Thank you for your welcome.
The dive suits are two to three times thicker than a surfsuit. I do make surfsuits as well, but most surfers around here like to wear the big name brands and show off their stuff!! :-). Very few surfers who can't fit into stock sizes come to me for custom suits, but I do all of their repairs.
I have a friend who moved over here from Maine, and he said the water temps are pretty much the same, so I'd assume the suit requirements are about the same.
I will post some photos once I learn a little more about the board and where to put them.