Top 10 Freediving Wetsuits

A wetsuit for spearfishing is, along with a mask and a pair of fins, one of the most important pieces of gear you’ll need to explore the ocean depths. These suits are essential for several reasons: 1- They keep you warm in the cold water. 2- They protect your skin from sun exposure. 3- They protect you from coral reefs or rocks that can scratch or cut you.

A wide variety of suits are out there, differing in material, design, thickness, type of lining, and color. Making a choice isn’t easy but don’t worry! In this article, I’m going to talk about the main features to take into account to find a great freediving suit. Also, I’m going to review the best models of the year, so you can find the one that best fits your needs.

Check out other buying guides to find the best dive cameras, spearfishing fins, diving bags, dive masks, knives, gloves, and diving boots. 

TOP 10 SPEARFISHING WETSUITS

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CRESSI TOKUGAWA

FEATURES: Made with super soft but resistant high-quality open-cell neoprene, the Cressi Tokugawa is a great spearfishing suit for mild water. 

Available in 2mm and 3 mm, this model adapts to different water environments, providing great camouflage, excellent flexibility, freedom of movement, and comfortable fit. 

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SEAC BODY FIT

FEATURES: This model is a great option for tropical-water divers looking for a comfortable and resistant one-piece design. You won’t need any lube to put it on, as it’s made with closed-cell neoprene.

It features anatomically pre-angled legs and arms. The chest pad is a little thinner than in other models, but it’s still effective when you’re loading your gun.

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RIFFE DIGI-TEK

FEATURES: The diver will easily blend into reefs, rocks, and the open sea thanks to this fantastic camo design.

Made with high-quality Yamamoto neoprene, it features face, ankle, and wrist seals to prevent water from entering the suit. It’s reinforced with chest and knee pads, too. Available in seven sizes, the Riffe Digi-Tek is one of our top choices.

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SALVIMAR N.A.T.

FEATURES: The main highlights of this suit are: lightweight, high-quality neoprene with resistant seams and excellent reinforcements on the knees and elbows.

It’s easy to put on and super warm. Overall, it’s one of the best two-piece designs that you can get for a reasonable price.

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MAKO YAMAMOTO REEF CAMO

FEATURES: Built with high-quality Yamamoto neoprene, the Mako Reef Camo is outstanding for its awesome warmth, comfort, and durability.

Featuring padded knee and chest pads and an integrated knife pocket, it’s a popular model among intermediate to experienced divers.

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SALVIMAR ATLANTIS

FEATURES: Great construction, a hyperstretch lining, and an effective camo design for tropical reefs and clear-water seas. Easy donning and doffing.

Reinforcements on the elbows and knees. Watertight seals in the hood, wrist, and ankles to provide greater warmth. Overall, it’s a great option for tropical-water divers.

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CRESSI HUNTER RASH GUARD

FEATURES: If you’re diving in tropical water and are looking for a rash guard to protect yourself from ultraviolet rays while providing you with a little warmth, this could be your best option. This model includes a chest pad to help you comfortably load your speargun. It’s available hooded and crew-neck.

Here, you can get the pants on Amazon.

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SEAC PIRANA

FEATURES: This is another great rash guard you can use in tropical waters. It’s reinforced with 3D polyurethane pads on the knees, elbows, and lower back. Also, it features a 7.0 mm Supratex-lined chest pad. It’s a comfortable model at a great price.

TOP FREEDIVING SUITS

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CRESSI FREEDOM

FEATURES: Probably the best apnea model you can find on the market right now. In addition, it’s great for triathlons and swimming.

Easy to put on and take off, ultraflexible, lightweight, hydrodynamic, and comfortable. If you are into freediving, look no further.

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CRESSI MOREA

FEATURES: Perfect for the occasional freediver who needs a suit for snorkeling, surfing, scuba diving, or paddleboarding.

Flexible, comfortable and durable, this is a great multi-sport model at one of the best prices on the list.

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THINGS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT:

SCUBA DIVING VS SPEARFISHING AND FREEDIVING

Though scuba diving and apnea have a lot of things in common, they are different activities, and they require different gear. This is especially true when it comes to wetsuits.

The main difference between diving and freediving suits is the size of the nitrogen bubbles trapped in the neoprene.

Underwater fishing suits are built with larger bubbles and thin rubber neoprene walls surrounding each bubble. Because the bubbles are larger, this type of suit feels warmer in cold water. Also, it is stretchy and very comfortable to wear.

The downside of these low-density wetsuits is that they compress much more when taken to depth. Thus, they lose much of their insulation properties. This could be a real problem for scuba divers who spend a lot of time at a considerable depth. However, spearfishermen tend to spend most of their time on the surface, which is why low-density suits are the perfect fit for such activities.

Diving wetsuits, on the other hand, are made with smaller bubbles and thicker neoprene walls. These models, also known as high-density suits, will keep you warmer while diving at depth.

In addition to the technical characteristics of the suit, your body will be producing more or less heat depending on the activity. Generally, a freediver will be generating more heat through his swimming than a scuba diver will (even though they spend more time on relaxation). This is another reason why apnea suits tend to be thinner.

MATERIALS

Most suits are made of neoprene. However, not all types of neoprene provide the same insulation properties, resistance, and durability.

Besides quality, you’ll have to choose between open-cell neoprene and closed-cell neoprene. This will depend on the activity you are practicing, and it’s a key factor in finding the right model.

The neoprene that is used to make open-cell suits is generally more flexible and softer than other materials. Keep in mind that soft neoprene is usually less durable.

OPEN-CELL VS CLOSED-CELL

Most scuba diving models feature a lining layer that protects both sides of the neoprene (known as double-lined or closed-cell). In this type of suit, a layer of water comes into the suit that it’s in continuous contact with the diver’s body. However, scuba divers keep moving throughout most of the dive, which generates heat and warms up the layer of water. These models are perfect for scuba divers but not for freedivers.

Freedivers can generate a lot of heat when swimming, but they also spend a lot of time relaxing on the surface, breathing up, and waiting for the right moment to dive. That’s why closed cell models don’t work well for them, as they can’t keep the layer of water warm.

Spear fishermen should choose open-cell neoprene because the inner side of the rubber doesn’t have a lining. Therefore, the neoprene wall comes into direct contact with the diver’s skin. This creates a seal with the skin and prevents water from entering the suit—thus, keeping you drastically warmer.

Having both sides of the neoprene lined does, indeed, provide more resistance and durability. However, the double lining reduces flexibility and range of movement.

One of the main disadvantages of open-cell designs is that they are not easy to put on. Because the neoprene cells “stick” to the skin and create a kind of vacuum effect, you’ll need to use a lubricant to put it on. Otherwise, you could damage your suit—or, worse, your skin.

SMOOTHSKIN

There is a type of suit with no lining on any side. However, the neoprene features a smooth finish on the outside. This design is known as smoothskin or superskin. They are very common among experienced and professional divers.

Smoothskin models generally feature one-piece designs. They have advantages such as great flexibility and elasticity, great insulating properties, super-fast drying, and efficient hydrodynamics. Unfortunately, they have disadvantages, too: They are expensive, and not too resistant or durable.

WHAT THICKNESS DO YOU NEED?

To find the right thickness, you have to think about the temperature of the water you will be diving in. As we have mentioned, you’ll spend much of your time on the surface, waiting for the right moment to dive. This means that you won’t be constantly moving, but also that you won’t be in contact with the colder deep water all the time.

If you are going to dive in tropical warm water, you might not even need much protection. For some divers, a good Lycra or rash guard will do it.

However, if you hate feeling cold while diving, I recommend that you get at least a 1.5 mm to 2 mm model for diving in tropical water.

If you prefer to dive in cold water, you will want to get a thicker wetsuit. Depending on the temperature of the water, you might need 3 mm, 5 mm, or 7 mm. Keep in mind that most models lose some thickness over time, depending on how often and deep you dive.

The preferred thickness will depend on your personal preferences. However, here are recommendations that can give you a rough idea:

– Warm water over 77 Fahrenheit or 25 Celsius: 1-2 mm

– Water between 68-76 Fahrenheit or 20-25 Celsius: 3 mm

– Water between 59-67 Fahrenheit or 15-20 Celsius: 5 mm

– Very cold water below 59 Fahrenheit or 15 Celsius: 7 mm or thicker

CAMOUFLAGE

If you are a freediver with no interest in fishing, simply choose your favorite color, whether it is camo, black, or fluorescent pink.

Spearfishermen, on the other hand, should go for camouflage patterns. Camouflage designs are just as important when fishing as they are when hunting in the woods! After all, you’ll be hunting fish, which have survival instincts just like any other animal. They have developed acute senses to detect and avoid predators.

You can wear a black Lycra and, if you are lucky, you’ll catch some fish. However, your chances will dramatically increase if you use a camo design.

What kind of camouflage should you use? Which color is best? This will depend entirely on where you will be fishing. If you like to dive in the open sea, I suggest a black or navy blue camouflage. You can choose a combination of light blues if you’re fishing at the surface, brown or gray if you stick to rocky areas, and maybe green if you combine reefs with the open sea.

ONE PIECE OR TWO PIECES?

You can find many styles out there, but the most popular ones are one-piece (also called steamer or full-body) and two-piece.

Full-body models are the most popular option among entry-level divers because they are generally more affordable than two-piece options. The downside is that they don’t provide the same insulation. Also, some water can enter the suit through the zipper in the back or chest.

Most experienced fishermen prefer two-piece models because they keep you warmer while providing better hydrodynamic performance. The top and pants are connected by overlapping, Velcro, zippers, or other fasteners. On the downside, they are more expensive.

HOODS

As you know, your head can lose a significant amount of heat when it’s in direct contact with cold water. Hoods keep your head warmer when you’re diving, which improves your diving experience. They also increase the diver’s hydrodynamic performance.

Do you really need a hood? Well, that depends on the water in which you’re going to dive. If you stick to tropical water, you won’t really need one. However, if you’re planning to dive in cold water, then yes, you should definitely get a good hood.

LYCRA

You can use simple Lycra when you’re diving in tropical water and simply need some light insulation and UV sun-ray protection. Make sure your model includes a loading pad so that you’ll be able to load your speargun without hurting your chest.

TIPS FOR PUTTING ON YOUR OPEN-CELL SUIT

Once you get your suit, you’ll be excited to go for your first dive in it. However, before you try to put it on, you should know how to do it correctly. Putting on an open-cell suit without lubrication is really hard (if not impossible).

The most popular homemade lubricants are:

1- Hair conditioner mixed with water. This is easy to prepare and effective. You can keep the mix in an empty plastic container or spray bottle.

2- Mixture of soap and water. This is a very popular option, but don’t put too much soap in the mix, as some divers believe that it can put off the fish.

Once you have your lube, you can pour it on your arms and legs. Keep in mind that this method is recommended only in hot climates. If it’s cold out there, you won’t want to do this. In that case, you’d better pour the mixture into your suit. Start with the pants. Then, once you have slid your legs into the pants, continue with the jacket.