Freediving wetsuits

What thickness freediving wetsuit do you need in Sydney 

Freediving wetsuits are constructed differently to scuba wetsuits for three reasons. 

Open-cell neoprene is warmer per millimetre than lined neoprene because the cells press directly against your skin and trap a thin layer of water that warms quickly. The trade-off is fragility (open-cell tears easily on a fingernail or zip) and the need for a soapy-water entry every time you put the suit on. 

Smoothskin neoprene on the outer face reduces wind chill at the surface, which matters during long surface intervals when you are conserving energy. The smoothskin outer also reduces drag through the water. 

The two-piece design lets you put on the long-john bottoms first then the jacket and hood separately, which improves chest expansion (the jacket has less compressive force across the rib cage than a one-piece) and lets you layer thermally if conditions change. 

Thickness selection for Sydney freediving: 

• Summer (December to March, water 21 to 24 degrees Celsius): 3mm two-piece for surface work and warm dives. 
• Autumn and spring (water 17 to 21 degrees Celsius): 5mm two-piece year-round all-rounder. 
• Winter (June to August, water 15 to 18 degrees Celsius): 7mm two-piece, or for cold-tolerant freedivers a 5mm with a thicker hood. 

Care matters more on a freediving suit than a scuba suit. Use a neoprene-safe conditioner or diluted hair conditioner to get into the suit without tearing the open-cell. Rinse in fresh water after every dive and dry inside-out away from direct sunlight. 

For Sydney water-temperature context across the year, see the wetsuit thickness for Sydney diving blog. For freedivers working cold-water sites past the limits of a 7mm, the drysuit collection is the next step. For the accessories that complete the kit, see the freediving accessories collection.