Scuba Diving Site

The Trusty Wetsuit

January 29, 2009 | Uncategorized

The wetsuit is the accessory that symbolizes today’s scuba diving, along with fins and a tank. They have come a long way since their earlier days of suit pioneers like the O’Neill brothers and their Santa Cruz surf suits to being made from a combination of neoprene rubber and synthetic fabrics. Wet suits today contain a combination of a wide variety of fabric weaves, designs, colors, and different types of material densities. There are loads of brands to choose from, each offering their own unique properties on one of the most important parts of the scuba diver’s outfit, especially if diving in temperate or moderately deep waters is planned.

History

The first wetsuits were essentially rubber skins that were worn to keep in heat and protect the skin. These primitive suits gave way to more advanced suits made of neoprene, whose cellular construction allowed air and water to be trapped and heated better than mere rubber. Even though neoprene was more flexible, these early wet suits were easy to tear and very hard to put on; often dressing required applying talcum powder to the inside of the suit. Several generations passed, with breakthrough lines such as the Sharkskin and Turtleskin brands adding a layer of nylon sheeting to the inner suit and a textured surface to increase strength and durability.

Modern westsuits use combinations of Lycra or other synthetic materials to replace nylon sheeting. Some brands, such as the Pinnacle Aquatics lines, feature combinations of titanium weaves and natural Merino wool to increased durability, warmth and to reduce odors. These modern suits also use layers of thicker materials 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.

How They Work

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. The layer of warm water keeps the cold water from reaching the divers body by acting as a thermos bottle. The wetsuits are designed to let water come in contact with the skin. This is in contrast to the dry suit which keeps all water out. Wetsuits are usually used in waters whose temperatures range from 40 to 60 degrees. Dry suits are used in waters whose temperatures are much lower.

Types of Wetsuits

Besides the well-known full suit, there are many other different types of wetsuits. One particular wetsuit, “Shorty” suits, have full torsos but don’t cover the entire arm and leg areas. These are good for warm water conditions because its main purpose is for maintaining body heat at great depths. Another suit, the “Farmer John” style, which has a thickened pants layer that goes up around the shoulder but does not cover the arms. This is a good type for surfing purposes where knee protection is important. Another addition to these suits is the now specialized “thin suits” for competitive swimming and light dive purposes. These suits do more than just temperature control as they offer streamlining and abrasion protection.

Hoods

Since over 25% of body heat is lost through the head, hoods are a very important accessory to a full west suit. 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 wetsuit to protect against a gush of cold water down the neck.

Booties

While some wetsuits have integrated “feet”, most use separate “booties” that are drawn up over the legs of the westsuit. Booties are usually corrugated and reinforced to allow divers to stand or push off against the bottom or rough surfaces.

Gloves

Gloves are the last 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.

Since the early primitive rubber casings of the early 1950’s, wet suits have come a long way. With the rise in technology and new materials and special computer-aided designs, wetsuits will continue to improve and offer divers of the 21st century new options for their diving experience.