Wear something under wetsuit to make it warmer?

[geo909]

Hi all,

I think I know the answer to this question, yet I'll ask anyway.
Can one wear something underneath a wetsuit to make it
warmer?

I tried to be cheap and bought a 3.5mm wetsuit, while the
waters in my area apparently are a bit too cold for that. Bad
idea. I think I will go buy a 5mm or 7mm but just wondering if
there are any alternatives before I do.

Thanks

 

[Jonny250]

hi geo, some people use a wetsuit vest 3mm under their wetsuit. it does help a bit.
maybe worth a try, but a full 5mm or 7mm will obviously be warmer lol

 

[Yeti]

Answered your own question I think. You can sometimes get away with a very thin pile thermal onesy (like drysuit divers use) but it will possibly pinch and be restrictive and the wetsuit will just not sit right......not to mention be a pain in the arse getting on and off.

 

[geo909]

Thanks for your feedback. Yeah, I think I've been cheap enough already, I'll just go for at least a 5mm proper freediving one. The one I had was also one piece (with a zipper) that I just realized that doesn't help much in the cold either.

 

[Apneaddict]

Where in Canada are you from?

In Toronto, we take advantage of the aqualandwetsuits.com suits and pretty much always need a 5mm suit for Lake Ontario... and even Tobermory. A 5mm suit will work in 2* water, but you won't last more than 1.5 hrs.

We're cheap too and get a custom-made suit for the price of an off-the-rack suit. The perfect fit of a custom suit goes a long way to keeping you warm.

For Canada, make sure to get an open-cell on the inside and an integrated hood.
For durability, a nylon / lycra outer layer is important.

You could even get away with a camo spearfishing material, if you want to look cool, or go with standard black.

 

[geo909]

For the moment I'm diving outside Montreal. It's pretty cold right now and impossible to dive for more than half an hour if I don't get a new suit.

I would definitely be interested for a cheap enough custom-made wetsuit, and in fact I was considering Oceanos. However the link that you gave me does not work. Can you give me some more info for this store?

EDIT: I assume "*" is "degrees", right?

 

[Apneaddict]

Oops - wrong URL. I updated it to Aqualandwetsuits.com

For Montreal, a 5mm open-cell interior with nylon lined (or spearfishing camo pattern) is ideal for year round diving.

Lots of great freedivers in Montreal. You should look up CASM.info to connect with this great group.

 

[Apneaddict]

Perhaps the 3mm one that you bought with the zipper would make a good suit for pool training!

 

[geo909]

Oops - wrong URL. I updated it to Aqualandwetsuits.com

For Montreal, a 5mm open-cell interior with nylon lined (or spearfishing camo pattern) is ideal for year round diving.

Thanks! I'm a bit confused though. You say "open-cell interior"; although
all the suits on the site seem to be open-cell, the interior is lycra, slickskin,
shark-cell, or mesh. Which one would you suggest? For me warmth would
be the priority but also I wouldn't want it to break way too easily (maybe I
will try spearfishing sooner or later too).

Lots of great freedivers in Montreal. You should look up CASM.info to connect with this great group.

Indeed.. I already train with the apneacity.

Perhaps the 3mm one that you bought with the zipper would make a good suit for pool training!

That's a good idea... Wish I knew that I could go custom
in the first place, thought it would be out of my price range
but it's almost the same.

Just some more questions:
1. Does tight fit (vs relaxed) necessarily means "warmer" too?
2. What is the main difference between spearfishing and freediving
wetsuits apart from the color? For the moment I'm learning to freedive
but I'd like to spearfish eventually..

Thanks

 

[Apneaddict]

They use "shark cell" the same as "open cell".

For you, I'd get a shark cell inside and lycra lining outside for durability and great versatility. This is what 90% of freedivers wear as well as most ppl in Mtl.

In this construction, it is the same as a spearfishing suit with the only differences being the camo color and optional chest pad and knee pads (which you could still add to a black suit too). If you like camo - go for it!

Make sure to get a 2-pc suit with the integrated hood and wrist / ankle seals.

Most freedivers prefer high-waist pants over long johns, for more chest flexibility for a complete inhale.

Tight will be warmer, as opposed to relaxed, which could let some water in / circulate.

I prefer a single latch on the beaver tail as opposed to two - but everyone is different.

All the best, keep up with the training and always dive with a trained safety / spotter!

 

[geo909]

They use "shark cell" the same as "open cell".

For you, I'd get a shark cell inside and lycra lining outside for durability and great versatility. This is what 90% of freedivers wear as well as most ppl in Mtl.

In this construction, it is the same as a spearfishing suit with the only differences being the camo color and optional chest pad and knee pads (which you could still add to a black suit too). If you like camo - go for it!

Make sure to get a 2-pc suit with the integrated hood and wrist / ankle seals.

Most freedivers prefer high-waist pants over long johns, for more chest flexibility for a complete inhale.

Tight will be warmer, as opposed to relaxed, which could let some water in / circulate.

I prefer a single latch on the beaver tail as opposed to two - but everyone is different.

All the best, keep up with the training and always dive with a trained safety / spotter!

Thanks a lot for the info, you helped!

Btw do you know if that's Spiros of Oceanos wetsuits? They are both in Thessaloniki.

 

[Apneaddict]

Not sure of the relationship - maybe they are like the Twix factory with one side making tops an the other pants?

I do know that Freedive Toronto members have ordered well over a dozen suits from Aqualand.

What's as impressive as price and fit... Is the speed at which you can get a custom made suit in your hands!

 

[geo909]

Not sure of the relationship - maybe they are like the Twix factory with one side making tops an the other pants?

I do know that Freedive Toronto members have ordered well over a dozen suits from Aqualand.

What's as impressive as price and fit... Is the speed at which you can get a custom made suit in your hands!

That's awesome indeed, if it wasn't for your recommendation and some other threads I read about it I wouldn't go for it: I was getting that "too good to be true" feeling! I'll start measuring tonight.

 

[Apneaddict]

I try to get at least 2 measurements a few days apart a perhaps by different ppl. See if the numbers make sense and if there might be a measuring error.

 

[geo909]

I try to get at least 2 measurements a few days apart a perhaps by different ppl. See if the numbers make sense and if there might be a measuring error.

Hmm, never thought of that, thanks, will do.

Let me ask you another one.. Since you are from Ontario and you probably know the
kind of waters and fish that people go hunt around here, what speargun or spearpole would you recommend to an absolute beginner?

EDIT: Ignore that! We have already a similar discussion on this other thread going on, sorry for the confusion.

 

[cdavis]

A good custom suit of the right thickness is the best solution. However, short of that using a 3 mi lvest that is open cell inside combined with high waisted short pants, 1-3 mil, also open cell inside, would work pretty well. That fully covers your core in a way that limits water circulation to a minimum. Finding the short pants will be the challenge. You might be able to cut down somebody's old suit.

Connor

 

[geo909]

A good custom suit of the right thickness is the best solution. However, short of that using a 3 mi lvest that is open cell inside combined with high waisted short pants, 1-3 mil, also open cell inside, would work pretty well. That fully covers your core in a way that limits water circulation to a minimum. Finding the short pants will be the challenge. You might be able to cut down somebody's old suit.

Connor

Thanks.. I already decided to invest on some decent custom 5mm suit.