So you want to go warm water spearfishing — awesome! Spearfishing is a popular fishing activity that requires the use of spearfishing gear such as speargun and a full-body wetsuit. It’s a pastime with origins dating back centuries, and it’s only gaining popularity yearly.
Purchasing spearfishing and freediving wetsuits can be a bit overwhelming and confusing — but don’t worry; it’s simple. Here’s what you need to know to find the best spearfishing wetsuits and scuba diving wetsuits for you.
Your budget
The first thing to consider when buying spearfishing wetsuits for women is your budget. It’s a big expense to get into spearfishing, and a good wetsuit with reinforced knees is not cheap, but it’s crucial for safety. There are a few ways to stay on budget. You could look for an older closed cell wetsuit used or hunt for a great deal on Neptonics. Or you could save up for quality wetsuits that you want (I would recommend this.) The best way to get the most bang for your buck is to sacrifice wetsuit thickness. That’s why I didn’t list Under Armour or Adidas among the top brands: their suits are very thin, so you won’t be as protected from cold water or if you get tangled in something and need extra flotation.
Your Size
Try on your neoprene-lined spearfishing wetsuit before you buy it, but it’s also important to know what size to get. A wetsuit made with open cell neoprene thickness will not fit everyone the same; some people are long-limbed, others are small-boned, and everyone is shaped differently. A wetsuit’s chest panel will typically have a bit more room in them to allow you to take a deep breath while your face is submerged.
Your Style
There is a wetsuit for every occasion and every body type. The three main standard wetsuit styles are long-sleeved boardies, short-sleeved boardies, and sleeveless computer tees.
Long sleeve boardies are generally great for warmer water. They are bulkier and more expensive than short-sleeved boardies, but they retain body heat more efficiently. However, because of the extra material, they are not as flexible as short-sleeved or open cell wetsuits, so you won’t snag them on your equipment as much.
Short sleeve lycra suits are ideal for cold water spearfishing, such as in Santa Monica, where I dive. They provide less insulation than open-cell suits and long-sleeved wetsuits, but they give more flexibility. Sleeveless piece wetsuits are good for water temperature use and offer maximum flexibility in the water (as long as your shoulders can handle the constriction).
The Climate
Climate is the most important but often overlooked factor when buying a spearfishing wetsuit for spearfishing. What are the water temperatures? How cold can it get? If it’s hot and you’re considering getting a 5mm suit, do you want to be the guy who is so hot that he needs a fan on him during the dive? It happens. If you’ve never been spearfishing before, then this is something you need to consider.
The Material
The most common materials for smooth skin spearfishing wetsuits and surfing wetsuits are rubber, nylon, and high-density neoprene. Rubber is stretchy, thin, and flexible. Therefore, it is ideal for warmer waters. Yamamoto neoprene with built-in hood, chest and knee pads and reinforced elbows is thicker and warmer, so it’s better suited to colder water scuba diving. Nylon wetsuit material is less thick but has a smooth exterior thickness and provides better breathability for scuba divers.
The Fit
A scuba diving camouflage wetsuit with ankle seals and extra padding that is too big will not provide the extra warmth or compression needed to allow you to maximize your diving time in the water. An open-cell wetsuit that is too tight will be restrictive, uncomfortable, and dangerous. Some things to consider while trying on closed-cell suits are shoulder mobility, flexibility in the bicep and forearm, pinch test, and torso length
