How to Get the Best Wetsuit

A number of people think that any wetsuit is good for just about anything. This is farther from the truth. Wetsuits come in so many variations that the buyer needs to be mindful of the types available.

Before we delve into the types of wetsuits, we need to understand the purpose of this garment. Wetsuits are protective clothing for individuals in water environments. The purpose of the suit is to keep the body warm. In fact, it purposely traps water into the suit so that it acts like a protective layer from coldwater exposure. The suits are made of a fabric called neoprene, a synthetic rubber created by DuPont. The fabric essentially allows warmth to be trapped because of the nitrogen gas in the synthetic rubber. Because of the low thermal conductivity, heat has less chance to leave the body. However, human skin in contact with water causes heat to lose rapidly from the body.

So what should we look for in wetsuits? It all depends on what you plan to do. The sport could be water skiing, diving, snorkeling, surfing, or swimming. There are wetsuits that are made specifically for these types of activities.

Otherwise, you determine the weather and conditions of the environment and make a decision based on the wetsuit thickness. Thickness is measured by millimeters (mm), so a 1mm wetsuit will literally mean that the fabric’s thickness is 1mm. For warmer waters, that don’t cause too much loss of body heat, consider 1mm to 2mm. If the water temperature is 45 to 70 degrees, consider a thickness of 3mm to 4mm. For very cold weather below 45 degrees, one might wear a 5mm suit with a hood.

The quality of the wetsuit can be determined by the seam construction. As with any clothing, tightly woven seams are indicators of quality. Conversely, loosen seams can allow exposure to the elements, which is poor quality. The purpose of the suit is to keep all elements away from the body. A wetsuit that’s closely seemed or flushed is seal proof.

Besides neoprene, there are other fabrics. Spandex, a thin fabric that can stretch very well, can be used in tropical weather conditions. It can protect one from the effects of the sun. Thermoplastic is another fabric that’s around 1.2mm. It has a little more insulation than spandex, but it can be used very warm climates.

The important part of choosing a wetsuit is trying it on. The best suits are the one that fit snug on the body, provided that it doesn’t suffocates or limits your movement. Test the suit by flexing or moving your body parts. Once you’re in the water, the suit should be much more flexible. Learning how the suit responds to your movements will allow you to better get a feel for the product.

Wetsuits varies in size, shape, quality and flexibility. Understanding these qualities will better help you to choose the right suit. If you’re not sure which suit is right for you, consult a retailer for the advice.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Wetsuit

Scuba Diving - Choosing a Wetsuit for Scuba Diving

When you are scuba diving, there is no such thing as a perfect wetsuit, but modern manufacturers have come close to perfection. The area you will dive in will determine whether you need a dry suit, a wetsuit, or a semi-dry suit. While dry suits are meant for cold dives, wetsuits keep your body warm in waters of moderate temperatures.

If you are going to scuba dive in a warmer area, you have the option of buying either a full wetsuit or a spring suit. A full wetsuit has full arms and legs while a spring suit has shortened arms and/or legs. Spring suits come in many combinations - a torso-only design, bicep length arm sleeves, or full length arms, but mid-thigh length pants.

A wetsuit called steamer cover your entire body except the head, hands and feet. Some steamers have removable arms or legs and are called convertibles. A shorty covers the torso but has short legs and arms.

Regardless of design, there is a standard way to measure a wetsuit - using the thickness of the neoprene material. A suit that has a thickness of 3mm (1/10th inch) thick in the torso, and a thickness of 2mm in the arms and legs is designated 3/2. Use a 3/2 one for dives in water that is 60F (15.5C) or above. If you need more warmth, you will need a 4/3 which is thicker. Some suits have separate numbers for the torso, arms and legs.

Like any other sports clothing, your wetsuit must fit well. Flexibility is important to allow easy movement underwater. The suit should not chafe or bind. Since you will be using your arms to navigate underwater, it is important that your suit allows for a free range of shoulder movements. It should be snug but not squeeze. Restricted blood flow near the skin surface will cause soreness and fatigue and shorten your dive time.

Secure suits will have fewer number of sturdy seams - wither glued, welded or uni-body. The material is most likely to split at the seams. Bad seams can also cause sore spots and adversely affect flexibility. While suits which are seamless or have fewer seams are best, some suit designs have to have seams because of their extra features like hydro-lock collars, integrated knife holders, removable headgear, and fire-skin linings for wicking.

If you have to dive in colder temperatures, you must have a good dry suit to keep you warm. An adult can die in a matter of minutes if exposed to waters of 50F (10C) or less. Dry suits come with attached booties that seal off your feet. They also have watertight seals around the neck and wrists. You must wear thermal underwear with your dry suit. The dry suit has sealing that keeps it dry, while the underwear has wicking that keeps moisture off the skin. In case of wetsuits, the design allows a layer of moisture which is warmed by skin.

Try on lots of models before you buy so that you find a suit that fits snug and yet allows maximum flexibility. You will be using your wetsuit for years, so invest the time in finding the right one.

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Scuba Diving Wetsuit Guide

Buying a wetsuit can be somewhat confusing. There are many different styles, thicknesses, qualities and price ranges to choose from. Trying on a wetsuit isn't the most fun thing to do in the world either. However, it is a necessary evil if you want to keep warm on your dive. So with that in mind, here are the items you should look for when buying a wetsuit:

• Style - The first thing you will have to decide is what style of wetsuit do you want. Do you want a full wet suit or a shortie (has short arms (usually) and legs that end just above the knee)? Do you want a farmer john or jane (a two piece suit - one piece has long legs with a sleeveless top; it is usually worn with a covering jacket)? Do you need a hood?

  A shortie is for warm water diving and is what I wear when I need more than a skin (mine is 2mm). It does leave your arms and legs exposed to the water so you have to decide if it will be warm enough for you. A full scuba diving wet suit is probably the most common/popular and is what I see the most while diving in the Caribbean. This style is one piece and has long arms and legs.

  Buying a wetsuit hood is not necessary (for most people) for diving in warm water. It is more for cold water diving. I can count on one hand the number of people I have seen wearing a hood while diving in the Caribbean.

• Thickness - The thickness is probably the most important factor that will determine your comfort underwater. Choose the thickness based on the type of water and diving you will be doing. For the Caribbean, a 3mm should be sufficient for most people.
• Quality of Construction - This will determine how long that scuba diving wet suit will last. Most importantly, you need to check the seams of the wet suit. The cheapest and least strong is a glued stitch. It will sometimes have a piece of glued tape over the seams which will help with comfort. While it is adequate, it will probably give out the quickest of all the seams.

  Another of the basic stitches found mostly in "bargain" and "cheap" wet suits is the over-lock stitch which joins the neoprene a the seam by stitching the edges together. The ridge is on the inside of the suit which can become uncomfortable. If this seam is stretched to its limit the seam may open up and let in some water.

  At the other extreme of construction quality, is the blind stitch. Here the material is first glued and then stitched on one side. However, the stitch doesn't pierce the material which would give an entry point for water. The same stitch is then done on the reverse side and interlocks with the first stitch. This gives the strongest seam. Of course, as you would guess, this type of construction is found on the more expensive scuba diving wet suit.

  In between, is the flatlock stitching which you will find in many warm water wet suits (mine included). The two pieces of neoprene overlap and are joined together. Unlike the over-lock stitch, the seam lays flat making it more comfortable for the diver.

  While water can sometimes seep through these seams when stretched, it will be much less than with an over-lock stitch. Taped seams, with any of these stitches, helps prevent water leaking through the seams. It also helps the comfort factor, making the scuba diving wet suit more comfortable against the skin.
   

• Neoprene - The type of neoprene your scuba diving wet suit is made of affects the quality of the suit and, of course the price. Scuba diving wetsuits are made of neoprene which is a synthetic rubber foam. The neoprene has thousands of tiny bubbles for insulation. The material is then 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 wet suit is made of affects the quality of the suit and, of course the price.

  The highest quality neoprene is gas blown and made with thousands of little bubbles of nitrogen gas. While it will compress and eventually wear out like all neoprene, it is the most durable type of neoprene. A chemical blown wetsuit feels softer but will not be as durable.

Hopefully this guide will make your purchase easier.

Have a great dive,
Dianne Rein from http://www.scuba-diving-smiles.com

Dianne Rein runs an online scuba diving guide and loves diving all over the Caribbean. You can read her complete guide to scuba diving wetsuits at her website. You can also find a guide to scuba diving fins along with alot of other information on scuba equipment at her site.