Are waders good enough? and What to wear?

[Bence]

I have recently started going into the water, have done it twice so far, wearing waders, thus, was only able to go hip deep at best, though I'm 6.3" that would be wais deep for some? I have read on forums such as this and including, water hunters mentioning being waist deep.

I hardly had targets on those occasions let alone treasure, so should I go deeper and wear a wetsuit? Or it could have been other factors, but I should ask, how deep in the water do most of you guys go?

If the weather is hot you don't have to wear a wetsuit or anything, if it's too cold then you do, but what if it's somewhere in between (a bit warm), then doesn't it get hot underneath or is it still ok to wear even when slightly hot?

I am considering buying a pair, but summer is approaching.

 

[Bling]

when i lived in Ohio i would ware a 5mill wet suit until the water got down in the 60's... in the winter there around Xmas iv done well hunting the winter pool after the lake drawdown and the water temp would be in the 40's.then i would ware a snow mobile suit under chest waders.id get a lot of loot out by the diving platforms that was normally in 12'...i now live on the east coast and ware a 2 mill wet suit,its warm enough and keeps the Jelly Fish off! i hunt out as far as neck deep but with a wet suit on i need about 20lb led weights so i dont float up when i dig.iv even thought about making some kind of stilts to walk on so i could go out deeper.LOL! but the thought of falling off with led weights on somehow just changed my mind!

 

[Bence]

Where I live, in winter it gets around 10 - 15 during the day and in summer it can go as high as 42. The highest it's been as far as I know was 44. [size=medium]CELSIUS![/size]

So when it's just a bit warm (thus the water will be slightly cold to cold) you wear thinner a wetsuit?

How do you cope detecting at neck deep, is it hard?

 

[McDyver]

All I do is fresh water but here's what works for me. Waders for calm water and hard bottom and not much competition. Dry suit with ankle weights and 12 to 16 lbs on a belt for beaches with soft bottom so I don't sink over my waders and also to get targets between mid chest and neck deep. Test your buoyancy in shallow water so you still float in case you step in a hole or off a ledge. I also dive when I have time, that is by far my favorite way to go! There are some very inexpensive dry suits on the market, and a good used one better yet. Good hunting!

 

[Bling]

just what makes you comfortable.just remember you can get hypothermia pretty easy if your body temp drops too far..here in the summer the air temp will run around 90' and the water will reach 85 or so.at that temp you dont need a wet suit other than to keep the jelly fish off you...in the winter here it can get down to 30' and that cools the water here on the Atlantic Ocean to about 55' then you would want a thicker wet suit like a 5 or 7 mill.the thicker the mill the warmer you will be.but in Extream low water temp like 30/40 id get a dry suit and ware insolated long johns under it in layers..with a dry suit you dont get wet so its easy to stay warm..or just get some good chest wadders and ware a snow mobile suit under it..hunting neck deep is no problem after you do it a few times.the hard part is pinpointing the target.when i find the target with my coil,just set your left foot to the edge of the coil and scoop beside your foot..after a few digg's you will get the hang of it...the bad thing about wadders is you must always be aware of your depth as you scoop.at times water will spill over them and ruin your day! and i dont think many people will be swimming in the temps you mentioned?
Where I live, in winter it gets around 10 - 15 during the day and in summer it can go as high as 42. The highest it's been as far as I know was 44. [size=medium]CELSIUS![/size]

So when it's just a bit warm (thus the water will be slightly cold to cold) you wear thinner a wetsuit?

How do you cope detecting at neck deep, is it hard?

 

[sandman256]

A wet suit is safer than waders and the shorty is comfortable too, plus if ya gotta go ya can. Jewelry can be found at any depth with most being at knee to waist deep because this is where people splash each other. Many hunters don't go out chest deep so that could be virgin territory at your beach. I dive too if the need is there to check out a dive raft or a boat sinks. Even in warmer water the body loses heat to the colder water which makes the use of a wet suit nice for being comfortable for longer periods. If you get to warm you can always open the zipper to let in more cool water, but if your to cold there isn't much you can do right then.

 

[Bence]

Thanks for all advice

 

[ashmonkey]

i have used waders for digging in a lot of english rivers, but would not recommend them, the rubber tends to be quite thin , and it,s easy to split them even on oyster shells etc, get a wetsuit far better investment

 

[Cupajo]

I have used neoprene waders in different thicknesses for different weather conditions (temperatures) for many years.

Years ago I hunted through the winter with heavy (5 Mil.) waders, wearing thermal underwear, hat, and insulated coveralls and lined shoulder high rubber gloves to

hunt water so cold there were huge blocks of ice floating about. (A challenge when ice instantly formed on the scoop handle.)

Some have developed leaks (which can often be repaired), but usually only after I've used them hard.

As a tall person using waders with thin rain jacket cinched under a web belt at chest height (to help keep water from easily spilling over into the waders),

I have been able to hunt as deep as I wished.

It's been my experience that most of my finds have been no more than 30-40 feet from the water's edge.

That is where I will spend most of my efforts.

When finds get rare I head out deeper.

Any deeper and I would go with a dry suit (in winter) or a thin wet suit in summer to ward off jellyfish and weights to keep my feet firmlly planted when I dig.

GL&HH Friends,

Cupajo

 

[gmanlight]

If you use waders take a look at kayak sport tops thay have sinch cord around waist neck and wrist

and could deflect the dreaded rouge wave that sneaks up on you

as said in HILL STREET BLUES be carefull out there

 

[Cupajo]

I have had good luck with a water proof rain jacket from Walmart for a lot less money.

Cupajo

 

[gmanlight]

Or you could get self inflating life vest after all you only get one [life that is ]

 

[bdahunter]

In the winter here (Bermuda) the water is cool enough that I will start wearing the either the farmer John or the shortie wet suit around November, I'll add the farmer John over top of the shortie around February and then drop back to one or the other come April. The rest of the year it's swim suit and a Tee.
I wouldn't risk my neck in a set of hip waders and occassionally I wear an inflatable life vest when the rip currents are running.

Cheers,

 

[Bence]

Last time I went I just wore a jumper over my waders and when I took the waders off it looked like I had a bit of an accident Water proof jacket sounds good, though my waders left a big red mark around my waist not sure I want to wear waders anymore summer's comming up anyhow...