Mares Isotherm 6.5mm - good choice ??

[Jared2002]

I am a beginning freediver and have a chance to get an almost new mares isotherm 6.5mm wetsuit for about half price. Is this a good choice for someone freediving for abalone and doing some light spearfishing in northern california? I wasn't sure if the semi dry would be too stiff for freediving. is it intended more as a scuba suit?
Thanks,
jared

 

[foxfish]

You could easily make do with a scuba suit but whether buying one is good value is another matter.

 

[Jon]

It might make an OK suit for scuba diving, but I would pass on it for freediving.

They aren't cut very slim and you would end up swimming around with a bunch of extra material that you don't need. this also means you would need to wear a much larger weight belt than normal to dive with. This may not be a huge deal on scuba, but can become a real pain when freediving.

They're also a bit tricky to put on without a buddy. That doesn't mean it can't be done, I've donned a back zip drysuit be myself many times, but it does take a bit of technique to do it without breaking the zipper.

The neck seal may become a bit uncomfortable for freediving. It might work, but not as well as a normal freediving suit.

In the end a traditional freediving wetsuit will also be much warmer, as the slick inner lining acts to reduce water flow even better than a semi-dry in many instances. They will also be easier to breath in, easier to move in, and require less lead.

If you look online at the Deeper Blue store, or contact jimdoe2you, i bet you could find a decent 5mm-7mm freediving suit for a similar price.

Jon

 

[Jared2002]

Thanks for the good info!

 

[mike.check]

what are the better suits for diving northern pacific? im up on vancouver island and i'm needing to pick up a suit for a performance course in april. any tips?

 

[nz676]

mike i assume you are taking a P.F.I course look into the rec 45 by oceaner they are here in vancouver really friendly staff ultra warm stretchy suit i was diving with a outside temp of -7 and a water temp of 0 very happly for over and hour and a half and i have a very low body fat so i get cold easy.

 

[JennyWren]

Hey Mike, talk to IDC (where the lectures are held for the Vancouver PFI course), they rent Oceaner suits so you could try one out to see if it works for you. I have two and I love them. The 5-6mm would probably be fine for April.

I hope to make it out on the lines for that course so I might see you then!

 

[Erik]

Jared I've heard nothing but bad about that MARES suit from freedivers. THE most important thing is that you are warm and comfortable. Cheap out on fins/guns etc, but the suit should be the big $$ item if you must!
ELIOS is a great option. Off the rack suits from any other manufacturer are a gamble if you don't get to put them on and get in the water with them. If you buy off/rack, buy small and buy Yamamoto 45 which is very stretchy and wont consttrict. The downside is they don't last as long as a medium-density suit, plus their bouyancy changes can be dramatic. Also a Yammy 45 suit will go from 6mm to about 2mm at depth long before a denser material will. But if you're working in 10 metres or so then you'll be fine.

 

[Milan]

hey guys i know that this isnt related to this thread but i dont know how to start a new one hehe. i am thinking of getting the mares instinct camo brown 3mm wetsuit. I never had a mres open cell so i would like some feedback regarding comfort and flexibility please.

Thanks