Scuba Diving Certification Courses and Classesthe Whys and Hows of Wetsuits

Water conducts heat away from the body approximately 25 times more efficiently than air. An unprotected individual can succumb to hypothermia even in warm water on a warm day. That’s why divers, windsurfers, canoeists, and others engaged in water sports wear a wetsuit. It provides thermal insulation, abrasion resistance, and buoyancy.

Scuba diving wetsuits are made of neoprene, which is a synthetic rubber foam. The insulation properties depend on bubbles of nitrogen gas enclosed within the material. Nitrogen gas has very low thermal conductivity and the small and enclosed nature of the gas bubbles reduce its ability to conduct heat. In other words, a wetsuit works to keep you warm by trapping a thin layer of water between your skin and the neoprene material. Your body heat warms the water and thus keeps you warm. The bubbles also give the wetsuit a low density, providing buoyancy in water.

The material is typically laminated with a nylon-based material. Once this elastic fabric dries, the neoprene becomes pliable and flexible. The type of neoprene your scuba diving wetsuit is made of affects the quality of the suit and, of course, the price.

Some scuba diving wetsuits are made with a titanium lining. This addition is put in place between the neoprene and the interior nylon lining. The titanium fibers are woven in among the threads of the wetsuit. The titanium reflects heat back to the diver, giving it better thermal qualities. It is said to be about 20 percent more efficient than normal neoprene. Of course, it is more expensive than the normal scuba diving wetsuits.

Some modern wetsuits incorporate Merino™ wool with the titanium to add an incompressible layer of gas cells, while keeping the thickness of the suit to a minimum.

A wetsuit must have a snug fit to work efficiently; too loose a fit will allow water to escape from between the suit and the body, taking the body's heat with it.

How to Put on a Wetsuit

Your wetsuit has to be form fitting. For it to work properly, it should essentially make contact with your whole body, from neck to wrists to ankles. For it to fit “like a glove,” it must be snug, and because it’s snug, it will not slide on easily, so putting on a properly fitted suit can be a challenge.

Here are some simple steps on how to put on a scuba diving wetsuit properly with a minimum of fuss and strain.

Sit down. Sit with the front of the suit facing outward. Put both your legs into the legs of the suit at the same time and begin pulling the suit over your ankles up toward your calves.
If the suit binds at the calves, fold the upper part of the wetsuit down as if you were taking it off inside out. Grasp the double layer of material at the calves and begin pulling the suit up over your calves to the thighs and hips.
If the suit continues to bind at any point, fold it down to the point of binding and then pull upward until the suit continues to raise easily.
Once the suit is past the hips and snug against the crotch and around the waist, the upper part of the suit will advance upward easily. Basically you are working out each roll as you move up.
Bring the suit upward to allow the arms to be inserted in the suit both at the same time. “Fly” into the arms of the suit. If the material is binding and it’s hard to get the arms situated comfortably, have your buddy blow air into the wrist area of the arms while rotating the wetsuit arm to conform comfortably within the wetsuit.
While most wetsuits have a long string to pull the zipper up the back, it's best to have a buddy do this. It will avoid some stress on the zipper and prevent the zipper from catching on the neoprene, a common occurrence. Secure the velcro fastening so the zipper doesn't come undone.

Tips to make it easier

Some people use shampoo to lubricate the inside of their wetsuit to make it go on easier.
Others use talcum powder to achieve the same purpose. Others, even men, will put on pantyhose so the legs slide up more easily.
A thin lycra body skin is another favorite.
Some people use silk or nylon socks or plastic bags over their feet to allow the feet greater freedom of entry.
If you still have problems putting on a wetsuit, come prepared with a bathing suit to the dive shop and we will be glad to show you the tricks of the trade.