The compression at depth of freediving suits is a good thing to consider, although I believe it more from the soft, very flexible type of neoprene used rather than the smooth skin inside. One of the most flexible neoprene on the market is the Yamamoto 45. Many freedivers like it and I believe PICASSO uses it in some of their suits. It compresses very easy and is not so good for scuba. Yamamoto 39 is a little less flexible and compressible but is still more flexible than normal neoprene. There are some other brands that are similar.
Freediving in a thick, cold water, scuba suit is about the most unpleasant experience I can imagine. If I really wanted one suit, I would do like Alison suggested and get a custom one. Proper fit is even more important in cold water suit, because the thickness and improper fit can be too restrictive.
You’re right about the suit being one of the most important decisions, because if it’s not able to keep you warm, or it’s to restrictive to dive in, your not going to enjoy freediving. Then all the money you spent on your other gear, getting to your destination, and time, is all for nothing. So I would suggest spending enough to get a suit that is adequate for freediving in cold waters.
There is a new custom freediving suit option to the Elios suits through your fellow Canadian, Kirk Krack of Performance Freediving. The prices look good, they have a few special features the PFD team and others suggested, and they speak English well! Not a knock on speakers of other languages, just that Elios and some other European dive companies have been hard for a few of us linguistically challenged, English only, speakers to communicate with.
Here is a bit of Kirk’s message to the PFD board. Hope he doesn’t mind me posted it here.
"Oceaner Performance Freediver Competitive
3mm Smooth out/metalite inside Yamamoto 45 $275US
5mm Smooth out/metalite inside Yamamoto 45 $335US
7mm Smooth out/metalite inside Yamamoto 45 $395US
Oceaner Performance Freediver Recreational
3mm Nylon out / metalite inside Yamamoto 39
$235US
5mm Nylon out / metalite inside Yamamoto 39
$295US
7mm Nylon out / metalite inside Yamamoto 39
$345US
These custom suits are available for order, but due to the heavy demand
leading up to the World Championships, delivery is available after
mid-August unless you are volunteering at the Worlds in which they'll be
expedited in time for the start.
Currently available for immediate order:
Oceaner Performance Freediver Competitive
3mm Smooth out/metalite inside Yamamoto 45
5mm Smooth out/metalite inside Yamamoto 45
Oceaner Performance Freediver Recreational
7mm Nylon out / metalite inside Yamamoto 39
For ordering please contact Mandy-Rae Cruickshank at
mandy-rae@shaw.ca"
don