Wetsuits

[arca_tern]

Hey all! I am going to be freediving in Vancouver, BC in mid-april, and do not have a freediving wetsuit ( I have a barely used Mares Trilastic 5-4-3m), and no hood, socks, or gloves.

I work at a running shop where I have access to pro deals (less than wholesale) on three wetsuit brands:
Zoot,
Blue Seventy,
and Nineteen.

Should I buy a triathlon wetsuit and super-cheap and use it for diving (and triathlons), or should I go with an actual freediving suit? Also, could I use the freediving suit for triathlon?

I know Will Trubridge uses Orca's, but it's a little warmer there, and I would have to pay full cost.

Thanks!

arca_tern

 

[Erik]

Proper wetsuit 100%! We dive in challenging waters amigo. Attached hood, 5mm or 7mm, 2 piece a must.

 

[arca_tern]

Is this a good first-time freedive suit?

HERE!

I plan on ordering a bunk of stuff from them anyways, so any suggestions on suits from their site would help. Lookin' at 5mm.

Also, glove/socks - they are pretty fit-specific, so getting in person vs online is what I am thinking. Any good places in Van/Langely to get them? are there freedive specific gloves?

arca_tern

 

[Erik]

That's a great suit- err onthe small side if you're buying off the rack. Socks/gloves usually fit to the size described well enough. You can get away with a 3mm MEC kayak glove in the Summer, but for any colder stuff you're better of with a 5mm freedive glove. Local scuba shop 3 or 5 finger gloves are ok, but really a spearo 5-finger glove is better. Socks same thing- any cheap 3mm will do for 14C and up, but a well-built freedive sock 3mm or 5mm will be better if you're in 10C water or colder.
OMER/Beuchat/MARES/Elios all make good stuff in these categories.

 

[Erik]

Best wet glove made in my experience: Beuchat Semidry 5 mm Gloves. Accessories Gloves, Scubastore.com, buy, offers, scuba-diving

 

[Erik]

You want a sock that has bare rubber on the outside so it seals against the inside of your suit: Omer Socks Skin 3 mm M.Bardi. Accessories Socks - boots, Scubastore.com, buy, offers, scuba-diving

 

[Erik]

And no-name crocs for hiking down to the water! Hot Crocs

 

[arca_tern]

wow dude! A single post for all three would have worked.. haha...

I am pretty sure I am medium-large for the gloves.
Those are the exact socks I look at, but what size am I? If it listed euro sizes i would be fine, but I'm not sure what I would be according to them..

Where are you at in Canada? I'm guessing lower main?

 

[JennyWren]

I use the MEC paddling gloves and socks for diving all year in Vancouver - occasionally I'll wear two pairs of the socks, it's still cheaper than dive socks and they fit better! The gloves are nice since they have a curve to them, making them good for holding onto the rig/line, or for cycling in!

Socks:
MEC Neo Paddling Socks (Unisex) - Mountain Equipment Co-op. Free Shipping Available

Gloves:
MEC CyclPad 3mm Gloves (Unisex) - Mountain Equipment Co-op. Free Shipping Available

I'm guessing that you're taking the PFI course? The dive shop where the lectures are held (IDC on Arbutus) rents Oceaner freediving wetsuits. I have two of those, they are really nice (though a bit pricey). You could rent one to get an idea of how you like them.

 

[arca_tern]

Hey JennyWren. I am taking the intermediate course, and email RE wetsuits, but they said they didn't have any. I will call IDC and see if they have any for rent though. Either way, about time I got my own gear.

Any advice? How was your experience? How cold was it?

 

[Erik]

I live in Edmonton and hunt in lakes mostly, but I get out to the coast a few times per year.
I can't find their sizing chart, but I know that my size 10+ feet are a '4'.

 

[JennyWren]

I loved the course, I took it in September so I'm not sure about the temperature difference, although I did go do a fun dive with the April course last year. I did a dive here in February in my 5mm and didn't freeze to death, but then again it was recreational which keeps you a lot warmer. You'll probably get chilled doing breath-ups on the line but it's been a pretty warm year so shouldn't be too horrible!

I ended up taking the course again as a refresher in Kona, quite a different experience to be able to see the plate at 30m! I like diving here though, it's a bit interesting to not really know where you are in the water column and have to trust your own reactions to depth. There's also a surprising amount of life at Ansell Point (where you'll probably do the ocean dives) so that's cool to explore.

Recommendations - bring warm water with you in jugs (I use 2 Nalgene bottles and wrap them in my towel) so that you can have a warm 'shower' afterwards. It washes off the lube and feels great!

Hopefully I'll be able to make it out to dive with you guys, not sure what days you'll be in the ocean though...so that might not happen.

OOh also I'm not sure where you live, but if you are Vancouver you can come out with the Vancouver Apneist club for recreational dives and training at UBC pool. Our site is www.vancouverapneist.com

~ Jen

 

[arca_tern]

Hey Jenny. I'm in the Interior, so the Apneist club is pretty unlikely, although there is enough interest (and soon experience!) here to start a club going by summer.

I plan on bringing lots of warm clothes, etc, although I am quite hardy with the cold. It would be fun to see you there!

What was the most challenging part of the course? How much did you improve? Was it both Kirk and Mandy?

 

[JennyWren]

Most challenging part for me was self-confidence. I went in thinking that I'd never be able to dive past 35ft or so! I improved a LOT. In the first course (Vancouver) I went from being someone who just liked to snorkel and dive underwater to take a snapshot to doing a 3:30 static and a 27m constant weight dive. In Kona I did 35m, and could have done more except the bottom of the ocean was in the way!

Both Kirk and Mandy were at my courses. The Vancouver one only had 5 people in it so lots of personal attention, whereas the Kona one had 2 additional instructors (16 students). I suspect Mandy won't be in the water since she's just had her baby...

 

[arca_tern]

hey. I decided to not buy the apnea just yet, I am going to rent from IDC in Vancouver and see how I like the oceaner suits. Do you have the rec45, or the competitive version? are they both open cell, just the comp is smoothskin? how hard is it to put on?

thanks!

 

[JennyWren]

I've got one of each, the 5mm rec45 which I use for local diving (and the PFI course), and a 3mm competitive suit which I got for Kona, and will be using in Cayman in a month (whee! so excited). To be honest with you I'm not sure of the definition of open cell so I can't answer that one... they are both the same on the inside but the rec45 has a nylon lining on the outside so is less stretchy and WAY more sturdy.

To get them on I use a mix of water and Suave hair conditioner (about 2:1 or 3:1 ratio). Bonus - I smell like strawberries! The rec45 is pretty straightforward to get into if it's lubed up well, since you can pull on it a bit. I have to be VERY careful with the comp suit. Basically you have to use flat hands to slide it up your body, no grabbing and pulling. In the course they will show you how to put them on. The very first time I put it on my new comp suit I was insanely cautious and it still ripped. No rips since then though; I think they are very tender when they are brand new. At least they are fairly easy to repair.

I'd recommend the rec45 but I'm biased since I haven't tried other brands. They are a bit expensive. My rec45 is nice and warm and luckily I fit one of the standard sizes so I'm comfortable and cozy. In summer, snorkeling/diving on the Sunshine Coast I actually got a bit TOO warm in it.