I literally own 7 Wetsuits. They are all custom suits. My wetsuits are by far my favorite piece of freediving gear. Ok so you don't need THAT many suits in your wardrobe but one or two great suits will last you many dives keeping you warmer, comfy, and protected, while also making you look so damn good!
Why Custom Wetsuits are Better
Benefits of a Custom Wetsuit
Be Warmer
Fit better
Look better
Feel better
Last longer
Dive Better
"You will be happier in a custom wetsuit therefore your diving will be better"
Custom Oceaner Suit in Smoothskin Gold
Fit
Custom wetsuits fit better. That's the biggest difference and the most important reason why they are better. Because the suit is closer to your skin it will allow less water to contact with your skin increasing warmth. Furthermore because it fits properly it won't be too tight in one spot and too loose in another. As a result it will keep water out while being comfortable.
Look
Custom wetsuits look better. The color options are endless. Coupled with your logo or printed design your suit will be one of a kind in the world
“Once you go custom you never go back”
Feel
Custom wetsuits feel better. Since the suit fits you better it will feel better and be easier to put on and take off. Additionally if you select a high quality neoprene like Yamamoto it will be more supple and stretchy. Also, because the suit it warmer you won't need to wear as thick a suit meaning it will feel more like a second skin and less like a sausage casing.
Durability
Custom wetsuits last longer. One of the biggest reasons your custom suit will last longer is how you take care of it. You will take better care of your custom suit because you love it so much. Additionally, the stitching on custom suits is typically of a very high quality. They are blind stitched and glued sealing out the water. The neoprene used in many custom suits is of the highest or higher quality.
Options
The options for custom suits allow the user to tailor the suit to their specific needs. You can add pockets, zippers, spear pads, knee-pads, elbow pads and more to your suit making it truly ideal for your intended purpose. One really neat option I like to provide clients is the ability to mix neoprene thicknesses. Often times you want the warmth of thicker neoprene with the flexibility of thinner neoprene. This can be achieved by putting thicker neoprene in the areas where you use less and the thinner stuff in the parts that see more action like the legs.
You don't have to be a world champion Freediver like Alexey Molchanov to look this good
Brands: Elios, Oceaner, BestDive?
In my mind there are 2 brands of custom suits. Elios and Oceaner. Of course there are others out there but these 2 are the only ones you will see commonly out in the wild. They have also been making suits for a long time so they can be relied upon to make a suit that fits correctly. If you visit a freediving competition most of the competitors will be wearing one of these 2 brands if they own a custom suit. Our preferred custom suit maker is Oceaner and here's why:
Logos - Oceaner can put your logo on your suit making you look more professional or just look like a badass
Neoprene - Oceaner uses Yamamoto neoprene which is known for being the best when it comes to comfort, durability, and resistance to compression. Makes the buying decision easy. What kind of neoprene should I get? The best one of course!
Communication - Oceaner is much easier to communicate with since they speak English. Elios and many other custom suit makers do not speak English very well and are hard to communicate with often going on vacations or taking days to reply in broken english.
Time to production - Oceaner Typically takes 3-4 weeks to produce a suit. Companies like Elios can take up to 3 months and then you must include the shipping time making it seem like an eternity before your suit arrives.
Read our in-depth blog article covering custom suit options
Kona Freedivers sells Oceaner brand suits. Come by the shop and get measured up today!
About the Author
Byron Kay is a freediving instructor and the founder of Kona Freedivers and owner of Kona Honu Divers as well as Kona Snorkel Trips. They stand out as Hawaii's top rated and most reviewed businesses among their peers having a perfect 5 star rating on google. To learn more about Byron and his latest goings on visit his bio page.