Scuba surfing

Motorist

Hi all,

I have a 5-4-3mm (5 on torso, 4 on legs, 3 on arms) wetsuit I use for scuba diving.

I was gonna take a few surf lessons in 19 degrees water next week.

Do you reckon it would be okay to use a suit designed for scuba? Probably not much difference but just thought there might be an issue with flexibility of the material around shoulders (for paddling) or something like that !

dermo909

Surf schools usually supply a wetsuit to use during lessons.

Water at 19c will be lovely and warm so your 5/4 wetsuit will be too much! You prob wont be able to wear it purely because of heat. Of course 19f would be ice(-7c) so I'm presuming thats not what you'll be surfing in!

If you are worried about flexibility just put the suit on and see if you can easily swing your arms around. If you can you'll be ok.

stevendcarroll

Surfed every day for 2 months in a 6.5 Scuba suit! Its a bit tiring on the arms because they're not really designed to go above sholder level but otherwise its fine! I'd choose that over a rented suit any day!

OldGuysRule

If it is 19 C then you will hardly need a suit at all, depending on wind etc.

keryl

Slightly off topic but do many of you surf in the summer with Shortys, the proper legless and sleeveless suits?

OldGuysRule

Not so much legless or armless, but I regularly surf in a shortie, which is a 2mm/1mm suit with short legs (cut off above the knee) and short arms (cut off above the elbow). So much freer, it really s great. The odd time I might put on a rashie underneath but usually because of neck chaff.

keryl

Cool, was thinking of getting one now as they're dead cheap. I usually go in this weather without a hood so might be able to get away with wearing a shorty in the summer. And sorry yes, just above the knee and elbow I meant before

promethius

i wear out a 2mm shortie sometimes in the summer, unless its sunny or more importantly not windy, it can be chilly but is a lot less restrictive.
surfiing in board shorts is one of the nicest feelings in surfing, you're so free and seems so easy when used to a 5/3.... sweet.....

stevire

That thread title was so promising... Thought it was a new form of surfing!!