Choose for the dive and the season

Planning a trip to Norway or Alaska? Start with your actual dive sites, season, time in the water and type of diving. Freediving and spearfishing are also different equipment decisions from a long scuba dive.

GEDDON’s starting point is cold-water freediving and spearfishing, with UK design and a wider outlook. The planned Start 7.5mm belongs in that buying conversation alongside the 7mm suits many divers research. A final suitability decision still depends on the individual diver and conditions.

Norway: what local equipment lists tell you

Arctic Spearfishing’s published rental package lists 7mm open-cell suits, with gloves and socks included in the wider equipment setup. Use that as a starting point for a discussion with your operator about the season and sites you plan to dive.

Before travelling, ask your operator what works at the specific dive sites and during your dates. Include the time spent on the boat between dives and how your hood, gloves and socks fit together, rather than assessing only the jacket thickness.

Alaska: distinguish freediving from scuba

Alaska Freediver’s published rental document includes a hooded, two-piece, 7mm open-cell wetsuit. It is useful evidence that this style of suit is part of the local freediving equipment picture.

Match the equipment to your actual trip. Tell your local operator whether you plan to freedive, spearfish or scuba dive, and confirm the complete thermal setup for the planned session. Do not assume a freediving equipment list also covers a different diving discipline.

Five things to compare in a cold-water spearfishing wetsuit

  • Fit and seals: check even contact, comfortable breathing and the neck, wrist and ankle seals. Thickness alone cannot correct a poor fit.
  • Neoprene and interior: compare the material and construction as well as the millimetre figure. Read our open-cell wetsuit guide.
  • Hood and accessories: assess the complete system with the gloves and socks you intend to use.
  • Reinforcement: look at the knees, elbows, loading pad and where equipment contacts the suit.
  • Equipment access: check that knife storage and line-cutter placement work with your actual tools and gloves.

Divers Alert Network’s wetsuit overview explains why material, seals and fit all influence insulation. There is no single country-wide temperature guarantee in this guide.

Where GEDDON Start 7.5 fits

Start is GEDDON’s proposed 7.5mm model. The development specification includes an open-cell Yamamoto 39 interior, smoothskin seals, reinforced knees and elbows, a sternum loading pad, left-forearm knife sleeve and a line-cutter pocket. A reflective crown on the hood is intended to support surface visibility.

Prawle is the planned 5.5mm option. Compare the 5.5mm and 7.5mm trade-offs before recording a preference. Neither model has a published universal temperature rating; final fit and performance require sample testing.

Comparing brands before your next trip

If your shortlist includes Scorpena or SpearPro, compare specific models and the features you will actually use. Our Scorpena, SpearPro and GEDDON comparison separates manufacturers’ published specifications from GEDDON’s proposed build.

The First Edition is planned as 100 numbered suits, 001–100, from £449, with shipping planned for spring 2027. International delivery locations and final terms will be confirmed before launch.