As summer temperatures are starting to arrive, throwing the drysuit on is starting to become a rather sweaty affair. Add to that the various Covid-19 restrictions we face here in Hong Kong, it’s probably fair to say that the 2021/22 winter season hasn’t been the easiest one in which to dive.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m sure many of you from cooler climates are in stitches at the fact that we use drysuits at all in the tropics. For me, as soon as the mercury drops below 24°C, I’m diving dry.
We were out yesterday and the water is definitely warming up. I registered a “bottom” temperature of 22°C at the cavernous depth of 5m, but the surface was around 23°C. Unfortunately, the rise in temps has also meant a drop in visibility to around 3m. In the past few weeks, we’ve been experiencing 6-8m on average, which is lovely for Hong Kong.
I’ll be out again this weekend, and with 30°C forecast above water, it won’t be long before I’m reaching for the 5mm. In all honesty, I’m looking forward to not carrying so much lead around with me! Let’s hope that some nice weather and less rigorous Covid-19 restrictions make the start of the summer season a great one.