How to remove the hood of wetsuit?

I would keep the cut seam away from the crease area of the back of your neck. The cut edge will be a bit rough and if it rubs in the wrong place, it could leave a rash. The Speardiver vests have an edge that's not lined with anything and they're comfortable. Try to copy that line. Or go higher where the edge hits the back of your head.

Start high, You can always lower it. But if you go low on the cut first, there's no turning back.

good luck

If you're asking about a Speardiver open cell wetsuit.. Put the suit and hood on. Have someone draw a line with a marker just under your jaw line. Cut along that line with very sharp scissors. The suit stretches when you put it on and this procedure will make sure you don't cut too low. Put the suit back on, or even dive with it once to see how it feels. If the collar folds and you find that uncomfortable, draw another line 1/2" under your last cut, and cut that. Keep trying and cutting until you get it how you like it. When you're sure about the length, burn the open threads where you cut across the stitching, and flatten them. You can also dab a little liquid tape on the stitching at the cut point to prevent the threads from unraveling further. I followed this procedure and the suit holds up perfectly.

It's your call, but I would try to get used to the hood before cutting it.
It will protect you from sunburn, cold water, jellyfish, corals, etc.

Once you get used to it, you will feel "naked" when wearing a wetsuit without it.

Quote from Marco

It's your call, but I would try to get used to the hood before cutting it.
It will protect you from sunburn, cold water, jellyfish, corals, etc.

Once you get used to it, you will feel "naked" when wearing a wetsuit without it.

This is true. The only part of me that is exposed when diving is the part of my face that isn't covered by my mask or wetsuit. And I STILL have been stung on the lip by fire coral, or had a little jelly hit my lip or forehead.

Chase, did you cut it yet?

I can't wear a hood. It makes me unable to breathe properly. My ears are always sucked in and out and I have to clear at the wrong times and I can't focus and relax. It kills me

I tried to poke a small hole fight over the ear and it floods the suit more than I'd like

Dans advice is spot on. Sewing scissors are often cheap and always very sharp. Fiskers is a good cheap brand

Maybe you could make it a detachable hood system (zip or velcro?) and have the best of both worlds. Never done it but it seems doable.

Quote from LunkerBuster

I can't wear a hood. It makes me unable to breathe properly. My ears are always sucked in and out and I have to clear at the wrong times and I can't focus and relax. It kills me

I tried to poke a small hole fight over the ear and it floods the suit more than I'd like

Dans advice is spot on. Sewing scissors are often cheap and always very sharp. Fiskers is a good cheap brand

Just out of curiosity, what do you mean it floods the suit? I have a 5mm Riffe and I have a couple holes poked in each ear and haven't had an issue in water down to about 56°. What did you use to poke the hole?

I used a heated nail. I put the suit on and used a but of chalk to mark where my ear holes were. I put it on a few time to make sure the hole was in the right place and then I made first a tiny true pun hole. That made no difference. Then I made it a little bigger. About 3 mm relaxed or the size of a pencil eraser when on. It no longer makes the suction and slopping sound I hate but now too much water gets into the hood and eventually makes it down my back.

I also have a beard and I think that when I use a hood it allows more water in as well

In my experience the neck of the suit seals very very well with the hood off and just hanging back there. When I put it on I have more water intrusion.
I like to have the hood hanging off because some days the jellies are so bad that u cannot dive without a hood and I just make do

For what it is worth. I have never had any issue with the hood being on the suit and not on my head. It doesn't leak or cause any noticeable drag

Quote from Chase

Not yet. I haven't got around to it, but I was thinking of maybe keeping it on. The water is starting to warm up here in SoFlo and thats why I was contemplating cutting it. I can just roll the hood back if it gets too warm anyway.

Thanks,

Chase

This is why I have 2-3 suits. I go from a 1.5 with a lycra hood to a full 3mm hooded. I wear 1.5 top with 3mm pants and vice versa.

If money isn't an issue I think the best choice would be to buy a thinner suit rather than maiming one and then regretting it when it gets cooler.
I've tried tinkering with things like this and wished I hadn't more than a couple times.

For what it's worth: I dove most of my life with no wetsuit or Lycra. Eventually got a scuba suit no hood worked OK (freediving), then a real freediving wetsuit a short time ago with a hood and I went down the same road - how do I remove ths bloody hood, etc. fortunately I did not remove it and I now have three different weight suits, 1.5, 3, and 5 mm all with hoods and like everyone has said "once you get used to it you won't want to dive without one", especially in cool temps.

And yes - I do sometimes dive with hood off my head and agree - no drag and don't even know it's there (until I try to take open cell off with hod off my head)

Smart move to keep it.

Get a Rob Allen lycra rash guard (HOODED) and combine it with your 3 mm wetsuit. It costs less than 100 bucks and it's worth every penny.

During the warmer days I wear only the lycra, then the wetsuit top with lycra pants and then the full 3 mm wetsuit.

You have to learn how to manage your lead, but will feel comfortable (and protected) all year long.