating and distracting, and if not taken care of, it can lead to dangerous situations fueled by poor and slow decision-making.
This year, I have upgraded to a semi-dry wetsuit for all my shark adventures.
Its first test run on our last ten-day liveaboard trip was outstanding. We completed dives up to two and a half hours, and I never once felt a hint of being cold, no goosebumps, and no shivering. The heated vests we had previously used with our thinner suits stayed stashed in the cabin the entire time.
I cringe when people post a 😂 or try to make it a competition on “how cold” it is where they are compared to me. I find it demeaning and disrespectful. It is a trend I notice in some of my posts. I don’t care; I wear what I need to feel comfortable and ready, however, that attitude and mindset can lead newer and less secure divers to make the incorrect thermal choice, fearing being ridiculed for their need to feel warm and comfortable.
It is time we understand that each person is different and that instead of telling someone which suit they need for “warm” water, we tell them what the water temperature is and ask them what they used before and what was the water temperature there and how they felt during the dives, and even after the dives so we can assist in making an educated estimate of the best suit for their needs.
📸@kewinlorenzen @waterproofinternational | Posted on 28/Jan/2024 18:18:57