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Wetsuit for warm water?

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
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gabe13

Well-Known Member
Jan 7, 2005
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I am going to the Hawaiian islands at the end of June and was planning on getting myself a 3mm Elios suit made, but have since found out that they wouldn't be able to make one anywhere near in time (too much demand, no surprise there :head). I have been trying to fathom wether it would be worth either buying an 'off the pegg' ready made size or wether it would be warm enough to dive without a suit. The thing is is that I have recently read the excellent Last Of The Bluewater Hunters by Carlos Eyles, and he said that when he was in his native Hawaii that they would dive without the need for wetsuits and that they felt more in touch with the water like that :) . I would just like to know if anyone else has dived there in the summer and what there experience was like in this regard.

Thanks,

Gabe
 
I was there in May a few years back and I used a my one piece 5mil with 3 mil sleeves (custom) and was very happy I did. BUT, I am from S Florida, and a total wimp when it comes to "cold" water! What I consider cold, most would think warm.

John
 
I'm also very interested in this issue. Which thickness do you guys use in the warm waters? I'm going freediving in Dahab in July and only have a 5mm Elios suit. Since it's way too late for getting a 3mm from them, I've been thinking about getting a cheap 3mm scubasuit which I'll also be able to use if I go scubadiving. And then I'll just get that second elios later. Does anyone have any clue about weather or not that is a good idea?

Elisabeth
 
ok folks here is the answer! for warm water get a suit!!!!!! why? not for the cold mind you, but for the sea life that is always trying to sting you, bite you and eat you. I live on guam and the water is warm here. I dive with a 1mm and that suits all my needs. and it keeps the sea life away from my skin which at the moment looks like I have hives, from the sea lice and whatnot.(i forgot the suit and the mahi were calling) if I get cold, and you can even when the water is mid 80's, I put of my .5mill "hot skin" with a hood. when the type of wetsuits comes into play remeber that one of the largest markest for wetsuits is surfing and you can get a great deal from a surf shop. they are always catering to the bums of the surf world and generly have a staff that is willing to help. a huge tip for when you try the suit on, take some plastic baggies with you for your feet and hands. it makes the putting on and off issue much easier. also wear some biker shorts that day. and if you forget the baggies, put your socks on over your digits and that will make the trasition into the suit much easier. I would recomend the "hot skin" to anyone. I used to live in lompoc california, and when the water gets cold and everyone is in the 5/4 with no mobility, I am in the 3/2 with the hot skin (I think from ripcurl). and dont even get me started on the yahoo diver with the beaver tails and the "I am a mummy" walk.hahahahaha take a 3/2 wetsuit that costs about 200 and the skin for 50 bucks and you will be a happy camper. ohh and dont expect too much if you are going to ohau. ok vis and dead reef. come to guam, and see the real deal!!
 
I used 0,5mm skinsuit (aqualung) with ugly old 5mm scuba wetsuit, that was too big for me (borrowed) in 16 degrees Celssius water for an hour and it was warm enough. Temperature-wise second suit under another gives much more isolation, then one thicker suit. And if used separately it feels almost like no suit. So skin suits are worth their money in both cold and warm waters.
 
I had a similar problem - wanted to order an Elios suit and discovered how long I would have to wait... [ame="http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthread.php?t=65919"]See this thread[/ame]

You still have a little time to order a custom made suit from Marea or Dive Skin - I corresponded with both last week, and the delivery times are one month for Marea, 2-3 weeks for Dive Skin.

A word of warning, though: Do not mention Elios to Dive Skin. I asked if the measures were the same, and I have not heard back from him since!

So I have ordered from Marea, and am keeping my fingers crossed for delivery on time. It is too soon to recommend them, but I just wanted to let you know about these options.

I don't know Hawaii, but I have dived (scuba) in Dahab in July wearing a 5mm scuba wetsuit. Maybe it was a little too warm, but I would never (free)dive without a suit, and it's not that I am too sensitive to water temperatures (I am Danish ;)).

Like LOLO says, you need something to protect your skin, especially if you want to check out the reefs.

If I was going to Dahab for freediving, I would definitely order a 3mm proper freediving wetsuit. Mind you, I am a freediving novice, at least when it comes to freediving in the "real" water outside the training pool, and the freediving wetsuit I ordered will be my first one. But I was asking the same questions you are, and everyone told me that I would be annoyed with scuba or surf wetsuits for freediving, because they are too clumsy and don't give you the same freedom of movement. They are simply not made for freediving.

Happy hunting
 
Evita, I heard about Marea first time yesterday, so I've been checking their sites and wondering if that may in fact be something. What kind of suit did you order and how was the prize/freight costs? (I live in Norway;) ) Anybody else have some experience with their suits?

By the way, you live near Copenhagen right? I'm going to Aarhus for the Triple Challenge 9.-11.June and would be very happy to see some other girls there... :)

Elisabeth
 
Here are the info I got from Marea:

"As you dive in cool water we suggest a watsuit in neoprene smooth/opencell or shagreen/opnecell: Apnea Competition Pro or Shark Skin. Lined neoprene is less warm just because of the lined cover.

We aren't producing gloves at the moment. Regarding socks no problem.

Custom wetsuit price:
- Apnea Competition Pro euro 219,00;
- Shark Skin euro 219,00;
- Mundial euro 202,00;

Cost of shipping euro 30,00;

Delivery time a month order date

[...new e-mail...]

We understand you want a lined wetsuit inside and outside.
Thermo is our wetsuit model for apnea in lined neoprene inside and outside and its price is:
- 3 mm 195,00; - 5 mm euro 205,00; - 6,5/7 mm euro 219,00.
Cost of shipping and delivery time are the same for the other wetsuits.
The delivery time is a month from order date so if you order in this week you can have it for half-June."


I am also going to the Triple Challenge, so we'll see each other there! I think we are the only girls so far? You are allowed to swim me out of the water, as long as you don't become a Danish freediver before you do it ;)
 
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GirlOfWater said:
Evita, I heard about Marea first time yesterday, so I've been checking their sites and wondering if that may in fact be something. What kind of suit did you order and how was the prize/freight costs? (I live in Norway;) ) Anybody else have some experience with their suits?


Elisabeth

I personally never tried them, but I know many spearos who have marea suits and elios suits too, and all of them agree that they are on par with elios in quality, and some say they are even a little better in some details. so as far as I know they are highly recommended. also take a look at polosub which is also in the same league.
 
"Warm" is a relative term. I've lived in Hawaii, and I think most people would need a 3 mm suit there.

But I disagree with the advice that you need one any place. If you don't need one for warmth, don't wear one. Then you can wear little or no weight, and your buoyancy will hardly change with depth, which is a huge advantage.

Several years ago I dove in La Paz, Mexico when the water temp was over 80F. I wore a nylon lycra skin suit to keep the jellyfish off, and felt like I was in paradise without a wet suit.
 
freeidiving in DAhab in July a 3mm wetsuit would be already too warm, normally people could go bareskin during that time. Of course not everyone has the same tolerance in cold, i have a friend of mine that goes bareskin even in january (and hes thin) i would recommend a 2 piece 1.5 mm wetsuit, i think that beuchat makes them.
 
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