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Different Wetsuits For Different Occasions

A wet suit is a wet suit is a wet suit. So how do you differentiate between them? Does it really matter if you decide to go scuba diving or windsurfing or snorkeling? How different are the wet suits for these applications from each other? Does it really matter if you get a wet suit for scuba diving and use it for water skiing instead? It does and it doesn’t.

What are the basic requirements of a wet suit? It should fit you snugly and keep you warm. Some are thinner, some thicker, some are lighter and some heavier. The most important thing when choosing a wetsuit is the area where the wet suit will be used. Are you going to be scuba diving in Tahiti or snorkeling in the Seychelles? Alternatively, you could be deep sea diving around Northern Europe, in much colder waters.

So how do wetsuits work, how do they keep us warm? The main thing here is the material from which they are made of. Neoprene is a rubbery material that contains lots and lots of small bubbles filled with gas. These bubbles act as insulation against the cold water and give the neoprene great insulation capabilities.After you put on your wetsuit and enter the water a thin layer of water will come between your body and the neoprene. It will be heated by your body and you will be warm. If you are diving – when you reach greater depths the water that might have entered the wetsuit will be squeezed out by the pressure.

Water temperatures vary around the world. And they keep changing as the seasons keep changing. It really depends on the location you choose as well as the time of the year. Your choice of wet suit will also depend on whether you are a man or a woman.

Since women have more surface area than men, they tend to feel colder, faster. Hence, it is more practical for a woman to wear a comparatively warmer suit than a man diving in the same area. Ideally, you need to buy a wet suit which is a bit warmer than you require. This is based on the premise that if you are being kept too warm by your wet suit, you can let some water in to cool you down. However, if you feel cold while diving, you dont have much choice but to get out of the water.

If you want to get a really warm wetsuit than you should get a two piece suit. Here your body is covered by two layers of neoprene. On the other hand a two piece wetsuit is clumsier and not that suitable for other sports but diving. Also, you will need to carry some extra lead with this wetsuit when you are diving since it is more buoyant than normal one piece wetsuit.

Now that we have covered the thickness of your wetsuit in relation to the water temperature you need to focus on the fit. Wetsuit needs to fit you, if it is to big, it will fill with water and loose much of its insulation capabilities. Only the right thickness and the right fit will keep you warm and let you dive without the fear of cold.

Clement writes about wetsuits and has a blog filled with different wetsuits information and a cool 3 beginner wetsuits questions article.