Spearfishing suits

[Etienne Spiteri]

Hello guys

I am an avid scuba diver & lover of all things that have to do with the sea...but just taken up spearfishing recently.

I have a few suits but my fave and warmest is a 2 piece 5mm Cressi with a harpoon loading pad on the chest. Thing is surface sea temperature is at only around 15 deg. C as we speak (much colder at bottom) and after just half an hour or so in the water I start feeling cold (and wanting to pee continuously) to the point that it hinders my breath holds, concentration & ultimately safety...

What would be my best suit option to keep diving throughout the year in seas around 12 deg. C? I notice that spear fishers tend to favour 2 piece suits. Does this bring about any real world benefit to a one piece suit? I ask since I found a 7mm semi dry wetsuit one piece with water tight zippers at a great price and my scuba diver friend vouches for its warmth in cold waters...

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mr. X]

I have never used a semi-dry wetsuit so can't say much other than most spearos use wetsuits with open-cell inside. I suspect that is partly tradition and partly because it can be a cheap but effective option. If you want to use something else though - you are free to! Let us know how you get on, that's how we learn

I suppose another alternative would be one or more of the following:
1. Wear a 2-3mm vest under your 5mm Cressi spearo wetsuit when the water is cold.
2. Get some long john pants and wear those when the water is cold.
3. Get a thicker spearo wetsuit (6/6.5/7mm).
4. Eat more pies & then move about more

Do you wear neoprene gloves and socks while spearing? They are available in different thicknesses which can certainly help fine tune your warmth.

 

[Pinniped72]

Go with what works for you, everyone has different tolerance to cold water, as said before there is no reason that you cant spearfish in scuba gear, in the summer I occasionally spearfish in my cressi scuba over shorty with no problems, although my legs obviously get a bit cold after a while, although having said that I normally use my Cressi 5mm two piece. I like the overshorty because I need less weight and its nice to have the legs and forearms out I like the two piece because its very flexible and feels like a second skin, horses for courses and to each our own! Good luck and couldn't agree more, getting back to the car with involuntary shakes is not a pleasant experience

 

[Etienne Spiteri]

I have never used a semi-dry wetsuit so can't say much other than most spearos use wetsuits with open-cell inside. I suspect that is partly tradition and partly because it can be a cheap but effective option. If you want to use something else though - you are free to! Let us know how you get on, that's how we learn

I suppose another alternative would be one or more of the following:
1. Wear a 2-3mm vest under your 5mm Cressi spearo wetsuit when the water is cold.
2. Get some long john pants and wear those when the water is cold.
3. Get a thicker spearo wetsuit (6/6.5/7mm).
4. Eat more pies & then move about more

Do you wear neoprene gloves and socks while spearing? They are available in different thicknesses which can certainly help fine tune your warmth.

I'll take a good luck at it and maybe option to try out before I commit.

I will look into buying another 2-3mm vest as you suggested, and probably a thicker hood too as have read that's where you lose a lot of heat.

Yes I wear neoprene gloves (reinforced palms) & 3mm socks. Might look into thicker and better sealing gloves too which might help...

 

[Andrew the fish]

OP, thicker suits restrict your movements more than thinner ones. To me, 5mm is about the thickest I would ever use for spearfishing. I fish in British Colubia, and waters here are 9 degrees and a bit warmer in the summer. I kind of had to learn fishing in a state of mild hypothermia. I do fish sometimes until shivering sets in. Still better than wearing 7mm and not be able to bend over. Another problem with thicker suits is bouyancy compensation, you will need a lot more weight at the top, and you will be heavy as a rock at the bottom. This problem does not exist when you are scuba diving.

 

[Etienne Spiteri]

OP, thicker suits restrict your movements more than thinner ones. To me, 5mm is about the thickest I would ever use for spearfishing. I fish in British Colubia, and waters here are 9 degrees and a bit warmer in the summer. I kind of had to learn fishing in a state of mild hypothermia. I do fish sometimes until shivering sets in. Still better than wearing 7mm and not be able to bend over. Another problem with thicker suits is bouyancy compensation, you will need a lot more weight at the top, and you will be heavy as a rock at the bottom. This problem does not exist when you are scuba diving.

You may all be very right. I have phones the guy and told him I wont be buying the 7mm semi dry wetsuit. It would be too stiff and uncomfy...

I have today bought a tight, good fitting pair of Tigullio neoprene cold water gloves & also a thermal hood to wear under my suit hood. I will also wear 2 pairs of sock tomorrow. Hope this will keep me warm enough for a couple hours....

Will let you know how I get on! In the meantime I will save for a gree/brown 2 piese 5mm camo suit ....

 

[MAKO Spearguns]

In general, we feel that a good quality 5 mm freedive suit (with the attached hood, no zipper, FJ pants) is probably as warm as a good "scuba" 7 mm suit with a zipper and a separate hood. As mentioned already, freedivers want to wear the absolute minimum amount of neoprene (that will still provide adequate thermal protection). Wearing too much (or too thick) neoprene results in excessive suit compression and buoyancy changes. These are minor problems for a scuba diver who can press the button on a BC, but represent a BIG hindrance to a freediver. Not to mention the restriction in breathing which can result from a too thick wetsuit.

If you are interested in a quality freedive suit (made from Yamamoto neoprene), take a look at our website. We offer 3, 5 and 7 mm suits and also coldwater gloves and socks..Also do not underestimate the benefit of an attached hood...this entirely eliminates any leaks around the neck of the suit.

http://www.makospearguns.com/Yamamoto-Reef-Camo-2-Piece-Open-Cell-Wetsuit-p/m2yrc.htm