2mm vs 3mm Wetsuits

[arnau]

Hi,

This is my first post, so maybe I should introduce myself: I'm Arnaud, 32. I have been living on a small island near Okinawa for almost 3 years and I have been doing spearfishing for almost 2 years rather intensively and I really enjoy it! Feel free to get in touch if you happen to come or live nearby! ;-)

I have a question regarding wetsuits. After using Beuchat and Salvimar wetsuits open cells wetsuits which never fit me properly, I have decided to go custom-made and order at Elios. As everybody knows, the number of choices available is a little overwhelming ;-). Anyway, I have finally decided to take a 3mm Yamamoto 45 cell inside and Nylon superstretch outside.

What I'm hesitating now is whether to order also a 2mm jacket only (and wear a rashguard as pants) for summer when spearfishing for 4 to 5 hours, or if wearing the 3mm Yamamoto 45 jacket only without hood (and thus order it with detached hood, instead of incorporated as I initially planned) would not make such a difference warmth-wise?

According to Elios, the difference warmth-wise between the 2mm and 3mm is quite noticeable so they said it's worth it, but I would like to have some feedbacks from people having both 2mm and 3mm wetsuits?

Thanks!

 

[prospector]

Hi,

This is my first post, so maybe I should introduce myself: I'm Arnaud, 32. I have been living on a small island near Okinawa for almost 3 years and I have been doing spearfishing for almost 2 years rather intensively and I really enjoy it! Feel free to get in touch if you happen to come or live nearby! ;-)

I have a question regarding wetsuits. After using Beuchat and Salvimar wetsuits open cells wetsuits which never fit me properly, I have decided to go custom-made and order at Elios. As everybody knows, the number of choices available is a little overwhelming ;-). Anyway, I have finally decided to take a 3mm Yamamoto 45 cell inside and Nylon superstretch outside.

What I'm hesitating now is whether to order also a 2mm jacket only (and wear a rashguard as pants) for summer when spearfishing for 4 to 5 hours, or if wearing the 3mm Yamamoto 45 jacket only without hood (and thus order it with detached hood, instead of incorporated as I initially planned) would not make such a difference warmth-wise?

According to Elios, the difference warmth-wise between the 2mm and 3mm is quite noticeable so they said it's worth it, but I would like to have some feedbacks from people having both 2mm and 3mm wetsuits?

Thanks!

Your question is a little complicated, what are the water temps like where you dive? For myself I would never consider buying a suit top without an attached hood. I have spent long periods diving in 80 degrees plus water wearing just the top with a hood, then as it cools down adding the pants, and if it really cools down going up in suit thickness.

 

[cdavis]

Absolutely, get the attached hood. Its easy to simply slip it off if its too hot and far better to have it if you want it. Increased drag is minimal in a spearfishing situation.

 

[arnau]

Thanks for your answers!

 

[Selenium]

Get hood incorporated 3 mm suit... if you get too hot all you have to do is pull onto the jackets edge and flush some colder water inside your suit... the only way to get warmer in a 2 mm suit would be to get out of the water

 

[diver278]

I freedive and scuba dive here in the Philippines and the water temps are between 80 and 83 degrees. I Dive with a one piece 1 mm and no hood on scuba. When I freedive I wear a mako two piece rash guard with no hood the water temps here aren’t cold to me to wear anything thicker. Some guys wear a Lycra instead.

 

[andrew_1010]

Hi arnaud, which island? Im in tokashiki and got no help on where to dive. Every local told me its illegal to spearfish with my sling unless i am a Japanese fisherman. We actually want to leave asap so at least i can shoot 1 fish and cook it for my birthday. I came all the way from east coast and i haven't really gotten a taste yet. We want to go back to okinawa where laws may be more laxed. What are your thoughts? I have all my gear. Thanks.

Andrew
andrew00lee@gmail.com