Your First Freediving Wetsuit: The Complete Guide

"This is my first wetsuit - which one do I get?"

We encounter this question frequently at our freediving school, and we completely understand why choosing your first wetsuit feels overwhelming. With countless options available today, the decision can seem daunting. Here's exactly how we guide our students through this important choice.

Define Your Primary Use: Pool or Depth?

The first step in selecting your wetsuit is determining where you'll primarily use it. This fundamental decision shapes every other consideration.

Pool Training: Prioritise Movement and Comfort

For dynamic pool sessions, most freedivers feel most comfortable in a sleeveless suit, which provides unrestricted arm movement during training. However, if you don't mind the additional material, long-sleeved suits work perfectly well. Both styles are available as one-piece or two-piece configurations. For static sessions, you may want to add a neoprene top for warmth if you choose to get a sleeveless wetsuit for dynamic. 

Two-piece considerations: Whilst both one-piece and two-piece suits perform excellently, the two-piece design does add slight extra buoyancy around the midsection where the materials overlap.

Thickness recommendations: Choose between 0.5mm to 1.5mm thickness. Even 1.5mm proves quite thick for our climate conditions.

The thickness trade-off: Thinner wetsuits affect your buoyancy less significantly, but they're more fragile and require careful handling.

Our tip: If you already require substantial weights in the pool, select a thinner wetsuit. If you don't need much weight, or could benefit from additional buoyancy, a thicker suit would serve you well.

Depth Training: Protection and Warmth

For depth training, we recommend a two-piece suit with sleeves and hood. This configuration provides essential protection against both cold water and sun exposure. A thickness of 1.5-2mm offers the ideal balance of durability and warmth in tropical waters.

Versatility: Using One Suit for Both Applications

If you want to use your wetsuit for both pool and depth training, you have two excellent options:

1. Purchase a two-piece suit designed for depth training and add a sleeveless or sleeved/hoodless top for dynamic pool sessions
2. Choose a long-sleeved one-piece with a zip closure and wear a swim cap 

Material Guide: Understanding Your Options

Exterior Lining: Nylon-Skin 

This material offers superior durability and tends to last longer with regular use. It's an excellent choice for beginners who want a suit that withstands the learning process.

Exterior Lining: Smooth Skin 

Smooth skin reduces drag through the water, potentially improving your performance. However, it requires more careful handling and maintenance.

Interior Lining: Lycra for ease

Selecting a wetsuit lined with lycra on the inside provides durability and makes the suit much easier to put on and take off. In our climate, open-cell wetsuits are unnecessary. These suits are typically required for warmth in colder waters, but they're not needed for our conditions.

Our Recommended Brand: Bestdive

At Zen Freediving, we recommend Bestdive wetsuits for their excellent quality, durability, and value. We've tested numerous brands over the years, and Bestdive consistently delivers the performance, comfort and reliability that our students need.

Bestdive offers the full range of configurations we've discussed - and more! Their construction quality ensures your investment will serve you well throughout your freediving journey.

Making Your Final Decision

When choosing your first freediving wetsuit, consider your primary training environment first, then factor in your buoyancy needs and handling preferences. Remember that a well-chosen wetsuit enhances your freediving experience by providing comfort, protection, and confidence in the water. Take time to consider the factors and don't hesitate to ask questions - we're here to help you make the best choice for your freediving goals.

Need Help Choosing or Ready to Order?

If you have questions about wetsuit selection or would like to place an order, please get in touch with us. We can provide personalized recommendations based on your specific needs, training goals, and body measurements. We're here to help you get the perfect wetsuit for your freediving adventures!