Wetsuit

THE WETSUIT: 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH EFFESUB PRODUCTION VIDEO

Your comfort in the water - and therefore, how long you can spend in the water, how deep you can dive and for how long, and ultimately what fish you get - is largely dictated by the suitability and quality of your wetsuit.

Essentially all wetsuits work on the same principle; they are designed to trap a thin layer of water against your skin which your body warms and in turn keeps your body warm.  The neoprene used also insulates your body against the cold water which is why a thicker suit is warmer.

Freediving suit design differs from other sports such as surfing or scuba diving.  As freediving suits are designed to be worn all day (the length of time a freediver spends in the water is much longer than most other pursuits) they must be very warm and very comfortable.
To facilitate this all freediving suits share several similar design features:

LOW-DENSITY NEOPRENE:  This is the main reason why freediving suits are so much more comfortable than others.  The low density makes them extremely flexible but can also make them fragile.  Read here for more on neoprene

TWO-PIECE:  All freedivng suits consist of either a long-john or trousers and a jacket with attached hood.  This means that the suit does not need zips to get on and, in the long-john option, there is twice as much rubber over your chest where it is most needed. It is also great for young divers as there is much more room for growth than in a one piece.

NO ZIPS:  Freediving suits have no zips for two main reasons:  Zips let water into the suit and they don't stretch.  Obviously these contradict the two main goals of being warm and comfortable so we can't have them.

OPEN-CELL INTERIOR:  For a suit to be truly comfortable there must be no linings or seams rubbing on your body.  Freediving suits have what's called an open-cell interior which means it is raw neoprene against your skin.  Not only does this make the suit infinitely more comfortable it also makes the suit stick to your skin inhibiting water movement making the suit warmer.  The flipside of this is it makes the suits difficult to get into.  To get around this you fill freediving suits with a soapy water mixture before donning.  Some suits, such as Effesub 3Ds suits, have a silver substance smeared inside them that means you don't need soap although it is still much easier with it.

So this is what all suits have in common so what are the differences?

Mainly two things, the quality of the neoprene and the cut.  All neoprenes are not created equal.  Neoprenes such as Nam Liong and Yamamoto are far superior to cheaper neoprenes like Heiwa.  The better the neoprene, the stretchier and more comfortable the suit will be.  This can create a compromise with how long the suit will last although he latest neoprenes, such as Nam Liong 3Ds, are very stretchy and comfortable but also have a very high elastic memory which greatly enhances suit life.
Each brand of suit will also have a slightly different cut making them more or less suitable for individual body types.  Generally European brands have better cuts for New Zealand divers - although it is worth noting that just because it is a European brand doesn't mean it was made or designed in Europe.  Once again it is important to try as many suits as you can to decide which one best suits you.  Any quality store will understand that it is hard to decide the right fit in store and will allow you to exchange a suit after its first dive if it's not quite right.

Many divers have different suits for different temperatures, but generally a 5mm suit is warm enough for year round use in New Zealand.

Divers should consider boots and gloves as "consumables" and pretty much just go for the cheapest.  There are a few things however you should watch out for.  Do not choose boots with a stitched seam running along the heel as they will inevitably cause blisters.  Do not get thick, neoprene gloves (unless its so cold you simply must have them) as the dexterity of an amara style glove is much better.