Wetsuit for scuba and freediving
- Thread starter SalahY
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dumpsterDiver
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yes, I have used a freedive suit for scuba diving hundreds of times. Some people will say that freedive suits are made of rubber which will undergo excessive and accelerated and permanent compresssion associated with the depths aasscoiated with scuba.
My experience is that this is not true - at all. All suits will wear out, all suits will slowly lose buoyancy, thickness and warmth as they are worn. A good freedive suit will last many many dives. I commonly take freedive suits to well past recreational depths.
Freedive suits are generally warmer, and more comfortable than comparable scuba suits with zippers etc.
My experience is that this is not true - at all. All suits will wear out, all suits will slowly lose buoyancy, thickness and warmth as they are worn. A good freedive suit will last many many dives. I commonly take freedive suits to well past recreational depths.
Freedive suits are generally warmer, and more comfortable than comparable scuba suits with zippers etc.
dumpsterDiver
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Free-divers often use low density or even open cell suits. The former lose more warmth with depth, the latter tend to be more fragile. So they might not be as suitable for scuba. As with so many things, it depends.
Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
I currently use a freediving suit for scuba.
I use a Yazbeck 7mm open cell, attached hood, beavertail, jacket/john, with no zippers.
They are warmer and more comfortable than regular 'scuba' suits generally found on racks at your LDS.
But most or all 'freediving' suits are open cell inside, or spit cell meaning they are raw neoprene and must be lubed up with a mixture of hair conditioner and water kept in a spray bottle to be able to slide in without tearing up or damaging the suit. Without lube open cell neoprene will not slide on skin dry, unlike nylon lined neoprene which does, but the advantage to open cell is that the neoprene is right up against your skin without any layers of nylon to hold water so it is warmer. The other benefit is they dry out quick and never mildew or stink.
I used to think that the neoprene used in freedive suits was very sensitive and would get ruined easily by extended compression times whilst on scuba, but I found that claim to be false.
I use a Yazbeck 7mm open cell, attached hood, beavertail, jacket/john, with no zippers.
They are warmer and more comfortable than regular 'scuba' suits generally found on racks at your LDS.
But most or all 'freediving' suits are open cell inside, or spit cell meaning they are raw neoprene and must be lubed up with a mixture of hair conditioner and water kept in a spray bottle to be able to slide in without tearing up or damaging the suit. Without lube open cell neoprene will not slide on skin dry, unlike nylon lined neoprene which does, but the advantage to open cell is that the neoprene is right up against your skin without any layers of nylon to hold water so it is warmer. The other benefit is they dry out quick and never mildew or stink.
I used to think that the neoprene used in freedive suits was very sensitive and would get ruined easily by extended compression times whilst on scuba, but I found that claim to be false.
Phantom Menace
Contributor
^^^^ I agree with what Eric and DumpsterDiver have said.
Freediving suits with open cell inside and nylon outside are robust as long as you lubricate the inside when you are putting it on. (If it is a cold day then make your lubrication solution up with hot water in a flask before you leave home ... or put it on under a shower if you have that luxury on a dive boat). Also - be a little careful with long finger nails on the inside of the suit.
The payback in warmth is worth it.
Freediving suits with open cell inside and nylon outside are robust as long as you lubricate the inside when you are putting it on. (If it is a cold day then make your lubrication solution up with hot water in a flask before you leave home ... or put it on under a shower if you have that luxury on a dive boat). Also - be a little careful with long finger nails on the inside of the suit.
The payback in warmth is worth it.
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