Wet suit question...

[mfross]

I will be taking a FII free diving course in May. Since it is in Michigan, the water may be very cold--like less than 50F as a possibility.

I have a 7mm wet suit that I use for SCUBA. Would this be something that would work for the class or do I need to buy a true free diving suit to be doing this right?

I'm just starting and am on a budget so making the funds I have go the furthest is on my mind. I'm so much a beginner that I have really no idea what the heck I'm doing which is why I'm taking the course and asking questions here.

I will be buying free diving fins, mask and snorkel. I already have enough weights to sink an aircraft carrier so that won't be a problem. I also already have a free diving weight belt.

BTW, I SCUBA dive in 55F water all the time with the 7mm suit and if I have gloves and a hood, I'm generally fine. Not real happy, but fine.

Thanks!

Joe Collins
Paramedic/Firefighter
(Joseph Francis Collins, Official Author Site - Welcome!)

 

[Apneaddict]

How long will you be in the water for?

At 50* for more than 1.5 hrs you may even need a 7mm apnea / freediving suit!

If you're a bigger guy and / or don't get cold easy, or won't spend more than an hr in the water.. And also hope to dive in water up to 80* in the summer, maybe a 5mm apnea suit will be sufficient.

Definitely get open cell inside.

Aqualand wetsuits offers a lot of suit for a great price - especially when you consider that it's custom made to your specs / size.

A scuba suit will let a lot if water in and chill you. With freediving, you hardly move, so get cold easily. Once your cold or shivering - the day is over.

 

[mfross]

I have no idea as to how long I'll be in the water for--it's the FII level 1 course.

I really don't get cold that easily so dealing with that isn't much of a problem as long as I'm not in there for hours.

I looked at Aqualand's stuff. Interesting. I suppose it's the spear fishing wetsuit that I'd need?

What about an off the rack, say Mako?

Thanks!

Joe Collins
Paramedic/Firefighter
(Joseph Francis Collins, Official Author Site - Welcome!)

 

[Whopperhead]

Joe - I am a Freediver in Wisconsin. We dive all year long including in 32 degree water. We can stay in 32 degree water for 2-3 hours. 50 degrees we can stay in for 4-6 hours. But get a freediving/spearing wetsuit. as long as the inside is OPEN CELL.

You only need 5mm. That is all we use. 7mm is too restrictive. Get a 2 piece, 5mm, neoprene exterior, open cell interior. The bottoms can be a "Farmer John" and make sure the top (Jacket) has a hood with it. do not get the hood separate! you will regret that.

Let me know if you have any other questions- happy to help.

 

[mfross]

Thanks for the advice!

What brand/make of wet suits seem to work best?



Joe Collins
Paramedic/Firefighter
(Joseph Francis Collins, Official Author Site - Welcome!)

 

[Apneaddict]

I'm from Ontario Canada and dive in 40* water early in the season and recently did an ice dive in Quebec.

Everyone had 5mm suits, but only the bravest lasted 1.5hrs.

Generally hands and feet are the first to freeze up and forces ppl out.

I bought one size larger fins and use 5 or better yet 6mm socks as well as 3-finger mittens for 50* and colder.

I have high-waist pants as I believe it is less restrictive for breathe up, but I imagine that farmer johns would be warmer for the core.

A spearfishing suit is fine... But if you are not planning on loading a speargun, you can get the same suit without the chest loading pad.

Knee pads are still a good idea to help with durability.

I'm really considering using "KY warming lube" for early season dives to get into the suit. We will see if it makes a difference!?!? LOL

 

[cdavis]

Don't know how long FII will have you in the water, but in a course like that you don't move around much, far less than spear fishing, and will get cold faster as a result.

You will be a lot happier in a freediving suit that is less than 7 mil, but is it worth the $ when you already have a suit? Can't answer that one. If you intend to continue with freediving, definitely get a freediving suit. If you are a standard size, off the rack can work fine. If you are off normal much at all, custom is the way to go, not that much more expensive.


Everybody is different as to cold reaction. I'm a serious wimp in that area and have done a modest amount of diving in the mid 40s, active, not sitting still. I'm good for up to 2 hours max wearing a 6 mil open cell top, 5 mil bottom with a vest under.

 

[cdavis]

Traverse City Michigan, early summer, mid to high 40s

 

[Whopperhead]

Few Wetsuit brands to look at:

Elios, Picassa, Yazbeck, Omer, Not sure what brand the 'Gat-ku' suit is really, but if has Yamamato 45 rubber on like MAKO - it's good. Oceanic is another good brand. Hammerhead has a nice wetsuit- but it is hard to find in 5mm.

 

[MAKO Spearguns]

We hope that you will consider a MAKO suit as well. We sell direct, with no retail stores and no middle man. This allows us to offer very high quality Yamamoto Rubber suits that are priced extremely well.

MAKO (Yamamoto) 2 piece green camo wetsuits in 3mm, 5mm and 7mm