Your second skin for deep-sea freedom

Dear freediving enthusiast and pure underwater sensations, you know: to melt into the underwater world, your equipment counts. The freediving suit is an essential piece of clothing; it's an extension of your body, designed to improve its hydrodynamics and freedom of movement during each immersion.

Freediving: History, Philosophy & Disciplines

Freediving is far from a modern invention—it has deep roots. It emerged as a sport in the 20th century, with pioneers like Jacques Mayol. Today, freediving is recognized not only for its physical performance but also for mental control and deep self-connection.

For many practitioners, it goes beyond physical ability. The complete immersion, the silence, and the feeling of weightlessness bring a sense of wholeness. Freediving is also a school of humility and self-discovery, where you learn to listen to your body, manage stress, and push your limits—always within your capabilities.

Disciplines of Freediving include:

• Static apnea: Holding your breath underwater while remaining still.

• Dynamic apnea: Covering the greatest horizontal distance underwater, with or without fins.

• Constant weight: Descending and ascending under your own power, typically with fins.

• Variable weight & no limits: Reaching greater depths with the help of a weight or sled.

• Spearfishing: Combining freediving with underwater hunting.

• Underwater exploration & photography: Enjoying marine life without the noise of bubbles.

Freediving Safety: Key Guidelines and Risks

Safety is fundamental in freediving. Core rules include: never dive alone, progress gradually, stay hydrated, listen to your body, and master pressure equalization. Getting trained by professionals is a valuable investment.

Essential Freediving Equipment

To dive safely and optimize performance, the right gear is crucial. At DiveAvenue, we’ve selected the must-haves to help you dive with peace of mind.

Freediving Essentials

• Freediving fins: Forget standard scuba fins! Choose longer, more flexible fins specifically designed for freediving. They offer powerful propulsion with minimal effort. Material (soft plastic, fiberglass, or carbon) depends on your skill level and performance goals.

• Freediving mask: Opt for a low-volume mask that fits snugly and provides a wide field of view. Silicone skirts are preferred for comfort and durability.

• Freediving snorkel: Simplicity is key. Choose a basic snorkel—no purge valves or complicated features. It should be easy to clear and stay in place without interfering with movement.

• Freediving wetsuit: Protect yourself from cold and friction with a smooth neoprene wetsuit. These are thinner and more flexible than scuba wetsuits, providing greater freedom of movement. Choose thickness based on water temperature.

• Weight belt and lead weights: Essential to control buoyancy and ease your descent. Precise weighting is crucial for safe dives and ascents.

• Freediving knife: A vital safety tool to free yourself or assist a partner if entangled.

• Surface buoy: Signals your presence to boats and other sea users, offers support during recovery, and can carry an alpha flag for better visibility.

For Advanced Freedivers (Or Those Aspiring to Be)

• Freediving computer (highly recommended): This handy device provides valuable data like depth, dive time, and water temperature. It also helps track surface recovery time—a key tool for safe progression.

• Freediving safety lanyard: A physical connection (1–1.5 meters) between you and the descent line. It includes a quick-release near the diver and secures to the dive line. Crucial for team safety and monitoring.

• Freediving nose clip: Allows for hands-free equalization of pressure in the ears and sinuses.
  ⚠️ Important: You must master manual equalization techniques before using a nose clip. Note: it may be inconvenient if you need to clear your nose or mask quickly.

Freediving Wetsuit Design: Materials and Features

A freediving wetsuit is optimized for this type of diving. Unlike scuba suits, freediving suits focus on:

• Hydrodynamics: Reducing water resistance.

• Flexibility: Allowing deep breathing and full range of motion.

• Discretion: Some models feature camouflage patterns, ideal for spearfishing.

They use open-cell neoprene inside, which sticks to the skin and traps a thin layer of water warmed by the body, ensuring thermal insulation.

Neoprene Types and Key Features

Neoprene is at the heart of freediving suits. Its quality and finish affect comfort, flexibility, and warmth.

• Open-cell neoprene (interior):
  Common in freediving suits. It sticks to the skin for effective insulation. Requires lubrication to put on. Flexible and adapts to body changes during the dive.

• Exterior finishes:

  • Smoothskin: Great glide, minimal friction, quick-drying.

  • Jersey or Lycra: Offers higher resistance to abrasion and tears, ideal for spearfishers.

  • Camouflage: Many suits for spearfishing feature patterns to blend in underwater.

Wetsuit Thickness: Adjusting for Water Conditions

Neoprene thickness determines thermal protection and varies with water temperature and dive depth:

• 1.5mm – 3mm: For warm or tropical waters. A 3mm suit offers a balance of warmth and flexibility.

• 5mm: For temperate or cooler waters. Provides extra insulation for deeper or longer dives. Note: Neoprene compresses at depth, reducing insulation—suits are designed to stay flexible despite this.

One-Piece vs Two-Piece Wetsuits

The cut and construction of your freediving suit impact comfort and performance:

• Two-piece suit (jacket + pants):

  • Jacket: Often with integrated hood and chest padding for loading a speargun.

  • Pants: High-waisted or “long john” style for better torso insulation.

• One-piece suit:
  Easier to put on (especially with jersey lining). Often preferred for warmer waters or beginners prioritizing flexibility.

Fit & Movement:
Fit is key. The wetsuit should feel like a second skin, minimizing water flow and maximizing hydrodynamics. Anatomical cuts and soft neoprene ensure optimal freedom of movement and breathing comfort. Men's and women's freediving wetsuits are designed for specific body shapes, ensuring superior fit—such as the Sideral One-Piece for Men.

Top Freediving Wetsuit Brands

• Epsealon: Popular for deep freediving and spearfishing—check the Epsealon Abyss.

• Salvimar: Known for glide and flexibility—perfect for dynamic freediving, e.g., the Salvimar Swim Rise.

• Beuchat: Offers one- and two-piece freediving suits with tailored cuts. Consider the Beuchat Focea hood.

• Seac: Great value freediving wetsuits, including the Seac Sub line.

Other noteworthy brands: Scubapro, Apeks, Mares, Cressi (Cressi freediving wetsuit), Aqualung, and Santi.

Note: While Diveavenue does not currently offer products from all these brands, we acknowledge their contribution to high-quality freediving gear. We’re committed to offering comparable-quality equipment available in our store.

Wetsuit Care: Extend the Life of Your Suit

A freediving wetsuit is an investment. Proper care extends its lifespan:

• Rinse: Thoroughly with fresh water after each use.

• Dry: In the shade, on a wide hanger—never in direct sunlight.

• Store: Flat or hanging without compression, away from light and chemicals.

Pricing and Services: Making Your Freediving Purchase Easy

At Diveavenue, we offer freediving gear at the best prices—year-round. Our customer service team is available five days a week to guide you.

Browse our freediving wetsuit selection and find the model best suited to your next underwater adventure. Check customer reviews, detailed pricing, and stock availability to make the right choice.