Newbie Gear

Yeah, don't pee in a good freedive suit. Gets cold.

I'm real hot blooded so I am going to try the 3 mil top over my 3 mil farmer. That would give me 6 mil over the core and less floatation cause th arms / legs are only 3. An I correct assuming this.
 R

3 + 3 don't make a 6 mm wetsuit.
Crucial areas of water entry at the neck, bottom of wetsuit top, arms/foot area and thru the zipper.  Never found a 3mil suit with good seals that prevent water entry.
Some of the better surfing suits that are 5 mm have good seals, but they are $$$$.
When water gets in, you will start to freeze.

3 plus 3 does = 6mm around the torso as stated. Wetsuits are not designed to keep water out.  3/2 seam sealed suits are available at every surf shop in CA.  I picked up a zipperless hooded 3/2 and 4/3 for just over 2 bills at an oneil parking lot sale....that is not big $$$

Yes wetsuits are designed to heat a thin layer of water between the body and neopreme. I would hope that it is obvious to everyone that this does NOT apply to the layers between neopreme. This ocean temp water could theorectically travel from the legs of the jacket to ones central core where the sub clavian arteries are located. I do not know if this could happen cuz I havent worn a FJ style.

I still think that 3 mm of neopreme on ones armpits in the Nor Cal Pacific is inadequate. Especially since Agarcia is considering hunting halibut which can be a time consuming process when searching sand.

A one piece gets very hot if you have a long paddle. If you have a farmer you can wear the bottom while you make a long paddle and then put the top on when you arrive. I took a guy out in a very heavy one piece and we had to paddle through a lot of heavy kelp. He almost puked he was so over heated.

Montanabay, hope you don't feel like I hijacked your thread. I just thought we could consolidate all the good info for us rookies. Great info here guys. After living in Tahoe, the principal of layering seems to be the way to follow. Especialy with physical activity. I was usually down to a t-shirt after 5 min of shoveling snow while everyone else was still in snow suits. Lots of time in mountain streams and Lake Tahoe . I think I can get away w/3+3 mils. Thanks for input and keep it coming.
  Randall

Thanks man... seems like a pretty good bet.  I am not one to claim to be hot blooded, and I would much rather be a little warm than get too cold out there.

I would only rock a 3mm if I was surfing on top of a longboard in Santa Cruz. 3mm for diving sounds crazy to me. I have an EMS background and have been free diving for 7 years now. Abalone diving is not the place to become hypothermic. It is best to move slowley and efficiently to best conserve oxygen for an emergency situation. I think daily yoga would make one more flexible than shedding neopreme layers if flexibility is truley a concern. Perhaps this recomendation is for yaker that want to paddle for and hour or two to get to a dive spot. I have always found wearing my vest and sleves down to be the perfect ab paddling setup.

Look at that guys that was swept out to sea in Mendo this year. What type of suit would YOU want to be in????
I have refined my "sea blanket" to...
7mm suit
3mm vest with hood incorportated
5mm booties
1mm socks
5mm gloves
I wear 20 lbs of lead and I weigh 240. This is a perfect setup to me. I think recomending 3mm of neopreme in 55 degree water to a NEWBIE is a mistake! This comes from my personal experience so you hot blooded guys out there don't take it the wrong way!

I'm piggybacking also... and new to ab diving.  What is a farmer?  I am looking into buying a wetsuit soon as well; doesn't make much sense to keep renting at $40 a pop.

The farmer john is best suited for scuba diving and people that get cold. You do have to wear significant more weight to compensate. My 62 y/o pops loves his and uses it for clam digging too(bottom only). The bottoms are 7mm and the jacket goes to your midthighs giving you 14 mm of neopreme at your core.