Skip 5mm and go to 7mm?

[Zef]

My opinion is that there is too much emphasis on suits thickness versus fit and seals. A 3mm open cell freediving suit will be much warmer than a 5mm wetsuit designed for SCUBA. Open cell may be too much to tolerate for most, but closed cell suits in the same design are a compromise. They are harder to track down, but they do exist. Filing that a proper semi-dry wetsuit with drysuit style zips and seals. Also, get a hair cut.

My only issue with open cell suits is they are fragile. While they tend to be comfortable, they tear easily. One has to be especially careful when putting them on and taking them off, and they almost always need lubrication to get on. I would totally go with one if I was freediving on a regular basis, but for me with Scuba, I am not sure the benefits outweigh the loss of durability. Others' mileage may vary.

-Z

 

[kinoons]

If you insist not cutting your hair a neoprene beanie may work where as a hood does not.


I’ve worn a hood twice, got OE both times. Now I wear a neoprene beanie that doesn’t cover my ears but offers some thermal protection for my head.

 

[covediver]

have you considered a 5mm with a 2 or 3mm vest. Vest can be hooded or not to your choice. My nephew uses this combination and it gives him flexibility for cooler water. I prefer a 5mm with beanie, but have a lot more insulation than he has

 

[lowwall]

My only issue with open cell suits is they are fragile. While they tend to be comfortable, they tear easily. One has to be especially careful when putting them on and taking them off, and they almost always need lubrication to get on. I would totally go with one if I was freediving on a regular basis, but for me with Scuba, I am not sure the benefits outweigh the loss of durability. Others' mileage may vary.

-Z

Especially since the OP is an instructor. Durability and the ability to suit up quickly are both very important. Having to mess around with lube would be suboptimal.

@divewithjp.com

I just re-read your post and I want to amend my earlier advice. I still think you should get a 5mm shorty with full front zip, but pair it with your existing 3mm for now instead of also buying a new 5mm full suit.

The combination gives you 8mm over everything from your thighs to your upper arms. Also having the zippers in different locations should help limit water entry into the suit. If you end up feeling cold in this, then it will be time to go to a 5mm full as your base. Or a drysuit. Or bite the bullet, cut your hair short and get something with a hood.

 

[divewithjp.com]

Thanks to everyone who took their time to reply!!
Very mixed opinions, here's a small summary of the replies:

Exposure protection	# of recomendations
5mm	1
5mm + 5mm shorty	3
5/7mm	1
Drysuit	1
5mm+ Sharkskin	1
Cut hair & use a hood	2
Other head protection neoprene beanie)	1
Use my 3mm with 5mm shorty	1

I guess there is no universal answer:
The cons of a 7mm would be too much weight and restriction in movement, wouldn't this also apply to 5+5mm? Since my students will be in a simple 5mm, a drysuit is not an option, cutting my hair is also not the advice I've been looking for (I rather get a custom hood made one day).

I think a good 5mm like the Waterproof W7 would be the smartest investment, and layering it with some shark skin undergarments sounds like the simplest extra to stay warm without lots of bulk and extra weights to go down. I'm afraid a 5mm+ shorty would become to restrictive for the teaching I do, but maybe I'm wrong?

 

[divewithjp.com]

Given the water temps you mention you dive in, I would recommend the Aqualung Aquaflex 5mm wetsuit and couple it with the Aqualung Dynaflex 5mm shorty. This shorty is designed to be worn over the the wetsuit. This will give you versatility to add/remove the shorty, or even just wear the shorty as the water temps permit.

If you were to be diving water 20C or colder, then I would suggest a semi-dry or drysuit.

I see you are originally from Luxembourg. I lived and dived in Belgium for 10 years. I used a 5mm when the water was 19c or warmer, a 7mm semi-dry when the water was between 10c and 19c, and a drysuit when the water was colder than 10c or the air temp was cold.

A bunch of years ago I dived off the coast of Phuket Thailand, in a 3mm and was more than comfortable...but if you get cold easily, I think you would do well with the 5mm + 5mm shorty....a 7mm may be challenging from a heat exhaustion standpoint before getting wet.

I would also think about just a 5mm with a sharkskin undersuit, some folks swear by the sharkskin for thermal comfort under their wetsuit...the shorty and the 7mm will both require carrying more weight which is a pain, where the sharkskin should have a marginal if any affect on your buoyancy.

-Z

Not in my furthest dream would I consider teaching in Belgium or Luxembourg haha, or as you say, a dry suit for any fun dives there would definitely be my choice.

Wouldn't 5mm full and 5mm shorty end up being the same bulkiness and pre-dive heat exhaustion than a 7mm?

I do think layering with shark skin on a normal 5mm would be the simplest of all.

 

[divewithjp.com]

If you insist not cutting your hair a neoprene beanie may work where as a hood does not.


I’ve worn a hood twice, got OE both times. Now I wear a neoprene beanie that doesn’t cover my ears but offers some thermal protection for my head.

Which neoprene beanie are you using? What's the thickness?
I was thinking about a Neoprene ear cover to keep my forehead, ears and neck warm. Because of the thickness of my hair, I don't feel the cold too much on top of it.
Or maybe combine the beanie and ear cover, hoping the mask stays somehow somewhere

 

[Doc Harry]

Skip 7mm and go to a drysuit

 

[crofrog]

skip the 5 and 7mm and go straight to a drysuit.

Own a 3mm and a drysuit and you're covered for all temperature ranges.

 

[NauticalNick]

I have a Fourth Element Proteus II 5mm which I used for Nusa in January and it worked very well. Very well fitted (for me) with good seals (including a neck seal) nearly eliminate water egress. If anything I have to flood my suit sometimes when it gets too warm. It's a bit of a pain to don and doth but still better than a 7mm which is non-starter for me due to the hassle. You can always pair it up with an incremental vest as well if you're real cold.