about to buy a wet suit have a question

tuan_phan · Aug-08-2007, 05:19 PM

hi new to spearfishing.and about to purchase a wetsuit now my question is i 'm buying this to dive for lobsters so i'll be using it mostly in the winter.i would like to know what most of the people use during the winter. i was thinking a 5 mm suit.and maybe use it during the summer too???any sugestions.i have a friend that works at oniel so most likely goign to buy an oneil.and they have anywhere from 1mm suits to 7mm.thanks i just dont want to waste a bunch of money on a suit.

**Marcus** · Aug-08-2007, 05:23 PM

It really depends. I use a 5mm one piece suit from xcel. It is really warm for a 5mm. I know a lot of people use 7 mm for the winter as they get cold. During the summer I use a 3mm. One suit won't fit everything you want to do. Is the o'neil suit you are planning on buying a surf suit or is it a diving suit? Does it have a hood? Are you planning on going on scuba or freediving? All these will have an impact on what you need to buy.

recon3325 · Aug-08-2007, 06:54 PM

I use a 5 mill for all my diving. Dont have the cash for a suit for every season so a 5 mil works fine. I have an omer kelp camouflage suit but the seams on it don't hold. My cousin has the same problem. Seams start to come apart all over the place. I think I will go for an Apnea next time. If I was only doing winter diving I would look into a 7 mm but I do fine in the 5. The thicker the suit the more weight you need and it isn't cheep.

I also dive for lobster at night. It would be nice to have the extra warmth but I also like the flexibility of a thinner suit. Especially for freediving.

tuan_phan · Aug-08-2007, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuam

It really depends. I use a 5mm one piece suit from xcel. It is really warm for a 5mm. I know a lot of people use 7 mm for the winter as they get cold. During the summer I use a 3mm. One suit won't fit everything you want to do. Is the o'neil suit you are planning on buying a surf suit or is it a diving suit? Does it have a hood? Are you planning on going on scuba or freediving? All these will have an impact on what you need to buy.

well it will be a dive suit and a coulpe of the suits have detachable hoods

**Marcus** · Aug-08-2007, 07:40 PM

You want an integrated hood not a detachable hood, trust me on this.

lobzila · Aug-09-2007, 06:04 AM

If you are mostly planning on winter diving, go with the thickest suit you can afford and make sure you get one with an attachable hood. A huge plus. Also try to get one with the most skin in material around all the cuffs, or the complete suit if you can get it. Once you get cold underwater, you are pretty much done for the day or night depending on your dive. It also depends on your body structure on how well you handle being cold. I hate to get cold and use a 7mil suit in winter and a 5 mil in summer and fall. Hope this helps.

tuan_phan · Aug-09-2007, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lobzila

If you are mostly planning on winter diving, go with the thickest suit you can afford and make sure you get one with an attachable hood. A huge plus. Also try to get one with the most skin in material around all the cuffs, or the complete suit if you can get it. Once you get cold underwater, you are pretty much done for the day or night depending on your dive. It also depends on your body structure on how well you handle being cold. I hate to get cold and use a 7mil suit in winter and a 5 mil in summer and fall. Hope this helps.

thanks for all the info guys.it was really helpfull

mike_w · Aug-09-2007, 10:50 PM

get what ever you can aford if you can aford a nice suit go for it if you cant find something that fits , i dove all lobseter season last year with a suit that didnt fit was too well and had no neck piece anymore i froze my ass off most of the time but i had fun

patnrex · Aug-10-2007, 02:22 AM

I am a SCUBA instructor as well as an avid hunter. I have two O'neil J-Type 7mm wetsuits. It is a great suit and reasonably priced. The hood is attached and like others have suggested that is desirable. The newest model is camoflaged if you want that look.

john7429 · Aug-10-2007, 01:49 PM

I have an OMER 5mm. Use it year round as well. Love it.

If I were to get another suit, I would try out an Apnea. I've heard nothing but good things about them and they cost less.

tuan_phan · Aug-11-2007, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patnrex

I am a SCUBA instructor as well as an avid hunter. I have two O'neil J-Type 7mm wetsuits. It is a great suit and reasonably priced. The hood is attached and like others have suggested that is desirable. The newest model is camoflaged if you want that look.

that was the suit that i was looking to get.how is the suit is it pretty flexable.and is there any other suits you can compare it with.tia

patnrex · Aug-11-2007, 05:07 AM

It is a very flexible and warm wetsuit. I get cold easy but not in this suit. I have wetsuits from Seaquest, Oceanic, Xcel, and Henderson. This has been my favorite.