Freediving without a wetsuit is common and preferred by some freedivers. Others always use a wetsuit, particularly in colder waters or during longer diving sessions where core body temperature could drop after prolonged exposure.
If choosing a wetsuit, make sure you have something that fits well, suits your freediving plans and allows you to breath and move freely underwater in order to stay safe and fully enjoy your diving experience. A freediving wetsuit will generally give better comfort and performance than a scuba diving wetsuit but if you already scuba dive and have one to hand, it can be used.
Freediving can be undertaken with or without a wetsuit. Wetsuits have many advantages, including warmth and low drag in the water, but they do add more buoyancy to the body and can also restrict movement. Two piece wetsuits are preferred over one piece wetsuits by many freedivers. Choosing to dive with or without a wetsuit is down to the personal preference of the individual freediver.
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Whether you’re already a freediver or thinking of starting out, you might be wondering whether or not you need a wetsuit for freediving. Our article tells you more about freediving without a wetsuit, how wetsuits can affect your experience in the water, and the types of wetsuit you might choose.
Can I freedive without a wetsuit?
You can freedive without a wetsuit and there may be both advantages and disadvantages to this choice.
A wetsuit can keep you warm and comfortable for longer periods in cooler waters, which could be important if you plan to spend several hours freediving, or to dive to depths where the water is very cold.
Wetsuits add buoyancy to your body, meaning that you will either need to add weights to offset your wetsuit buoyancy or make more physical effort in order to reach the point of neutral buoyancy and freefall during your dive. Without a wetsuit, you should need less weight and less effort to reach the same depth.
When deciding whether or not to wear a wetsuit, consider weather, water conditions and dive plans, as well as your own personal preferences and diving capabilities.
Can you sink in a wetsuit?
If you choose to descend, you can sink in a wetsuit but this will require adding more weight and/or more physical effort in order to reach the same depth as without a wetsuit. If you want to remain at the surface, a wetsuit can make this easier to accomplish.
We’ve written a full article on how freedivers sink (opens new tab) which goes through exactly how freedivers are able to stay under the water whilst wearing a naturally buoyant wetsuit.
Many wetsuits are made from neoprene, a material with high buoyancy. If you choose to wear a thick, full-length wetsuit, this will add more buoyancy to your body than a shorter wetsuit of thinner material. When choosing a wetsuit for freediving you need to carefully balance buoyancy, water temperature and ease of movement.
Can you float in a wetsuit?
You can certainly float in a wetsuit, and will probably find this easier with a wetsuit than without due to the greater buoyancy added by the later of neoprene. If you plan to spend lots of time floating at the surface then a fuller neoprene wetsuit is probably your friend.
What should I wear for freediving?
Freedivers can make their own choice about clothing for freediving, although there are a number of common factors they may want to consider, as set out in the section below. The main options for freediving attire are:
- no wetsuit,
- a one piece wetsuit,
- a two piece wetsuit .
Do note that while both are made from closed-cell neoprene, there are also distinctions between wetsuits specifically designed for freediving and those designed for scuba diving.
Freediving wetsuits have thin neoprene layers around large nitrogen bubbles for a warm, thin, less-buoyant, and more flexible suit. They will generally come with a hood. Scuba diving wetsuits have thicker neoprene layers around smaller nitrogen bubbles, giving a cooler, thicker, more buoyant, less flexible wetsuit. Scuba suits will not normally come with a hood.
You should balance your own priorities and preferences and choose the right option for you.
Why do divers wear suits?
There are a range of factors which freedivers consider when choosing whether or not to wear a wetsuit, including:
- Warmth: in cooler waters, freedivers may prefer a thicker, longer wetsuit to maintain their body temperature, particularly during long diving sessions. Some people are more sensitive to cold than others and will always prefer to stay covered in the water.
- Buoyancy: a recreational freediver who plans to spend long periods floating on the surface may be more concerned with comfort and happy to wear a thicker neoprene suit to keep them warm. An elite freediver attempting to win a competition or set a record, may prefer the option of a short, thin suit or no suit, in order to minimize buoyancy and energy expenditure during descent.
- Reduced drag: any excess material or accessories worn by freedivers could create additional drag in the water, potentially necessitating more energy expenditure for movement and slowing down the dive. In contrast to a swimming costume, land clothing or even the human body, a good wetsuit will be close-fitting with a smooth surface, and able to glide through the water with very little drag. Clothing made from loose or unsuitable fabric (e.g. cotton, wool) will add more drag.
- Skin protection: a wetsuit can provide some protection to a freediver’s skin from injury or irritation in the water (e.g. if swimming around a reef where flora or fauna could scratch or sting). A wetsuit also protects covered areas of the body from sunburn, something which could be extremely valuable if diving in geographies or at times of day where the sun is intense.
- Personal preference: some freedivers enjoy the sensation of wearing as little as possible in the water, maximizing the sense of freedom from diving without equipment. Others prefer to feel streamlined and protected from cooler temperatures.
Why are freediving wetsuits two pieces?
A wetsuit which is too tight or too inflexible could restrict a freediver’s movements in the water, using more energy, slowing them down, and possibly even limiting their breath-up and size of final inhale. This could reduce the depth they can reach in a dive or even make ascent more dangerous.
Many freedivers prefer two-piece wetsuits because of their greater flexibility and also the greater warmth which comes from both pieces providing coverage to the torso.
Is a two piece wetsuit better?
A two piece wetsuit will be better for many freedivers as long as its also a good fit and suits them in other ways (length, thickness etc..). Some freedivers may still prefer the streamlining and glide of a one piece wetsuit and will be able freedive successfully with it.
Whether one piece or two pieces, freedivers should choose a wetsuit which is close fitting but still allows ease of breathing and the full range of diving movement.