Cressi Suits?

[heebes]

hey i was wondering if any of you have any experience with Cressi apnea wetsuits, either the Super Competition or the Competition. i am really looking into getting one, probably the Cressi Super Competition. i would just like to know if they are worth it?

[Pezman]

I have a Cressi Competition and I'm pretty happy with it. I've used it in fairly cold water -- e.g. 2 hours of free-diving in 44 F water and sub-30 F air, 2-hour snorkeling sessions (no deep dives) in water that was right at the freezing point etc. I hate to get cold and I found the suit to be plenty comfortable on all those dives. Note that I'm a whimp when it comes to cold -- I wear a Tilos 3-2 jumpsuit in the heated pool when I work out.

The Competition is very warm, fairly comfortable and pretty reasonably priced. On the other hand, it's not Yamamoto rubber or whatever, so my buddy claims that the neoprene will get crushed thinner over time. My only other criticism is that the straps on the farmer-johns are a little flimsy -- I'm afraid that I will tear this suit some day, but it hasn't happened yet.

I also use the suit occasionaly for SCUBA, but the neoprene is so compliant that it thins out considerably at depth and I tend to get a little chilly on deeper dives.

In retrospect, I would have paid the extra to get a Super-competition.

[Bindlestitch]

I just bought the super comp. I can't recommend this suit enough. I used it last weekend in 40 degree water with 30 degree air temps. I didn't even notice the cold. It is amazing. I'm new to free diving so I can't speak about the performance at any serious depths so I'll leave that up to the old pros.
Imho it's worth every penny I paid for it.
God bless,
Israel

[Getor]

Finaly received my new Cressi Sub Competition 5 mm, and I just had to get out to try it.

In my part of Norway you'll still find parts of the sea covered by ice. Anyhow, together with a good friend of mine with his new Picasso Shadow 5 mm we plunged into the 1C/34 F cold water.

I was suprised to notice that I was completely dry exept a tiny droplet going down my spine. Viz was poor 1, 5 meter max so we sayed in the water for only 45 min. Both of us was still very warm and could have stayed there for hours.

So both suits gets warm recommandations from the Vikings up North.

[Jersey Jim]

Heebes, the group I dive with have comps and supercomps. I just bought a super comp. a month and a half ago, but haven't tried it yet. Been using a 5mm Seac Sub, but the plush lining inside allows too much water movement for very cold water. I wish I could help you, but from two years of reports on the super comp., I felt confident it was the way to go for cold water. I expect to need about 7 or 8 pounds (3-3.5 kg) of weight though. Used to use 1.8 Kg with the old suit.

Good luck with your purchase,
Jim

[Jon]

I spent 2 hours inthe water with my super-comp yesterday and only got out because I was out of film. I stayed very warm and the ice isn't completly off the lakes yet. 3 very important things that Ihave added for cold water freediving are:
1- Picasso 3-finger mitts
2-Henderson ice cap
3- OMER 6mm booites with the leg seals on them

Jon