Wetsuit thickness?

As I get all my gear ready for spearfishing for the first time, I'm wondering about the thickness of a wetsuit. Most of the diving I've done was in So Cal and Catalina Island, so obviously, the water was alot warmer and I could use a 3 or 5mm wetsuit. But up here, I'm not so sure. I just wanting some opinions on what thickness of a wetsuit I should be using. I will be hunting in Monterey, as well as the North Coast later this summer when I go camping. Thanks!

For a one piece fullsuit (surf style) definitely a 7mm.  Two piece farmer John I run a 7mm but am pretty sure I can get away with a 5mm.

For a one piece fullsuit (surf style) definitely a 7mm.  Two piece farmer John I run a 7mm but am pretty sure I can get away with a 5mm.

+1

I wear a two piece 7MM omer and usually have to let water in to cool down.  Unless you plan on spending a lot of time in the water I agree witht he 5MM.

Thanks guys for the quick replies. I guess I'm gonna have to get a 7mm suit. It looks like all I need to get now is a boogie board/float, and a wetsuit, and I'll be all set.

I used 7mm two piece suit.

I have a 6 MM farmer john I use for ab diving. it's too heavy for me as I have to swim with the jacket open to keep cool after a couple of dives.
Now that being said I have several mm of natural insulation to boot. So a 5 mm suit is good for those of us blessed with nautural insulation and 7 mm for those that haven't invested a lot of money in the sierra nevada brewing company products.

You may want to try and rent a couple of suits before buying though.

-Mike

Thanks for the tip Mike. I was considering that because my local dive shop rents wetsuits at around $20. And I'd hate to spend $200-300 on a suit and then have it be really uncomfortable.

Definitely rent and try em out as much as you can. I havent tried the 5mil but my thoughts with an uncomfortable used old scuba 7mil. 2piece.

-Too tight for the label size, says xl but seems like a small large. Its choking my 42in chest. Guess when you scuba or dive like the fuzz the pressure will loosen the suit once you go down. Since you dive before it might not work for you but for me,  I do 10 to 15ft with an occasional 20 so a perfect fit on land with free movement not tight is what I'll need. 

- Lugging the 20#s of lead for the thick suit can be a pain. Slapping it on when sitting on the kayak. Walking up a hill or cliff side after a dive.  It'll feel like 50# after awhile.

A good note, if you get in trouble and ditch your weightbelt a 7mill really helps when you float on your back.

I like to spend time in the water rather than doing just a dive and grab so I go with a 7mm FJ. I got the Henderson Gold Core.The stretch of this suit makes up for any bit of discomfort due to excessive pub investment and the inside of the suit dries in about a minute after you take it off which is great if you are ona boat doing any kind of repetitive dives going from one location to another.
My gf went with a Henderson Hyperstretch. Because it is so stretchy it makes it very easy to put on and take off and super comfortable in the water.

Thanks for the tip Mike. I was considering that because my local dive shop rents wetsuits at around $20. And I'd hate to spend $200-300 on a suit and then have it be really uncomfortable.

If you're price range is $2-3 hundred you should really consider an open cell wetsuit.  The difference in flexibility and warmth over a standard wetsuit is huge.  My 7mm farmer john is as flexible as the 4/3 wetsuit I surf in.