Spearfishing is a method of catching fish that’s been in use for many centuries now. Today, spearfishing is an extremely popular underwater sport in which spearfishermen use elastic powered spearguns and slings or compressed gas pneumatic powered spearguns to impale fish with. Aside from spearguns, modern sets of spearfishing equipment also include masks, fins, snorkels, weight belts, floats, knives, and of course exposure suits. Read on to find out why the spearfishing wetsuit is an immensely important item of spearfishing gear and which spearfishing wetsuits are worth investing in.
Every spearfisherman should own and wear an exposure suit because without one this enjoyable underwater adventure can turn into a dangerous nightmare. A spearfisherman usually spends from 2 to 6 hours underwater, which is why protecting their body from the unpleasant weather conditions and the environment with a high-quality and comfortable spearfishing wetsuit is a must, especially if the fisherman plans to spearfish in cold waters.
Now that it’s clear why every responsible spearfisher should own and wear a spearfishing wetsuit that fits them snugly, let’s see what the most sought-after spearfishing wetsuits are. Closed cell neoprene exposure suits are the most common wetsuits because they are durable and affordable. However, getting in and out of these suits can be really difficult and they can be slightly abrasive during long diving sessions. That’s precisely why open cell neoprene spearfishing wetsuits are becoming more and more popular these days.
Open cell neoprene suits are much softer and more flexible than closed cell ones. This explains why these suits stick to the spearfisherman’s body and offer greater insulating efficiency, a great amount of stretch, and minimal abrasion to the skin. Open cell neoprene exposure suits should be put on with the help of soapy water, but that doesn’t mean that getting in an open cell neoprene suit isn’t easy. Unfortunately, these spearfishing suits tend to be a bit costly and delicate. Sharp surfaces can damage them, so if you opt for an open cell spearfishing suit make sure to be careful when spearfishing near rocks and wrecks.
Unlike the previously mentioned types of spearfishing suits, lycra exposure suits should be avoided or used only in very warm waters. That’s so because they provide minimal environmental protection (lycra wetsuits shield their wearers only from the sun and stinging organisms). This is the main reason experienced scuba and free divers (almost) never use them.
When it comes to the thickness of the suit, many experts say that a spearfisherman in Australia should own two suits – a 1.5 mm one for the warmer months and a 3 mm one for the cooler months.