Elios Wetsuit Dilema

[gthomasson]

Newbie first post. This is from an email I sent to Elios today:

"I would like your input to help me with my new wetsuit order. I am 58, 188cm tall and weigh 109kg. I am new to the sport and have already purchased my spear fishing gear except wetsuit(s). I have never before owned a wetsuit. I am purchasing my first wetsuit to spear fish southern California in the summer (17-22C) and the Sea of Cortez, MX. in the winter (15-20C).

I have studied your website and many online dive forums and have determined a 5mm in Heiwa LD neoprene is probably a good choice for me. Almost all of my spear fishing will be from my boat which has non-skid decks and a non-skid swim platform. Ordinarily, I would select open cell inside and a nylon elastic lining outside w/Pelagos camo pattern. However, I’m concerned with getting cold as the boat moves from spot to spot with a nylon exterior lining. I would spend much more time out of the water moving the boat than I would in the water paddy hopping dorado and yellowtail. I would prefer to only put the suit on once each day. I don’t expect to be crawling around the rocks as this is mostly open water diving. I’ve read a smoothskin exterior is preferable for boat use yet an exterior nylon lining is a better choice for a first suit. Hence my dilemma."

While I await a reponse from Elios your comments would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[ptoot]

with my last order from Eliossub they sent me some neoprene samples,
one that definitely stood out was the Hydrorepellent one.

elios described a suit made out of this fabric as follows:

Suit 5mm open cell inside / Nylon Hydrorepellent superstretch Blue outside Neoprene Heiwa soft density Price Euro 235,00 This is the latest new for freediving, ultra-soft, perfect for shallow divings, very very elastic, durable and fast dry outside like smoothskin, but always durable. (not absorb the water)

I have tested the sample and the water rolls off, keeping it completely dry; I don't know if Pelagos is possible (fabric is blue) and how deep your dives are going to be, but it seems the ideals alternative for smooth skin when keeping warm and dry is a priority.

 

[sross]

I’m concerned with getting cold as the boat moves from spot to spot with a nylon exterior lining. I’ve read a smoothskin exterior is preferable for boat use yet an exterior nylon lining is a better choice for a first suit. Hence my dilemma.

You freeze after getting out of the water in nylon-covered suits because the water soaked up by the nylon starts evaporating, and evaporative cooling can suck out large amounts of heat (has to do with entropy changes as the state of the water changes, as us physics geeks like to point out )

It's worse once the boat starts moving because the breeze makes the chilling happen faster. A smooth rubber outer surface sheds the water right away and is dry within minutes, so you don't get the chilling effect, and yes, suits with smoothskin outside are dramatically warmer out of the water than nylon covered ones. Since abrasion isn't as much of an issue on boats, a smoothskin can be the way to go.

I presume the reason some people recommend that beginners get a nylon suit is that beginners will want more durability after having blown a lot of money getting all their kit? Or maybe they figure with less experience beginners will beat their suits up faster? Never have been able to figure that one out . . . :hmm

What I do know is that at least one beginner got turned off by the freeze factor of a nylon suit. When my SO started into diving, we whipped into a store because she needed a suit fast, and got her a double-nylon-lined jumpsuit (did get smooth hood & gloves). She made do, but we decided we had to get her a smoothskin because she's thin, and just couldn't take the chill out of the water. Right after her 1st dive in the new smoothskin, she said the difference was like night & day. Wear or no wear, there's no way she's ever going to want a nylon suit again.

Anyhow, you can cope with nylon on a boat. In my days of working diving, which required ultra-tough nylon-coated suits, I found that you could take along a thick, warm, jacket & wear it over your suit on the boat. You can also pull your hood down & put on a thick wool winter hat. These should both be beater items that you con't mind wrecking with salt water. It helps to towel down the nylon exterior of your suit before putting the jacket on, so you don't get too much water on the inside of the jacket. Your legs still get cold, and I suppose you could put on a pair of those ski warmup pants with the zipper down the side, but I've never gone that far.

 

[Mr. X]

Interesting posts. Sounds like you already have a good idea of what you need and want. I noticed some of the UK boat spearos recommend knee pads (and possibly elbow pads?), even with nylon coated suits. I never found the need for that diving from shore (with a nylon covered Elios suit) so perhaps it is something to do with clambering on & off boats, man-handling RIBs or kneeling down to deal with fish and gear?

The nylon outer does take a while to dry out (but provides a high degree of protection for the neoprene).

 

[DivingDane]

personally for the water temp you are in (which isnt stupidly cold) i would for the Smooth outer but with ultra stretch inner. this will help to maker the suit more robust compared to open cell inner/smooth outer. while still giving you the benefits of the smooth outer for you boat trip. the superstretch also makes the suit very easy to put on and less likely to rip.

still going to be warm enough particularly as you are not in the water continiously for LONG periods of time.

DD