Wow, what an experience. I took my new to me 2006 Zoot Full Sleave Z1 wetsuit out to a relatively cool lake to test it out a few mornings ago. I’d had it out a few times in my local pool when I first bought it, and though it felt a bit tight and binding around my shoulders and arms I figured that’s just the way it’s supposed to be, so this wasn’t my first time in the suit. I was the only swimmer in the water, but there were a number of boaters paddling around and a life guard on the beach. I swam out and back to an island about 350 metres each way. Started out strong, with that ‘wow, this sure floats high and feels fast’ wetsuit feeling. The water was very dark and a little cloudy, so the bottom was gone very quickly, and there was absolutely nothing to look at underwater. Taking breaths, I could see the mist-covered forested hillsides to either side. Very cool.
But after 150 metres or so I had a mild panic attack - ‘I can hardly move my arms, I’m in the middle of nowhere, I won’t even see the nasty imaginary creatures that are going to take my legs off’ kind of feeling. My heart rate was 25 beats high and my breathing was much too fast. I tried some very easy strokes, but that didn’t help, so I breast-stroked for a while, then back to front crawl. I completed the distance to the island and turned around to go back. I started feeling a little better, but still wasn’t comfortable. After getting back to the beach I shamed myself into turning around and doing it again, but still could feel the panic just in the background that whole way there and back. I finished with two lengths of the beach (250 metres each way) in about 3 metres of water (could just see the bottom) and while that settled me down I still wasn’t swimming very well and my arms felt really tired.
So, is this just a case of first time open water jitters? I’m going out there tomorrow morning again so I’ll let you know if it’s any better. Is this the way a full wetsuit is supposed to feel? I’m at the high end and within the range for the size that I bought. Unfortunately for just taking it off and forgetting about it, I’m 10-15 seconds faster per hundred metres with it on. Sigh, I guess I just have to learn to love it.
You will get use to it. Easing into the water will help as will going for a little jog before hoping into the water. For some people, it’s psychological. For others it is cold water hitting a certain nerve in their nose causing a gasping reflex.
You are lucky that you are able to practice in open water. For many, they experience what you experienced for the first time on race day.
My $0.02. Not sure about suit being too tight or not. However, I have made mistake of feeling really good in new suit and taking off like Michael Phelps. That gets the HR up really high and then feel like garbage. Try to ease into it with a good warm up and get relaxed. Find a rhythm. If I start to feel a little crummy, especially in water near the upper end of legal temp, I’ll open up collar to let some new water in that is cooler. Also, in cool water before you go get you head and ears wet and temp balanced if possible. Cold water in the ear canal can mess with your balance and make you feel funny. Also, find a buddy or someone to watch you as that may help you as well, not just people in the area. No doubt you will figure out what works.
I took a training client who was new to her wetsuit into waist deep water, and then asked her to attempt to submerge herself (for a few moments). With a properly fitted wetsuit, and an ability to float - remaining submerged is very difficult to accomplish.
“…(could just see the bottom) and while that settled me down I still wasn’t…”
that is what stood out the most to me. looks like you have plenty of experience around water of varying depths and conditions but maybe not that much first hand and with a relatively new wetsuit. i’m thinking that more face time with the suit will help get that issue handled. it is a normal thing to work through for most everyone.
and here’s the kicker. even when you you walk up to a beach thinking “i own this place…”, there will (not may) still be a day down the line where that little flicker of uncertainty starts to creep back in when you least expect it. only working through it time and again will help slap it down before it gets too strong a grip.