Do you swim with a wetsuit? For people who enjoy freediving, surfing, swimming in the ocean’s deep waters, snorkeling, and spearfishing, a wetsuit is a valuable tool. Because ocean water is cold, wetsuits insulate a swimmer and help to retain body heat.
When a swimmer retains body heat, he or she avoids the dangerously low body temperature known as hypothermia. Hypothermia can kill a human because the body’s core temperature falls below the normal temperature of 98.6 Fahrenheit. When the body falls below normal temperature, vital parts of the body are in danger of ceasing function, including the heart, brain, lungs, etc. In short, hypothermia can kill you.
When a person is in cold water without a wetsuit, he or she can survive in 80 degrees water indefinitely. Survival times reduce the colder the water gets. For example, in 70 to 60-degree water, a person can survive without a wetsuit from two to 40 hours. In 50 to 40-degree water, the time drops to one to three hours. However, in water that is only 32.5 degrees, a person could survive only 45 minutes.
The Best Spearfishing Wetsuits Buyer’s Guide
| Image | Product | |
|---|---|---|
Best Choice by Scott  | Salvimar N.A.T. 3.5 MM
| Check Price |
for Open Water  | Cressi Camouflage
| Check Price |
for Rocky Terrain  | Mako Spearguns 3D
| Check Price |
for Scuba Diving  | Seac 2014 Warmflex
| Check Price |
Freediving Wetsuit  | Nataly Osmann Camo
| Check Price |
Swimming in the ocean’s deep, cold waters requires a wetsuit for men or a wetsuit for women. (Wetsuits for individuals younger than adult age are also available.)
If you are a spearfishing enthusiast, to get the best performance for your money, your focus should be on the best wetsuits. There’s more to what constitutes an excellent wetsuit than just the price. We have found that price should not be your primary consideration. You can get a good quality wetsuit without paying top dollar.
What is Best Wetsuit for Spearfishing? Here are Five Brands:
1. Salvimar N.A.T. 3.5 MM – Best Wetsuit for Sea and Reef
Salvimar is an Italian spearfishing, free diving, swim and snorkeling equipment company. A best wetsuit for snorkeling and spearfishing, the Salvimar N.A.T., with natural advanced 3.5 mm texture, is a two-piece wetsuit with a hood.
It features an ergo fit, high-waist trousers, external stitching, as well as a neoprene open cell interior lining and a unique green camouflage exterior lining.
The wetsuit features quality features. Two of them are strong Puff Gum reinforcements on the chest, knees, and the elbows and an adjustable beavertail clip.
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- Green camouflage is excellent for swimming in the sea and reef
- Open cell construction
- 3.5 mm thickness suitable for 64 to 48-degree water
- Affordable
- Stitching at neck area may come apart after repeated use
RECOMMENDED: The Salvimar wetsuit is an excellent overall wetsuit for spearfishing.
2. Cressi Camouflage – Best Wetsuit for Open Water
Who makes the best wetsuit for diving? Cressi, an Italian water sports equipment company, focuses on scuba diving, snorkeling, spearfishing, and swimming. Their 2 mm camouflage open cell one-piece wetsuit, designed for spearfishing, free diving, and scuba, features a double-lined Neoprene interior and a blue camouflage pattern exterior.
The arms are constructed for free movement with high-stretch Neoprene. The rest of the wetsuit is anatomically cut to ensure free movement.
The wetsuit has legs that are pre-shaped for easy kicking. It also features a Neoprene lined neck sealing, a YKK zipper, and Aquastop located under the zip lining.
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- Brown 3D camouflage is excellent for swimming in rocky terrain
- Open cell construction
- 100 percent Genuine Yamamoto Neoprene
- Integrated ergonomic hood
- 5 mm
- Affordable
- May be too warm for some swimmers
NOT RECOMMENDED: Although the Cressi wetsuit is well constructed, it is only 2 millimeters thick. Therefore, it’s not suitable for water temperatures under 65 degrees.
3. Mako Spearguns 3D – Best Wetsuit for Rocky Terrain
MAKO Spearguns, an American company, produces the MAKO Spearguns two-piece open cell wetsuit 3D for spearfishing. It is made with 100 percent Genuine Yamamoto Neoprene material in a 3D reef brown camouflage design.
Yamamoto Neoprene is made of eco-friendly limestone. It has approximately 30 percent more stretch than other outer material. This kind of material increases lung capacity for diving. It also eliminates skin irritation, is impermeable, durable, and warmer. To create warmth, the wetsuit features an integrated ergonomic hood.
The 5 mm wetsuit has knee pads and chest pads sewn on and not glued on. In addition to the features, there is a knife pocket, an ergonomic face seal, wrist and ankle cuffs, and a beaver tail.
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- Brown 3D camouflage is excellent for swimming in rocky terrain
- Open cell construction
- 100 percent Genuine Yamamoto Neoprene
- Integrated ergonomic hood
- 5 mm
- Affordable
- May be too warm for some swimmers
RECOMMENDED: The MAKO is an excellent overall wetsuit for all activities in deep ocean water, including spearfishing.
4. Seac 2014 Warmflex – Best Wetsuit for Scuba Diving
The Italian company SEAC produces the SEAC 2014 Warm Flex Man 5 mm Wetsuit. The Warm Flex open cell wetsuit has high-resistance polyurethane and lower back protection. There are knee reinforcements with embossed Supratex. The wetsuit also features a water barrier system zipper.
The outer lining of the one-piece wetsuit is Neoprene, and the inner lining consists of fine plush. The wetsuit has a YKK zipper.
You can wear this wetsuit with or without a hood. The wetsuit features a hood integrated in the vest and an air draining system.
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- Open cell construction
- 5 mm
- Integrated hood
- May be too warm for some swimmers
- Expensive
NOT RECOMMENDED: Although the SEAC wetsuit is constructed well, the wetsuit is more expensive than the other well-constructed wetsuits on the list.
5. Nataly Osmann Camo – Best Freediving Wetsuit
Nataly Osmann, a professional wetsuit store, produces the camo spearfishing wetsuit for men in 1.5 to 3 mm open cell neoprene. The two-piece hooded diving suit is designed to help improve swimming speed and reduce drag.
The camouflage wetsuit features chest and knee pads, as well as protection against sea lice, jellies, and other harmful to humans sea creatures. The wetsuit is suitable for diving, as well as spearfishing, scuba diving, swimming, surfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, windsurfing, etc.
The thickness of the wetsuit is designed for movement not only in the water but also out of the water. Stretch and freedom of movement is the focus.
This wetsuit is not designed for deep, cold water activity.
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- Open cell construction
- Hooded
- Stretch and freedom of movement outside and inside the water
- Affordable
- Only 1.5 to 3 millimeters
NOT RECOMMENDED: The Nataly Osmann wetsuit is constructed well and great for freedom of movement in the water as well as out of the water, but it’s not the right wetsuit for deep-sea spearfishing.
FAQ
Why is it Called a Wetsuit?
The clothing worn for deepsea spearfishing and similar activities is called a “wetsuit” because it is constructed to trap a thin layer of water between the swimmer and the Neoprene. The swimmer’s body heat warms the layer and keeps the swimmer comfortable and protected from hypothermia.
For this to work, the wetsuit must be tight on the swimmer’s body. Otherwise, the layer of water will not be warm enough. When wearing a wetsuit, swimmers can stay in the water not only during summer months when the water is warmer but all year long.
What is Neoprene?
One word you will find with good quality wetsuits is Neoprene. As reported at Contrado, in the 1920s, there was an increased demand for natural rubber, causing the price of rubber to grow rapidly. Therefore, in the 1930s, to address the growing demand for rubber, DuPont scientists invented polychloroprene, otherwise known as Neoprene, a man-made, foamed synthetic rubber. You will find Neoprene in hoses, runways, tires, wetsuits, and even in avant-garde fashions by famous designers seen on the New York runways.
Neoprene fabrics vary in thickness anywhere from one millimeter to seven millimeters (25.4 millimeters equals one inch.) Neoprene is not only flexible, stretchy, and scratch-resistant, but it’s also water-resistant, making it the perfect material for the best cold-water wetsuits. The thicker the Neoprene, the better the insulation. Therefore, the best wetsuits are typically made with thicker Neoprene.
What is the Difference Between Neoprene and Scuba?
You may think that a wetsuit made with Neoprene is the same as a traditional scuba suit. In reality, scuba is a double knit of polyester, spandex, lycra, or rayon. It lacks the insulation that Neoprene provides. However, the best scuba wetsuits are actually made of Neoprene even though they are called scuba suits.
What are Some of the Key Advantages of Neoprene?
Neoprene is considered a superior product due to its many advantages. What are the benefits of Neoprene?
- It is Weather Resistant. A good quality wetsuit will always be weather resistant. This means that a wetsuit made of Neoprene will hold its color and consistency under the hot sun, with repeated use in salty water, and more. A Neoprene wetsuit is also UV rays resistant. Any place on a person’s skin that is covered by the wetsuit is protected from the harmful rays of the sun.
- It is Inexpensive to Produce. Compared to rubber, it’s an inexpensive material to produce and to provide. Even though rubber is more expensive to provide, Neoprene is better suited for wetsuits because it performs better in extreme temperatures such as the cold deep waters.
- It is Stretchy. Neoprene is stretchy. Therefore, it provides for a more comfortable fit and better movability for the swimmer. This is particularly important if you are a scuba diver or a free diver.
- It is Abrasion-Resistant. An abrasion-resistant material such as Neoprene is excellent for a wetsuit. When a swimmer is swimming in deep ocean waters, an abrasion-resistant suit will hold up to repeated use and brushing against any hard substances in the water, such as coral.
How Thick Should a Wetsuit Be?
Wetsuits come in various grades of thickness. The thickness you choose depends on the activity. If you’re swimming on the ocean’s surface, for example, your wetsuit does not have to be as thick as deep-sea diving.
There are short wetsuits that don’t fully cover the arms and legs. Because they don’t cover most of the body, they are not thick at only one or two millimeters. They are ideal for water that is between 80 degrees and 65 degrees. They are also suitable for people who enjoy conventional swimming but who want to be a bit warmer.
However, wetsuits designed to cover most of the body for swimming and diving in deep water can be from three millimeters to seven millimeters thick. These are ideal for water that is 64 degrees to below 39 degrees.
In water that is 47 degrees to below 39 degrees, requiring anywhere from five millimeters to seven millimeters thick, the wetsuit should cover the body and the head in the form of a tight hood. This keeps all of the vital parts of the body protected.
What is Open Cell and Closed Cell?
Neoprene wetsuits are found in two different types – open cell and closed cell. A Neoprene wetsuit with an interior lined with a fabric such as nylon or polyester is a closed cell wetsuit. If it is not lined, it’s open cell.
As reported at Abyss Scuba Diving, when the tiny air bubbles of Neoprene are exposed or “open” they stick to the skin and keep a diver warm.
Closed cell, on the other hand, doesn’t stick to the skin. Therefore, you would need to purchase a thick closed cell wetsuit to experience the same warmth. For example, a three millimeter open cell wetsuit will provide the same heat as a five to seven millimeter closed cell wetsuit.
With an open cell wetsuit, it is common to incorporate lubricant to aid in sliding it on. Lubricant is not needed for a closed cell wetsuit.
Do Wetsuits Come in Different Colors?
One of the fun things about 21st-century wetsuits is that they come in a wide variety of colors. Also, many wetsuits are camouflage in appearance. This makes it harder for sea predators, such as sharks, to notice you.
Today’s camouflage looks come in various colorful designs. However, as The Adventure Junkies explains, the color of the camouflage is essential.
If you’re spearfishing in open water, your wetsuit should be blue camouflage. However, if you’re in rocky terrain, your wetsuit should be a brown color. A green-colored wetsuit is suitable for spearfishing in the sea and reef.
How Do You Purchase a Wetsuit?
In the 21st-century, buying a wetsuit is easier than ever before. Traditionally, you would visit a brick and mortar scuba store to find such a suit. Today, online stores offer a convenient way to find the appropriate wetsuit.
Always buy a wetsuit that corresponds to how you want to use it. So if you’re going to buy a suit for deep-sea spearfishing, make sure it is thick enough and constructed with arms, legs, and a hood. Also, pay attention to the camouflage. Is the color of the camouflage best for your activity?
When you choose a wetsuit from a reputable site, it will offer all of the details about the suits for sale. It will also provide a user-friendly sizing chart.
As the Portland Monthly explains, more people are surfing because wetsuits keep getting better. That means that other activities, such as spearfishing in the deep ocean waters, will benefit from improved wetsuits. When you wear a comfortable, functional wetsuit, your focus can be on the activity instead of how the wetsuit is working.
The 21st-century wetsuit technology, with a focus on improved Neoprene, allows an individual to spend hours in water that’s as cold as 50 degrees or even lower. In addition, the improved technology makes wetsuits feel like a second skin rather than a big, bulky rubber suit from the 1950s.
It is common to wear wetsuits that are 3 millimeters or higher. Although some 5 mm wetsuits may feel too warm for the swimmer, improved wetsuit technology means that the higher millimeters will feel more comfortable than ever before.
With our list of the best spearfishing wetsuits, there is one that we consider the winner.
What is the Best Wetsuit?
We believe the best wetsuit on our list is the Salvimar N.A.T. 3.5 mm. It features excellent features, top-quality Neoprene, and a thickness that is warm but also comfortable. In addition, the price of the websuit is affordable compared to all other wetsuits on the Internet. We have found that you can purchase the wetsuit at a wide variety of sources online, including the Salvimar Spearfishing website.
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