The Importance Of Wet Suits

Next to fins, mask and a tank, the accessory that most symbolizes today's scuba diver is a wetsuit. Usually made of a combination of neoprene rubber and synthetic fabrics, wetsuits have come a long way since the early days of suit pioneers like the O'Neill brothers and their Santa Cruz "surf suits". Today's wetsuits combine a wide variety of fabric weaves, designs, colors, and types of material densities. There are many, many brands, each offering its own unique take on one of the most essential parts of the diver's dress, especially if you're planning to dive in temperate or moderately deep waters.

History of Wetsuits

Rubber skins were what the first wetsuits were made of. These were worn to keep in heat and protect the skin. They soon gave way to more advanced suits made of neoprene, whose cellular construction allowed air and water to be trapped allowing heating that was better than rubber. However, the early editions of neoprene had its downside. It became easy to tear and quite a struggle to put on. Often dressing required applying talcum powder to the inside of the suit. After several generations, breakthrough lines such as Sharkskin and Turtleskin brands added a layer of nylon sheeting to the inner suit and textured surface to increase strength and durability.

Combinations of Lycra and other synthetic materials replaced nylon sheeting in modern wetsuits. Brands such as Pinnacle Aquatics featured combinations of titanium weaves and natural Merino wool to increase durability, warmth and reduce odors. To protect sensitive spine and neck areas, and have reinforced knee and elbow pads to protect the diver against chafing against rocks and coral heads, these modern wetsuits used layers of thicker materials.

The Way They Work

The basic principle of the wetsuit is simple; water flows into the small pores of the neoprene foam of the suit, where it is trapped and warmed by the body heat and exertions of the diver. This layer of warm water acts as a thermos bottle, keeping the colder water from reaching the diver's body. Wetsuits are designed to let water actually come in contact with the skin, as opposed to dry suits, which are sealed to keep water out. Wetsuits are generally employed when temperatures range from 40 to 60 degrees-typical temperate dive ranges, while dry suits are used for lower temperatures all the way down to freezing.

Wet Suit Types

There are many different types of wetsuits besides the well-known full suit. "Shorty" suits have full torsos, but do not cover the entire leg and arm areas. These suits are good for warm water conditions, where the main issue is maintaining body heat at greater depths. The "Farmer John" style (now less popular than in the late 80s when it was invented) has a thickened "pants" layer that goes up around the shoulders, but doesn't cover the arms; this type is good for surfing applications where knee protection is important. In addition, there are now specialized "thin suits" for competition swimming and light dive applications; these suits offer streamlining and abrasion protection more than they do temperature control.

The Hoods

Since over 25% of body heat is lost through the head, hoods are a very important accessory to a full wetsuit. Hoods are often made of similar materials to a wetsuit, but are somewhat thicker to prevent loss of heat around such a sensitive area. Most hoods have long "bibs" that tuck within the neck of the wet suit to protect against a gush of cold water down the neck.

The Booties

Even though some wetsuits commonly have built-in feet, most use separate booties. These booties are drawn up over the legs of the wetsuit. To facilitate standing or pushing off against the bottom of rough surfaces booties are usually reinforced and corrugated.

Wetsuit Gloves

Gloves are another important accessory and are not only meant to protect against cold water but they must also stop sharp coral and rocks from injuring the skin. In order to help in handling other gears and objects underwater, gloves often have textured fingertips.

Wrap Up

As you can see, wetsuits have come a long way since the early primitive rubber casings of the early 1950's. With new materials and special computer-aided designs, wetsuits will continue to improve and offer the divers of the 21st century many new options for their diving experience.