Scuba Wet Suits
The Right Exposure Suit is an Invaluable Piece of Scuba Gear
Diving suits are available in a large range of styles. They are normally categorized by the thickness of neoprene they are made from. When choosing a dive suit a diver needs to consider the environment they will be diving in, comfort, fit and quality of construction.
Types of Scuba Diving Wet Suits
A diver's personal comfort requirements will vary. It is best to take various suit options, possibly layering these to get the best protection. Most divers will decide on a suit that will suffice in a variety of temperatures.
- Skin Suits:In warm waters, a diver may not need thermal protection, but a thin suit will help prevent equipment from rubbing the skin and protect against stings and scraps. The thinnest suits are made of Lycra and are made from 0.5 mm neoprene.
- Shorties Suits: A shortie wet suit provides a little more thermal protection than a skin. Because they leave the arms and legs exposed, they do not provide protection against stings and scraps.
- Full-Length Suits: A full length wet suit is the choice of most divers. These suits give a diver more thermal protection on the arms and legs and provide better protection against scraps and stings. Full-length scuba diving wet suits are made from 2-8 mm neoprene.
- Semi-Dry Suits:Semi-dry suits are normally worn in colder waters, but can be worn in warm waters like the Mediterranean Sea. When worn in cold waters, divers will also wear a hood and gloves with a semi-dry suit. These suits are made of 9 mm neoprene and can be worn in layers. Divers know this style as a Farmer John wet suit. It consists of a coverall-style base layer with a long sleeve shortie worn over the base layer.
- Dry-Suits:Dry-suits are designed to keep divers warm when they are diving in extremely cold conditions like under ice. Dry-suits are loose-fitting and divers will often wear a thermal under suit with a dry suit for added insulation. Dry-suits use air that can be injected by the diver to keep the water pressure from squeezing the suit against the body.
The Importance of a Good Fitting Wet Suit
A scuba diving wet suit keeps a diver warm by trapping a thin layer of water between the diver’s body and the wet suit. This water gradually becomes warm and acts as an insulator. A wet suit that fits close to the body gives a diver better insulation while diving.
A dive suit that fits properly should be easy to put on and follow the shape of a diver’s body. This will keep water from flowing freely between the suit and the body. A suit that fits poorly will chill rather than warm the diver.
How to Maintain a Wet Suit
Properly maintaining a wet suit will help insure the comfort and thermal protection of the suit.
- Rinse the wet suit after every dive to remove salt and debris. This will help to prevent the suit from rotting.
- Periodically wash the suit with a special wet suit shampoo. This will keep the neoprene supple and prevent mildew.
- Zippers should be coated regularly with wax or zip slip.
- Place the suit on a hanger to dry. Do not place the suit in direct sunlight while drying.
- Once the suit is dry, store it in a cool, dry place.
Following a simple maintenance regimen will help prolong the life of the wet suit.
Scuba Wet Suits
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