I have worked in cold environments on several shoots in my career, including Antarctica, Greenland, the Falklands and Norway.
The water temperature in these locations ranges between 8 and -1.8 degrees Celsius
Water has a high thermal conductivity, and will suck the heat out of your body like a thermal vampire
Here is a breakdown of the freediving gear I use to optimise filming time in extreme cold.
Coral 8.5mm and 5mm Spearfishing Suits
- Made from Smooth Skin Yamamoto Neoprene.
- Two-piece, Farmer John bottoms and jacket with built-in hood.
- Can mix and match the 8.5mm and 5mm to get optimal warmth.
- In -1.8-degree water, I generally use the 5mm bottoms with the 8.5mm top to reduce the amount of lead I need to wear on my belt.
Waterproof G2 7mm 3 Finger Polar Evoluted Gloves
- Semi-dry gloves with zips.
- These work way better than five-finger gloves.
- Always have a spare pair in case the zips fail.
Mares Razor Full Foot Pockets with Spierre carbon blades
- I find these foot pockets to be the most durable and easy to get on and off, so ideal for commercial use.
- I size them big enough to accommodate a 7mm French sock.
- https://www.mares.com/en_US/razor-foot-pocket-5.
- Spierre blades are custom-made for my size and weight with extra stiffness to help push bug camera systems through the water.
Rob Allan Spearfishing Marseilles Weight Belt
- Made of rubber so if pulled tight on land does not slip when you dive deep.
- Quite thick so you may have issues using lead weights with a rubber covering.
With the above gear, your limiting factor is always your hands.
Having a thermos of hot (not scalding) water is useful for extending the endurance of your hands.
You will be amazed at how long you can operate with the above gear configuration.
Links to products mentioned above.
https://www.coralwetsuits.co.za/
https://waterproof.eu/products/accessories/gloves/g1-7mm/
https://www.mares.com/en_US/razor-foot-pocket-5
https://www.spierre.com/
https://www.divefactorysa.co.za/product/rob-allen-marseilles-weight-belt/
For more perspective, visit www.rogerhorrocks.com.
