2014 lunocet

[Fondueset]

Hi Triton,

If you are dealing with Elios, ask them about neoprene. My newest suit is neither heiwa nor yamamoto - but something they said combines some of the best properties of both. As for thickness - I find 3 mil starts losing it's charm much below about 66f - unless you are
doing something really active. Pure freediving needs more insulation (I'm talking relatively stationary dives in the 3 minute range). I've used my 3 mil down to 45 degrees, but it makes for shortish sessions.

Heiwa is sturdy but will get stiff after about 3 years or so,
if the suit is open in and smooth out, it will start to blow out when you put it on - so you'll want to plan on a new one every 3 or 4 years.
Yamamoto is very soft and comfortable - open cell in is also very slippery - you still need lube but the suit goes on very easily. It is, however, quite compressible - so if you spend much time in cold water below 50-60 feet or so it could be a bit chilly.

For a first suit I usually recommend you get nylon out/open cell in. You can get various coatings on the open cell but they don't really do much. My first Elios suit, which is now about 8 years old, is still going strong. It's Heiwa open cell in, nylon out and is on it's second owner. My warm water suit is 3 mil with nylon IN - a first for me but I'm liking it. My cold suit is 5 mil yamamoto and feels like a layer of fat.

 

[Chipswim]

Wow!
There is a wealth of insight in the last couple of pages.! Thanks for feeding the hungry minds!

 

[Triton1715]

Hi Triton,

If you are dealing with Elios, ask them about neoprene. My newest suit is neither heiwa nor yamamoto - but something they said combines some of the best properties of both. As for thickness - I find 3 mil starts losing it's charm much below about 66f - unless you are
doing something really active. Pure freediving needs more insulation (I'm talking relatively stationary dives in the 3 minute range). I've used my 3 mil down to 45 degrees, but it makes for shortish sessions.

Heiwa is sturdy but will get stiff after about 3 years or so,
if the suit is open in and smooth out, it will start to blow out when you put it on - so you'll want to plan on a new one every 3 or 4 years.
Yamamoto is very soft and comfortable - open cell in is also very slippery - you still need lube but the suit goes on very easily. It is, however, quite compressible - so if you spend much time in cold water below 50-60 feet or so it could be a bit chilly.

For a first suit I usually recommend you get nylon out/open cell in. You can get various coatings on the open cell but they don't really do much. My first Elios suit, which is now about 8 years old, is still going strong. It's Heiwa open cell in, nylon out and is on it's second owner. My warm water suit is 3 mil with nylon IN - a first for me but I'm liking it. My cold suit is 5 mil yamamoto and feels like a layer of fat.

Thank you very much for the suit recommendations! Could you please quickly clarify one aspect for me. When referencing temperature (i.e. 3mil losing its charm past 66f), is that surface temperature or temperature at depth (since we have that nasty thermocline to deal with)? For that matter, do you have thickness recommendation for our area from say late May through early October? Thanks again for all the help!

 

[Fondueset]

Thank you very much for the suit recommendations! Could you please quickly clarify one aspect for me. When referencing temperature (i.e. 3mil losing its charm past 66f), is that surface temperature or temperature at depth (since we have that nasty thermocline to deal with)? For that matter, do you have thickness recommendation for our area from say late May through early October? Thanks again for all the help!

Hi Triton, I see you are down in Grand Haven. For three season diving there is really no decision if you are just getting one suit - 5 mil. PM me if you want details, but 5 mil is the only thing that will get you through the dates you've mentioned.

 

[Triton1715]

Hi Triton, I see you are down in Grand Haven. For three season diving there is really no decision if you are just getting one suit - 5 mil. PM me if you want details, but 5 mil is the only thing that will get you through the dates you've mentioned.

Thank you very much Fondueset! Your help is extremely appreciated since you have such a wealth of knowledge pertaining to the exact location I'll be diving (wont be down here. I will probably only dive in TC). I'll send you a PM for the last bit of order details if that's still okay with you.

Thank you very much once again!

 

[neurodoc]

Here is a peek into my daily routine. One of the benefits of the Lunocet fins is visible here-my Xterra wetsuits bag that I use as my swim bag has not one, but 2 Lunocets-one classic and one Pro, center snorkel, towel, swimsuit, mask, spare parts, kickboard, swim cap, goggles, plus a few small items like some castille soap for after swim ;-) All fits in one bag that fits easily in the trunk of a Mini Cooper. Hopefully swimming after work today.

Bonus points for spotting other freediving paraphernalia!

 

[marginatus]

Here is a peek into my daily routine. One of the benefits of the Lunocet fins is visible here-my Xterra wetsuits bag that I use as my swim bag has not one, but 2 Lunocets-one classic and one Pro, center snorkel, towel, swimsuit, mask, spare parts, kickboard, swim cap, goggles, plus a few small items like some castille soap for after swim ;-) All fits in one bag that fits easily in the trunk of a Mini Cooper. Hopefully swimming after work today. View attachment 38114 Bonus points for spotting other freediving paraphernalia!

breathology book stands out... you forgot to me mention the watch in the bag..
Also the helmet for high speed miscalculated turns

 

[neurodoc]

I had not noticed Breathology till after I took the pic; does fit in well! I don't do flip turns much yet, so it's my hands that reach the wall first LOL... +2 for also noticing the watch. It's a cheapo $20 dive/sport watch from WalMart that serves as a timer and stopwatch. I used a bit of silicone grease around the switches; it has worked over a year now. Need one with a depth gauge soon. I hope to do some lake dives and swims with the Lunocet in addition to spearfishing. I live next to a huge manmade lake (Greers Ferry Lake). I am hoping to explore Ted's hydrotouring concept when the weather warms up a bit more (or not, might try it this weekend with a wetsuit!)

 

[marginatus]

so it's my hands that reach the wall first LOL...

If really miss calculated, the head can meet the wall too
I once was helping a buddy to relax more... he relaxed so much that we wanted to do 26m in a 25m pool

 

[neurodoc]

Ouch! Sometimes fins make us faster than we thought! I had a great swim tonight-found the sweet spot for me with the Lunocet Pro and was able to swim smoother than I ever have before. It felt like the water was just letting me slip through quietly...so peaceful and yet I was moving pretty fast. I swam a kilometer, about half on the surface and half underwater. This was without a doubt the most efficiently I've ever gone; was able to do the same practice sequence as usual and did not feel out of breath-did not really feel like I had to work hard at all. The glide on this fin is amazing to me!

 

[marginatus]

Hello Marginatus,

Please send me an email with your invoice number and I will see where you Luno is.. thanks.

@Ted Ciamillo
Hi Ted, I sent the email on Wednesday with "Marginatus" and order # in the subject

 

[Chipswim]

Marginatus,

Been thinking that you and Noa might be next to post a message that yours have arrived. Not that I would actually know of course.... Seems Noa's has been trans Atlantic for a while already. Maybe Noa is in the water swimming up his first impressions.

I bet your tracking # will cause frequent visits to the postal web site!

Looking forward to the day actual arrivals remain exciting but are less news worthy!

 

[marginatus]

Marginatus,

Been thinking that you and Noa might be next to post a message that yours have arrived. Not that I would actually know of course.... Seems Noa's has been trans Atlantic for a while already. Maybe Noa is in the water swimming up his first impressions.

I bet your tracking # will cause frequent visits to the postal web site!

Looking forward to the day actual arrivals remain exciting but are less news worthy!

I already check things like crazy for a while now... Noa will have it wayyyyyy sooner (I'm assuming mine isn't shiped yet and also shipping to Azores takes some time as it goes to mainland first)...
I have some tests waiting for it .
I'll use it for DYN, CW and will definatly try it for BW hunting (heck, maybe even shore spearfishing)... we'll see

thanks for providing us with brain/eye candy in the meanwhile

 

[cdavis]

marginatus:

When you get to spearfishing/reef crawling, I'd be very interested in how the Lunacet handles. I found the Dol-fin was much more maneuverable than a traditional mono and much better for the type of diving I do. I could spearfish with it. How is the Lunacet in that area?

 

[marginatus]

marginatus:

When you get to spearfishing/reef crawling, I'd be very interested in how the Lunacet handles. I found the Dol-fin was much more maneuverable than a traditional mono and much better for the type of diving I do. I could spearfish with it. How is the Lunacet in that area?

Ted told me I would be surprised with the manoeuvrability... I believe it should be better then a traditional mono but I need it to find out...

 

[Chipswim]

Personally, Not spearing anything... Yet!..... I'm wondering if you are attempting to pursue agile fish that know it is best to elude you. Seems that would be some serious maneuverability! Or do you stop in a likely spot and hope one comes by while you are still pink? Then suddenly get maneuverable trying to land them?

I looked at some of Fondueset's incredible pictures. Some of his fish look like they could make a real serious project out of returning to the surface especially with your heart wanting to respond to the contest. Marveled at the courage to capture LARGE ones like that!

 

[Triton1715]

Have you tried swimming parallel with the fish? I've had a lot of success swimming along side more skittish fish while only occasionally looking in their direction and generally avoiding eye contact if possible. You need to be offset by a fairly wide margin, but along side, not behind them. Once you travel with them a little ways and maintain the gap (sometimes a bit more difficult while freediving) they realize you aren't a threat and will let you get very, very close. . like less than a 3 feet (even had the fin of one brush against my face). Using this technique, there isn't a fish I've yet encountered that I can't get relatively close to. . . though walleye are difficult because when I find them, I usually only see the tips of their fins and it's hard to stay offset to them as they are always just out of my visual range and I can't quite determine which way they are headed in that brief glimpse.

 

[Triton1715]

Me too

Triton, I'm talking about photography.

 

[Fondueset]

Me too

Hi Triton, For me it's about getting the composition I want. I've been in physical contact with most of the species around here - I don't want that - it's not good for them and doesn't make good pictures. In terms of the lunocet, I think it will stir up the bottom less than a conventional mono fin. Swimming with them, while fun, is not particularly conducive to good photography. Walleye have about a 90 second attention span and will get right in your face if you stay still, once they get bored though it's a real bitch getting next to them.

Unless they are sleeping on the bottom - in which case you can pretty much make out with them if you want to.

 

[Triton1715]

Hi Triton, For me it's about getting the composition I want. I've been in physical contact with most of the species around here - I don't want that - it's not good for them and doesn't make good pictures. In terms of the lunocet, I think it will stir up the bottom less than a conventional mono fin. Swimming with them, while fun, is not particularly conducive to good photography. Walleye have about a 90 second attention span and will get right in your face if you stay still, once they get bored though it's a real bitch getting next to them.

Unless they are sleeping on the bottom - in which case you can pretty much make out with them if you want to.

Precisely. Though your experience may vary, I've had much more luck composing shots with the technique I mentioned rather than aspetto style photography ;-). (Wonder if that term has been copyrighted? Lol). Reason being though is that while remaining nearly motionless the fish will swim up to you, you are usually at their mercy to compose the shot you want since most movements will spook them away from you. Using the above technique lets you move around them without spooking them resulting in a much greater flexibility of shot composition (learned this technique from a number of really good U/W photographers. . . Cathy Church and Courtney Platt in particular). This also helps with the fact that if you wish to get full spectrum colors, assuming you are using a strobe, you need to be within 3ft of your subject or you can kiss the reds goodbye.

Meh, just one more tool in the box for those that may be interested in U/W photography for what it's worth.

Naturally, you are quite right. Physical contact should be avoided and if they are that close, unless you're using a wide angle lens, you're going to end up with a fisheye one way or another ;-).