Freedom, shark skin or smoothskin?

[DivingDane]

Hi guys

i have been wearing OMER mimetic suits for the last while for spearing and have been VERY happy with them

My Question is i am looking for a strictly freediving suit, so the more comfortable and efficient it is the better.

So i know its going to be 3mm open cell, 2 piece with pants not long johns but what im stuck on is this.

which is a batter performing outer:
1) Freedom (elios are using it)
2) Shark skin
3) traditional smooth skin

the shark skin intrigues me a bit so if anybody has had experience between them or has any comments let them fly!

Thanks

DD

[salibandy]

What I know about shark skin is that people use it for cave exploration. It's tougher than smoothskin and will resist more nicks than smoothskin.

I've never heard of Freedom, Freedown you mean?

[DivingDane]

Freedown may be the one, its the new fandagled neoprene Elios are using for their high end freediving suits no doubt if they think its the beez neez then it is probably the best thing around.

Thanks for the info on shark skin

DD

[Lazuli]

Ive been using a pretty retro looking 2 piece "sharkskin" suit for most of my dives this year. I would not say that it offers any hydrodynamic improvements but it is very hard wearing. So far most of my clambering in and out of the sea on barnacle encrusted rocks has not left a scratch on the suit. It also looks cool in black!

[salibandy]

Ooh, any pictures?

[apnea queen]

go for the freedown silver,red,blue the colors up to you!my choice for vis is silver just like lara croft-tomb raider

[Lazuli]

Originally Posted by salibandy

Ooh, any pictures?

I will see what I can find!

[Lazuli]

Originally Posted by salibandy

Ooh, any pictures?

Ok, here are some pics of my sharkskin suit. It has a real retro look to it when its on - makes you look like a SPECTRE frogman from a James Bond flick. I read somewhere that the texture of the outer sharkskin increases the surface area, but to what end I am not sure.

[DivingDane]

That is one cool looking suit, now all you need is the matching mask and speargun and you'll be laughing!

DD

[Lazuli]

The trouble is sharkskin slows you down in the water. Its ideal for the rough stuff when out mingling with barnacles and mussels etc, but when compared with, say, a smoothskin freediving suit, its like having an anchor tied behind you. The sharkskin texture also carries bubbles down with it so you look as if you are fizzing. I reckon that also adds to buoyancy. I recently purchased an Elios smoothskin suit and the difference between the two is stark. With the smooth outer one glides through the water with noticeably less effort and more economy of movement. However, a coated outer is soooo much tougher and gives much more peace of mind around rocks. I think I need a proper spearfishing suit