So confused... 1mm? Full Suit? Hood?

[gwpcasey]

Hi there.

So, I've never really used a wetsuit for freediving in the past as I live in the Caribbean and generally I'm just snorkelling and then doing a spearo-type depths before heading back to shore.

I'm now getting slightly more serious about training and I need to add some warmth to my world. I've been reading the discussions here, reading reviews on various sites but I'm just digging myself into a hole of confusion.

I'd like to dive with something that doesn't require lube and is as thin as possible and as easy to cart around as possible. The ideal suit to my mind would be a 1-1.5mm full suit with a hood. That doesn't seem to exist though, so could I ask you, my dear deeperblue community to help me out here.

What would you recommend? I'm inclined towards a 1mm suit but there don't seem to be any surfing wetsuits of that size and rumour has it that surfing suits are far more flexible than diving wetsuits.

Ahhh, there I go again, trying to process conflicting information and hearsay.

Please help.

 

[Scoobaru]

Wow jealous of that water temperature. It depends if you plan on freediving or spearfishing. but I would recommend just using a 3mm spearfishing/freediving jacket and a pair of shorts as then it will keep your body warm but let your lower half enjoy the water.

Failing that maybe something like this
2mm thermal lined Neoprene 'Long John' wear UNDER wetsuit for XTRA WINTER WARMTH | eBay
With a rash vest over the top.

If spearfishing tho I would recommend gluing in a neoprene chest pad to prevent injury whilst loading guns.

If you do not want to use lube then you ideally want a lined wetsuit as apposed to an open cell.

Hope this helps a bit

 

[cdavis]

Hi gw,

I have had two Riffe 1 mil suits. They come with or without hoods and long or short legs, all long sleeve. Good suit, you just have to realize that all 1 mil suits stretch and aren't going to last as long as a beefier suit. Beuchat makes a 2 mil farmer john, full suit with hood. I got a good look at a buddies over a couple of week dive trip, fit him well and looked durable. The riffe is all you would need in the summer and early fall. In winter the Beuchat would probably be better. I'm considering getting the Beuchat for winter diving in the Bahamas. Nice thing about the Riffes, they are very easy to get in and out of, great for warm days when you are getting in and out of the water a lot. Neither require lube, but the Beuchat is harder to dof and don.`

Not sure where you can buy these. Florida Freedivers was my source, but they don't show the riffes in their catalog anymore.

Connor

 

[sross]

Elios carries various 1,5 mm & 2.0 mm neoprenes, and will custom make a suit for you. They will make a suit in 2 mm smoothskin both sides, but recommend that you get nylon lining to add to the durability of the suit.

Getting a real freediving suit from Elios means that there is no zipper like you get if you buy one of those 1-piece surfing or triathlon suits, which also improves durability, since zippers are a major failure point on suits.

 

[gwpcasey]

Thanks for the advice Connor and sross. I couldn't find Riffe suits available but will look out for them. I think I'll get an Elios after I've played around a bit with something slightly less special - I just ordered a 1mm jumpsuit and a separate hood. Neither were too expensive so we'll see how it works out.

Scoobaru - thanks for the tip. I usually just wear shorts and a rash vest when I'm snorkelling and a shorty when I'm looking for Lionfish. I needed something more specifically for when I'm spending an hour or more just going up and down a line etc - we'll see how the 1mm full body suit works out and then take it from there.

Thanks again!

 

[cdavis]

I have an Elios 3 mil and love it. Did not know that they would make a suit in 1.5 mil; they did not used to.

Knowing that, you can't go wrong with an Elios. Theirs would be much better than the Riffe.

 

[monkeyhatfork]

I have a yazbeck 1.5 mm full with hood and love it

 

[Testis]

Elios suit 1.5-3mm with superstrech nylon inside/smoothskin outside. With hood.
In deep dive training you never be too warm (my opinion) and you can always let water inside of suit to cool down.
Im using 3mm open cell inside and smoothskin outside in water temperature 28c. With nylon inside it won't be warm as opencell but dressing up is much easier. Also durability is better.