The Cressi Fast 5mm is a modular semi-dry wetsuit consisting of three pieces: a 5 mm jumpsuit, an independent 5 mm hood, and a highly elastic 3.5 mm jacket. The modular system lets you adapt thermal protection to water temperature: jumpsuit only in warmer water, or the full set in colder conditions. This flexibility makes it particularly useful for Patagonian diving or in Andean lakes where temperatures can drop below 15 °C.
Compared to its predecessor, the Castoro, the Fast improves on wrist and ankle seals using double-lined neoprene with an inner “Seal” ring for better water tightness — a chronic weak point in mid-range semi-dry suits. The wider back-zip flap and extended neck panel reduce water ingress when the head tilts forward, another common complaint with this suit class. The dorsal zipper is YKK® with an Acquastop® waterproofing seal. The 5 mm neoprene provides significant positive buoyancy: plan for extra weight compared to a thinner suit.
This is not an extreme cold-water suit: for regular dives below 12 °C, the Castoro 7mm or a thicker semi-dry is recommended. In Argentina, it is mainly available through Scubaires (Buenos Aires) and Cressi importers.
When to use it in Argentina
A 5 mm wetsuit is the Argentine middle ground: it is too much for Las Grutas in summer (where many divers wear a shorty or 3 mm) and too little for Madryn in winter or the Beagle, where divers go in with 7 mm or directly drysuit.
Real usage window: Las Grutas in fall/spring, Mar del Plata in summer, northern lakes (Mar Chiquita) in warm season. For Pirámides or Madryn between June and September most divers move up to 7 mm; for Ushuaia or Patagonian lakes it is drysuit. Atlantic salt wears neoprene faster: rinsing with fresh water after every dive is not optional.
Sources:
- Cressi Fast 5mm — official Cressi page
- Cressi Fast 5mm — Scubaires Argentina
- MercadoLibre AR — Cressi neoprene suits
Official source: Cressi Fast 5mm — cressi.es