Beginner Kit - Need Advice

[ONT]

Hello all, I'm just starting in freediving and I wanted all your opinions on what gear to get and all that. I already have a Cressi Marea dive mask (probably not the lowest volume mask out there, but it works/fits me pretty well and works well for my fairly small budget ). As for a snorkel, I'm thinking the Cressi Corsica (Haven't gotten it yet, but I think it should work fine, right?). For fins, I'm asking for a pair of Cressi 3000LD fins for Christmas (they'd be a squeeze on my budget, but I could make do if I had to...).

While I'm confined to pretty much all dry and pool training for now, I'll be taking all these goodies on a trip to the Florida Keys next spring (early April), where I hear the water is pretty darned warm all year long (correct me if I'm wrong on that!). I've been starting to look at wetsuits, and here's where I need the most advice (I think, at least!). In searching across the world wide webs, I found that a lot of people (mostly on spearboard, for the curious) suggest suits made by MAKO Spearguns for beginners, as they are priced pretty low but are still pretty decent quality (can anyone validate/deny that from experience?). I was originally thinking I might be able to get away with just a 1.5mm with lycra sleeves, but I'm starting to second-guess myself. For reference, I usually run warm in the water (a lot of my teammates freeze at swim practice while I sweat ). Otherwise, it looks like my other (rather more expensive but probably better) options would be a 2mm one-piece suit or a 3mm two-piece. Also, if I were to get a two-piece suit, could I just wear the top and then wear regular board shorts/trunks with it?

I'd really appreciate any feedback, about anything here--especially on stiff vs soft fins and thickness of wetsuits. I have hardly any ocean experience (being landlocked), let alone freediving, so all your input is appreciated!

 

[Apneaddict]

Check out my blog and / or the search function.

 

[Apneaddict]

Soft fins only.

I like mako guns for their value / price point.

 

[Apneaddict]

For the keys in April, I think you'd want at least 2mm of neoprene.

DEFINITELY make sure you have a safety / spotter, otherwise just snorkel.

 

[MAKO Spearguns]

Hello all, I'm just starting in freediving and I wanted all your opinions on what gear to get and all that. I already have a Cressi Marea dive mask (probably not the lowest volume mask out there, but it works/fits me pretty well and works well for my fairly small budget ). As for a snorkel, I'm thinking the Cressi Corsica (Haven't gotten it yet, but I think it should work fine, right?). For fins, I'm asking for a pair of Cressi 3000LD fins for Christmas (they'd be a squeeze on my budget, but I could make do if I had to...).

While I'm confined to pretty much all dry and pool training for now, I'll be taking all these goodies on a trip to the Florida Keys next spring (early April), where I hear the water is pretty darned warm all year long (correct me if I'm wrong on that!). I've been starting to look at wetsuits, and here's where I need the most advice (I think, at least!). In searching across the world wide webs, I found that a lot of people (mostly on spearboard, for the curious) suggest suits made by MAKO Spearguns for beginners, as they are priced pretty low but are still pretty decent quality (can anyone validate/deny that from experience?). I was originally thinking I might be able to get away with just a 1.5mm with lycra sleeves, but I'm starting to second-guess myself. For reference, I usually run warm in the water (a lot of my teammates freeze at swim practice while I sweat ). Otherwise, it looks like my other (rather more expensive but probably better) options would be a 2mm one-piece suit or a 3mm two-piece. Also, if I were to get a two-piece suit, could I just wear the top and then wear regular board shorts/trunks with it?

I'd really appreciate any feedback, about anything here--especially on stiff vs soft fins and thickness of wetsuits. I have hardly any ocean experience (being landlocked), let alone freediving, so all your input is appreciated!

Thanks so much for looking at our website! We offer a wide selection of gear and should be able to accomodate just about anyone's budget.

First the wetsuit.. a 3 mm two piece freedive suit should be good for early April in the Keys. Water temps may be somewhere between 74 to 79, would be my guess. If you don't get cold easily, our one-piece 2 mm suit would be a good choice, but you should probably take a separate hood (we have those too, in 2 mm). Freediving is often a relatively low exertion activity and you will not be generating the kind of heat, you do on the swim team.

since you need a whole package, check out this package..

http://www.makospearguns.com/Freediver-2-Gear-Package-p/mf2p.htm
At just under $200, we think this may be exactly what you may be looking for. If you stay with the sport, you can always upgrade these fns blades to fiberglass or even Carbon fiber. The fins you mentioned have a fixed blade and can not be upgraded.

If you are not interested in possibly switching blades in the future, we also offer a fixed blade package for even less: (a little over $100)..

 

[ONT]

Summarizing all your replies (thanks a lot for all of it, by the way!), it seems like this is what is recommended so far:

• Fins - the advice so far is to go soft. Can anyone explain the pros/cons of soft/stiff? The Cressi Gara 3000LD are softer than the regular Gara 3000's, any comments on those?
• Wetsuit - It seems I do need to go thicker than I first thought (I'll probably go with a 2-3mm then). Can someone explain the pros/cons of one-piece vs 2-piece wetsuits; and hoods? I feel like a hood would be so constrictive in the water...

Other questions I've thought of:

• Mask - I already have a Cressi Marea mask and have done a little bit of diving in my local 16ft pool. Is it okay for freediving?
• Snorkel - no comments. Anyone have any experience with the Cressi Corsica? Mako's basic or euro freedive snorkels?
  
• Dive Knife - I didn't mention it in the OP, but I've looked around a little and I really like the design of Kershaw's Amphibian knife (for in- and out-of-water use ). Can anyone tell me if it is good or not?

 

[MAKO Spearguns]

With regard to the one-piece versus two piece wetsuit question: A typical one piece wetsuit has a back zipper. Zippers are generally not completely sealed, so the zipper allows some water exchange. The mako one piece suit (as probably most others) has a nylon lining which does not require a lubricant to don the suit, but it does not seal against the skin as well as a smooth rubber interior does. The one-piece also will allow some water to enter at the neck seal.

A 2-piece freedive suit, seals much better- almost perfectly, so there is little or no water exchange into and out of the suit. The attached hood, no zippers, smooth rubber seals all work together to make this a much warmer suit. The double layer of neoprene over the torso, also contributes to warmth- a lot (compared to a back zip).

I think most all freedive suits have attached hoods because keeping the head warm is very important, plus it does not take a lot of neoprene to do it, so adding a thin layer of neoprene over your head will make you warmer and won't change your buoyancy much. Freedivers generally want to wear the thinest suit they can that allows them to stay warm in because the more suit you are wearing, the greater the swing in your weight as you dive.

 

[NoFair]

Since you just have a mask the Mako deal looks good (it is nice to have a spare/loaner mask). Here in Europe we have European brands at better prices than in the US so I don't have any personal experience with Mako gear.

The snorkel looks like a good one. If you are on a budget getting the package deal looks good and you get a knife more suited for spearfishing (+ you get some other kit you will need)
Imho most dive knives are crap as general purpose knives due to the very corrosion resistant steel used. (Spyderco makes some in H1 steel which are much better and can't rust, but they are mostly folding knives)

 

[ONT]

Thanks for all the responses! It all really helps

As for the Mako kit, I'll certainly consider the more basic one. As I'm just starting, I don't want to get in too deep (monetarily) and then have a lot of expenses to cover later if I back out; I also don't spearfish, so I don't need any of the accessories included for that in the larger (more expensive) package. On having an extra mask, I agree, it would be really nice in case I break a strap or need to loan one or something like that.

So excluding wetsuits, it seems I have two options now:

• Mako "Freediver 1 Gear Package" ("freedive hunter" fins, "minimus" mask, "freedive snorkel")
• Cressi Gara 3000LD fins, Cressi Marea mask (already owned), Cressi Corsica Snorkel

If anyone has any comments on the merits of one or the other of those two "kits", post away! Otherwise, I'll keep saving my nickels and make a decision to get one or the other later in the year

On to wetsuits:
I looked up the water temperatures for the time of year I'll be there, and it seems like I'll be looking at upper 70s Fahrenheit (just about the same as my local 80° pool!). Because I'm usually plenty warm in that pool when exercising vigorously, I think I can get away with the one-piece 2mm suit as far as temperature is concerned (and it's cheaper! ). However, that suit is closed-cell Yamamoto neoprene. The two-piece 3mm suit I looked at is open-cell (also Yamamoto), which I understand means it is more flexible and warmer than a closed-cell 3mm suit would be. My question is, would the 3mm suit still give me significantly more maneuverability than the closed-cell (but thinner) 2mm suit? Also, the product page isn't very clear on whether the 2mm suit is lined or unlined (I assume it's lined because I'd guess it's hard to print camo directly onto neoprene, but I thought I'd ask just to be sure ).
And just one more quick question that ties in, the difference between lined and unlined suits is that you need to use lube to get into an unlined suit, right? I don't care either way, just want to make sure I have all my info straight (or know if it's completely askew!)

Again, thank you very much for all the replies, I'm learning lots!

 

[Hobelf]

Freediving is way different from Xcercising in pool. There can B long perioids of just resting in water &swimming is never vigorous when freediving; it is relaxed, smooth &efficient.

21 C (70 F) is warm. On a sunny day you could even use a 3 mm market suit or a shorty, if U can handle the cold. How ever, if U dive every day or even twice a day eventually U may get cold. The difference with opencell &closed cell/lined suit is not the only thing affecting the warmth; density of the neoprene is the other. Cheap suits R usually made from light neoprene while the Xpensive suits R made of dense or even compressed neoprene. Also there R glideskin &other smoothneoprene suits that dont let water through much. They R warmer then closed cell; almost as warn as dense open cell. The movement vice the Xpensive apnea suits can B worse then the cheap suits, because of the denser neoprene &thight fit.

The difference between stiff &soft fins is the thrust; stiff fins produce more thrust, but require more muscle. This goes also for the lenght. Stiff long fins R alos hard on the lower back. 3 rd thing to consider is wether U will B swimming alot around on the surface, because swimming around on the surface is hard with long stiff fins. I dont like fins, but I have to use them most of the time to get under water with thick suit needed. If you R strong; like to go deep rather then just linger under water &wont dabble around the surface admiring the fish, then U may consider long fins, BUT most beginners dont need freediving fins! What most beginners need R simple, short &cheap closed heel fins to take them around surface &to help them under water (remember; Willian Trubridge went to 101 m without fins; why should U use them.).

 

[MAKO Spearguns]

Lines suits do not use lube, unlined, smooth rubber interior (commonly called "open cell") does require some lube.

Comparing a 2 mm one piece suit with a 3 mm open cell suit.. Both will give you extremely good mobility and flexibility. Not sure if you could tell the difference in how they feel. As you move into 5 and 7 mm suits,, the extra lining on the inside will be more of an issue with flexibility. Scuba suits typically are lined and freedivers will rarely use a 5 or 7 mm lined, scuba suit..(for a variety of reasons).

 

[ONT]

After a bit of thinking, I think I'll be going with the 2mm suit, as it's cheaper and the hood isn't attached (so I can remove it if I get hot or wear it if I get cold; as opposed to removing the whole pants in a 2-piece). This does bring a new problem into the mix, though: sizing. Is height or weight more important for sizing? I know sizing won't be perfect because it isn't a custom-tailored suit, but I'm right on the border of a medium and a large in their chart. I'm just over 5' 8" and 150lbs (athletic), and they list medium as 5' 6"-10", 150-175lbs, and large as 5' 8"-6' 1", 175-190lbs. I might have a couple inches left to grow, but I probably won't break 6' 1". I'll likely be gaining some muscle (=weight) before my trip in the spring, as swim season is about to start and I've been a little lax in my personal workouts for the past few weeks

Also, after doing a little more research it seems that the Cressi Gara 3000LD fins are very soft, and that most men prefer stiffer fins. I'm pretty strong (not trying to brag or anything), so I think I should be able to easily handle something medium to fairly stiff. It seems a favored entry-level stiffer plastic fin on the forums here is the Cressi Gara 2000HF, which (I believe) is the same foot pocket as the 3000LD, but with stiffer (fixed) blades. Can anyone offer some input on this? Else, I'm also looking at the Mako Freedive Hunter fins (in Mako's basic gear package); how stiff/soft are they in terms of the Gara fins?

Lines suits do not use lube, unlined, smooth rubber interior (commonly called "open cell") does require some lube.

Comparing a 2 mm one piece suit with a 3 mm open cell suit.. Both will give you extremely good mobility and flexibility. Not sure if you could tell the difference in how they feel. As you move into 5 and 7 mm suits,, the extra lining on the inside will be more of an issue with flexibility. Scuba suits typically are lined and freedivers will rarely use a 5 or 7 mm lined, scuba suit..(for a variety of reasons).

Thank you very much! All of your info about your products has been extremely helpful and timely so far, and even in a public forum; mega-points for customer service in my book!

 

[Hobelf]

The footpockets in the Cressi R not the comfiest. Would not want to wear mine without socks

 

[ONT]

The footpockets in the Cressi are not the comfiest. I would not want to wear mine without socks.

Thanks for the advice, I'll keep that in mind