Freediving combined with kayaking, canoeing: Are Elios 5mm suits versatile enough?

[auvie]

Hello all,

Tired of using my cumbersome 7mm scuba suit for freediving, I'm looking into ordering a tailored Elios 5mm suit. Since I am in cold waters here in the Northwest Atlantic, I will likely have open cell on the inside, or at the most some sort of coating over open cell, and superstretch nylon on the outside for durability.

Has anyone tried using their 5mm Elios suits for other purposes, such as for various swimming strokes, or kayaking/canoeing (after getting the suit wet, of course)? The reason I'm asking is because I would like to combine diving with these activities, but obviously need a suit that is going to provide me enough freedom of motion to do so (especially around the arms and shoulders).

Does anyone think it would be possible to use these suits for such activities or am I way off base here? I was sort of thinking that if medium-density Heiwa was too stiff, then maybe the low-density would do the trick.

I welcome anyone's opinion and thank them in advance for it!

[rslomkow]

Don't know about other activities, but the cut on an Elios freediving suit it well suited for swimming. The main problem with SCUBA suits is the only acceptable arm position is straight down, the Elios free diving suits are cut for arms up position, and have a little bit of space when in the arms down position.

I have an Elios 3mm Heiwa medium density and it is a fine swimming suit, other than it is too warm for surface swimming. For a real swimming suit I prefer a 1 piece without attached hood, but with rubber neck, but if you are going multi-purpose it isn't bad.

Strokes done: breast, crawl, butterfly, backstroke.

[Jon]

You could kayak in the pants portion of your wetsuit, but I wouldn't try to paddle with the jacket on. I'll paddle out to a site with 6mm bottom on and 2mm vest- my pants are high waisted and not farmer john style. I won't put my jacket on until just before I get into the water.

For normal kayaking I use a pair of 3mm scuba wetsuit pants, farmer john type, or a kayaking drysuit- for when there's ice on the water. With the wetsuit pants I'll put a polypro T-neck under it and layer a fleece, and waterproof coat, over the top. If that's not enough then I pull out the drysuit.

Jon

[auvie]

Originally Posted by Jon

You could kayak in the pants portion of your wetsuit, but I wouldn't try to paddle with the jacket on. I'll paddle out to a site with 6mm bottom on and 2mm vest- my pants are high waisted and not farmer john style. I won't put my jacket on until just before I get into the water.
Jon

Jon, do you find it very difficult to put your jacket on while in your kayak? After all of the stories I've read in this forum regarding Elios donning difficulties, I can't see it being too easy, especially when considering issues of keeping the boat balanced (and right-side up).

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by auvie

Jon, do you find it very difficult to put your jacket on while in your kayak? After all of the stories I've read in this forum regarding Elios donning difficulties, I can't see it being too easy, especially when considering issues of keeping the boat balanced (and right-side up).

I was going to suggest long john pants, esp. as you are moving from 7mm to 5mm. Good point about putting a wetsuit on while on a kayak. I wouldn't bother with linings but you will need to use lube -- or soak the jacket in the sea (which will be cold of course). My SOT kayak, Ocean Kayak Malibu 2, is pretty stable, I reckon it would be okay. You should practise getting you suit on & off at least several times before trying it out at sea; it would be prudent to do it somewhere safe the first few times.

[Jon]

I don't have any issues with my Ocean Kayak.

When I get on site I toss the anchor and let it set. Next, I put on my fins and dangle my legs off of the sides of the boat- this lower my center of gravity and helps to stabilize things. All of my (diving) wetsuits are unlined so I lube up the jacket and put it on. If I didn't have lube I would soak the jacket first before I slip it on. As long as your fins are on and your legs are in the water you should be stable. Things might be different on a surf-ski, but on a dive kayak you're pretty stable.

Farmer Johns would probably be best for kayak diving, but I use high waisted pants these days.

Jon