wetsuit decisions

[seacucumber]

Hi everyone,



Yet another beginner freediver here that wants to buy his first wetsuit!



I probably will be using it mostly in pool training, pool is (supposed to be) 27C warm. Will be diving in Eilat, Israel, last week of october, where they say a 3mm suit is needed for longer training sessions in the Red Sea.



I am considering getting two suits: one cheaper fullsuit, swim&triathlonstyle, standard size, maybe 1,5-2,5mm. F e Aqualung1,5mm freediving suit, Cressi Glaros fullsuit, Salvimar Fluyd Be-One (expensier). For pool training and future travel to warmer waters (>25C) like in Egypt, Thailand.



Wetsuit 2: "upscale" made to measure Elios suit, waist height trousers & jacket, maybe 3 mm, open cell inside, nylon lining outside for sturdiness, for longer sessions in not so warm water and summer dives in my own country Sweden. Where water temperatures may reach only 15C or lower still beneath thermocline. Yes, in the summer.



I do not think that I get cold easily. Back in the days of my youth, me and some friends used to freedive swimtrunks only in lakes of 17-19C. Probably less below thermocline which came quickly, often at 7-8m depth. And we were in the water for hours…



When freediving couple of times with a local freediving club in pool some years ago, I got cold after an hour or more but I had NO wetsuit. Other freedivers there seemed to have swim-style thinner full suits.



My experience with freediving wetsuits so far is only a rented suit, forgot what kind&make, but 5mm, worn-off inner metal coating, a fair bit to small. Actually felt to warm even if the sea temperature as reported was about 15C. And like the "Michelin Man"! I spent >30 minutes for donning and doffing the suit, using soap water.



My dives are shallow so far; PB is 16m but ambition is to come deeper.



So, what are yor thoughts and own experience? Cheers.

 

[cdavis]

You are going to like the Elios. Mine is by far the warmest, best fitting suit I've ever had.

Being from Sweden, your internal thermostat is turned a lot higher than mine (tropical water diver), but as you get farther into freediving, you will probably find yourself slowing down, generating much less heat and wanting to stay in the water longer. All mean that you will be wanting a thicker suit than you think. The warmth difference between swimming around actively and being still in the water is substantial.

I predict a 3 mil vest in your future

Connor

 

[seacucumber]

Connor,

Thanks for replying. I emailed Elios earlier today and got an answer this afternoon. They had no less than 9 options, all 3mm made to measure since they considered it the best compromise based on my preferences and temperature range of future dive waters. So Elios it will be, "just" have to decide which model....

 

[prospector]

Much depends on how you dive. Do you swim down to a certain depth then quickly return to the surface? If you spend time time a minute and a half or so below the thermocline you might consider a thicker suit,5 or 6 mm. I spend the summers diving in Canada on the pacific side, if I use my 3mm suit, it good for about an hour at most. If I'm hunting fish or scallops below the thermocline I use a 6mm and can dive until eventually my hands get cold, usually closer to 2 hours, hope this helps Cheers.