wetsuit question

[Fondueset]

Regarding lining - my easiest suit to put on is my 5 mil yamamoto open cell - it has no coating on the inside. My other suits all have some kind of coating that supposedly makes the suit easier to put on. When my yamamoto is dry it is very sticky and impossible to put on - but with a little lube it seems to become slipperier than the coated suits - go figure? (that suit is also freakishly warm - I cannot use it until the temp is below 10c or so.

If you are doing long, stationary dives you will need a thicker suit. At 17 c I am quite comfortable in my three mill - but after several long, stationary dives, I need to do a few sprints to keep the chill off. I swim with a monofin - and often dive several hundred meters off shore - so the swim comes naturally.

My experience has been that the open cell suits are considerably warmer than lined suits for the same thickness - but I've only used a couple of lined suits.

Currently the temps here are around 23c. I've been toying with the idea of getting a nylon lined 1.5 mil smoothskin out suit. The trend seems to be warmer in the summer these days - in places I have to get down to 25 meters or so to cool off in my 3 mil!

 

[superbongos]

I just received 2 of Spiro's Oceanos suits, 5 mil. I got an open cell for myself and a nylon lined for my girlfriend. She can get hers on quicker, but the open lined suit is no big deal with lube. I've always had lined surfing suits and the open cell is more comfortable being so soft. I was amazed how little water the open cell let in. I'm here in San Francisco, cold water for certain.

I'm really happy with my open cell, the stories putting it on shouldn't deter you from one.

 

[Simos]

+1 for the open cell option. Flexibility also makes a big difference - I believe freediving suits like Elios are designed for max comfort when the arms are extended over your head, whereas I doubt this would be the case for scuba suits.

I would probably consider an open-cell spearing suit (eg cressi) if I were you. You'll get a reasonable price, the benefits of open-cell and flexibility with some padding on knees/elbows that will give more durability if you are diving close to rocks/wrecks etc

I have an elios 5mm - it's an excellent suit but I managed to make a hole on the knee the very first time I put it on when I was doing a swim through an old boat. Luckily it was small enough to be patched

 

[Fondueset]

Second that - if you are an 'off-the-shelf' kinda size - then the pre-made suits are a good deal - particularly through Scubastore which is linked here on DB. Even with shipping from Spain the prices are good.

My suits - in addition to being open cell, are all smoothskin on the outside - really low drag and warmer in cold air (nylon wicks heat) - but extremely fragile. If you don't use a monofin and/or are a spearo nylon outside is a no-brainer.

 

[Simos]

Also I noticed that apart from the type of neoprene, the cut of the Freediving suits is what makes them more flexible and suitable for freediving. If you can try them on then make sure you extend your arms over your head to see how comfortable you'll be but another way of 'predicting' arm flexibility is to look at the cut of the suit around the armpit area. I noticed that the Freediving suits at least have a different section of neoprene under the armpit (I think in some cases it might even be less thick than the rest of the suit)

I don't own a scuba suit so don't know if this applies to some scuba suits too but definitely the cheap scuba suits are not like that. Triathlon suits have a similar cut too...

 

[Fondueset]

You've got to request the monofin cut from elios.

 

[azapa]

I'm am sure the original poster is overwhelmed by now! That's the way we are on DB (is that good or bad?)

Another point to consider: If the only reason to by lined suits is durability, think again, because suits don't last for ever, lined or not. It depends how much you dive, how well you rinse and store them, etc.

I dive a ton (like 4 to 8 ocean days a month) and a suit lasts me about 2 years, lined or not. Why? A new suit is floaty as hell, you'll need 20% lead in my experience, then it hits a sweet spot, not too floaty, but still warm. From there its down hill: the nitrogen bubbles slowly burst and compress, creases appear, the suit requires less and less weight, and of course, gets colder. That deal, is the same for both suits - lined and slick.

Good luck interpreting all this 'help'

 

[Fondueset]

Respect to Azapa - who knows whereof he speaks.

Simply put - for New York - your best bet will be a 5 mil suit - open cell in, nylon out. Off-the shelf if you think it will fit - otherwise elios or oceanos. Heiwa is a good neoprene - but don't worry too much about it.

My original suit - which was an elios 5 mil with nylon out, open cell in - is now on it's second owner - after four years I think. Use plenty of lube and the suit will last you and be easy to get in and out of. Nylon outside enables you to grab the suit - which is a HUGE help; particularly when taking it off. I'd get high waist bottoms rather than 'farmer john' if you have the choice - but again; no big deal.

So - to summarize:

Open cell in
Nylon out
5 mil will give you at least 3 seasons comfortable diving and last a good long while.

Later - if you become ridiculous like me - you can get a suit for every occasion.

 

[foxfish]

I just ordered a new custom Diveskin (yesterday in fact) cost me $224 or £135 delivered to my house.

The average off the peg suit around my way is about £160 - 180!

This will be my third Diveskin. (this one is nylon lined in & out)

Simos, who is using scuba suits!!?

 

[Simos]

Simos, who is using scuba suits!!?

Scubies? Lol (sorry I'm losing my mind!)

 

[foxfish]

Arr OK nothing new then!

 

[kirkerik]

Wow! Looks like i have some reading catching up to do...

Thanks for the info...

 

[foxfish]

LOL dont get caught up in our debates mate rofl
I suggest you buy a custom made suit - smooth inside & nylon outside & next time around buy a custom suit nylon inside & out & then report back....
Go with the flow.......

 

[Simos]

Does goose fat work?

 

[kirkerik]

LOL dont get caught up in our debates mate rofl
I suggest you buy a custom made suit - smooth inside & nylon outside & next time around buy a custom suit nylon inside & out & then report back....
Go with the flow.......

Flow is good.

kirk

 

[kirkerik]

Does goose fat work?

Or perhaps just wear a suit all the time! You could get a handsome painted tux version. :blackeye That would take care of that chore of "suiting up" before your dive! rofl

 

[Simos]

Well my elios suit is all blue and with the hood on makes me look like a smurf so my first thought was to paint over it and turn it into a superman suit but never got round to doing it.

Talking about suits - how bad is pool water for open-cell suits?

 

[kirkerik]

yeah, i've been reading and contemplating all this good insight to wetsuits for freediving, both here on this thread and others at DB forums. thanks again...

I guess it comes down to preference for which i have only a little reference for. A lined and hooded mares from my scuba days. It was stiff and very bouyant. I have never had an unlined open cell or slick inside suit.

I'm thinking i'll go for the 5mm but have heard someone say they got too warm in their 5mm opencell elios in the UK. And that was in the winter. Although I think the majority are saying that 5mm is fine for the water in NY. Again water temp is 50 - 70*F (10*-22*C) SURFACE temp for most of the diving i would like to do. I'm a beginner so i can not go very deep as of yet but the thermocline holds that cooler water well. The quarries around here may be some of the more calm and out of the way places to dive. No boats! I may do some colder times of year but i can add a vest, gloves and socks for that.

so 5mm (undecided on the inside for now) hood attached high waist pant.

I'll check out the options but i'm leaning towards oceanos or diveskin. Are they both affiliated? I see oceanos stuff on the Diveskin site. I would consider the elios but they are more expensive, right?

 

[foxfish]

oceanos - Dive skin = same same.

 

[kirkerik]

Well my elios suit is all blue and with the hood on makes me look like a smurf so my first thought was to paint over it and turn it into a superman suit but never got round to doing it.

Talking about suits - how bad is pool water for open-cell suits?

now that's funny. You may discover new performance gains from the red cape!

Chlorine isn't good for anything...