Scuba Wetsuits - All about scuba wetsuits and accessories 

If you want to learn how a scuba wetsuit keeps you warm, how it is constructed and how to tell the difference between a good and not so good wetsuit then I suggest that you keep on reading this guide.

You will here find useful information which will help you in giving you a clear indication of what to look for when buying a wetsuit and will eventually end up with owning one that is suited for your scuba or snorkeling activities, so that you may enjoy great scuba and snorkeling adventures.

Today the wetsuit is one of the most important piece of water sports equipment. Without wetsuits, the world of water sports would be extremely limited. In fact the expanding popularity of scuba and snorkeling are as a direct result of this great invention.

Why do we need  scuba wetsuits

There are many good reasons as to why you need to invest in a good wetsuit. If you ever have been snorkeling or scuba diving, you should know what I am talking about. Staying in water for extensive periods of time even in moderately warm waters can get cold, and in colder waters it can become unbearable, besides you may risk an onset of hypothermia. This is because bodily heat is lost 30 times more faster in water.

What happens when you use the wetsuit, is that it allows some water to enter your suit. This water gets trapped between your body and the wetsuit thus forming a protective layer between your skin and the neoprene suit. Although in the beginning you will feel the chill of the water touching your skin, the water trapped in the suit will soon be warmed by your own body and will therefore act as an insulator. This is what makes you feel comfortable in waters which would other wise cause hypothermia.

A snug fit is therefore necessary for the wetsuit to be effective or else water will still enter the suit therefore allowing more bodily heat to be lost.

Additional protection is also provided by the wetsuit's material. All scuba wetsuits are made out of neoprene which is an elastic synthetic material having great insulation properties. The neoprene itself is impregnated with nitrogen bubbles (neoprene foam) which are not interconnected. This is what contributes to the wetsuit's insulation properties. Because of the nitrogen gas bubbles which are present within the wetsuit's lining, bodily heat loss is further prevented, therefore allowing you to stay warm in colder waters.

Scuba wetsuits will protect you from the Environment

A wetsuit can be considered as your second skin. Besides keeping you warm, a wetsuit provides you with a layer of cushioning, which gives you the necessary protection from the surrounding environment such as stinging marine creatures, corals and abrasions.

There are other wetsuit accessories which give you additional protection needed. Wetsuit hoods should be considered as an integral part of the scuba wetsuit since most of your bodily heat loss is from the head. A scuba hood is an important piece to retain the heat from your head.

Scuba gloves and scuba booties are additional pieces of wetsuit accessories which will provide you with much needed protection due to cold conditions and the surrounding environment. Even if conditions are right, I never go for a scuba dive without both these pieces of gear.

Due to the fact that neoprene comprises of thousands of foam bubbles, it makes the wetsuit, scuba hood, scuba gloves and scuba booties extremely buoyant whilst in water. In fact a wet suit, will float a person comfortably at the surface. This is why a wet suit is also great for kids.

However for immersions, scuba weight belt is required to offset the suit's buoyancy in order to get below the surface.

On the other hand, especially during scuba diving activities, as you dive deeper, water pressure compresses the bubbles in the neoprene. As a result, the deeper you go, this makes your wet suit thinner and less buoyant and provides less insulation. To compensate for this negative buoyancy you will need to add air to your Buoyancy Control Device (BCD).

Scuba wetsuits come in a variety of styles, thickness and sizes. These different varieties of patterns and thickness contribute for greater insulation in colder waters. The thickness depends upon the temperature of the waters you will be conducting your scuba/snorkeling activity. More on wetsuit styles and thickness guides are soon to follow.

Finally, it is important that if you want your wetsuit to last you for several adventures, you will need to take the necessary wetsuit care. So take some time in protecting your scuba diving investment.

I hope you found this article interesting. If you want to learn more on scuba wetsuits, read the rest of our wetsuit guides for tips on: