A wetsuit is an essential piece of water sports equipment. Their primary function is to keep you warm. Secondary benefits include protection from sunburn, abrasions, stinging marine life and corals. Wetsuits also provide protection from equipment by working as a layer of cushioning. Snorkellers, surfers and swimmers can also benefit from the positive buoyancy wetsuits provide.

The human body is an awesome heat energy machine, designed to regulate a constant body temperature in air, not water. While air is an excellent insulator, it is important to keep in mind that water absorbs body heat 25 times faster than air. Consider the difference between a 75F degree room and 75F degree swimming pool. While the room is quite comfortable, you would soon become chilled in the water.

How Do Wetsuits Work?
In order to better understand how wetsuits keep us warm it is necessary to first understand why we get cold. Specifically, we loose body heat in two ways: Conduction and Convention.

Conduction is the direct transfer of heat energy from molecule to molecule. Essentially, body heat is lost through external contact with the water. Scuba Divers also lose body heat by means of Internal Conduction. Gas (air) is cooled as it is released from the diving cylinder. The diver is affected because the actual air they are breathing at depth is cool.

Convection is the constant movement of water across the body. As the body heats the water molecules around it, those molecules rise and new, colder molecules take their place.

External excessive body heat loss underwater (Conduction) is solved by using environmental protection (a wetsuit or drysuit) of appropriate style and thickness to the operating temperatures of the diver (swimmer, snorkeller, etc.) Convection is solved by a proper (snug) fit. Essentially, a wetsuit should fit like a second skin.

Wetsuits are made from gas impregnated neoprene. Basically, millions of gas bubbles (usually nitrogen) are surrounded by neoprene, formed into sheets and then layered in between nylon and/or a number of other types of linings. The bubbles provide insulation as the material itself surrounds your body. Water flow over the body is reduced and the cooler water entering the suit is able to be warmed.

Choosing A Wetsuit
Wetsuits are available in a variety of thickness' and styles to best suit your in-water needs. Layering can be an essential part of your environmental protection system. Adding a jacket, shorty, vest or combination of will extend the operating temperature range of a specific suit. Layering may also better address sizing issues because some materials/styles are more flexible than others.

Additionally, since much of your body heat escapes through your head, adding a hood (even in 'warmer' conditions) will significantly improve your comfort. Appropriate boots and gloves are also important, for both warmth and protection. When combined together hoods, boots and gloves account for about 30% - 40% of your thermal protection.

Everybody has their own personal preference and individual comfort level. What is 'freezing' to one person is 'just right' to another. Smaller persons (like women and especially children) tend to get colder faster. This is primarily because they have a greater surface area in relation to their total body mass. Duration and depth are also an important factors to consider. High workload dives will greatly affect environmental needs. The longer your exposure, the cooler your body will become. Water temperatures drop the deeper you go and wetsuits become thinner as the gas bubbles are compressed.

Wetsuit Sizing
Wetsuits (and wetsuit accessories) are designed to fit snugly, like a second skin. A snug fit is necessary in order for the material to be effective in the water.

If you have never worn a wetsuit before, keep in mind it will feel quite strange the first few times you put it on. There are also correct and incorrect ways to put them on and take them off. Wetsuits feel very different than clothing. Again, wetsuits are exceptionally form fitting and you will feel a reduced range of motion.

It is also important to remember that wetsuits, like most quality neoprene accessories including gloves and boots, are cut for a dive position. This means, when you are standing up straight out of the water a well fitting suit may feel uncomfortable and even tight (compared to normal clothing) in some areas. Quality wetsuits are tailored with slightly bent arms and knees along with additional considerations throughout the torso for optimal in-water performance. You may have small amounts of room at the back of the elbows, knees and underneath the arms. This is all completely normal.

Before choosing your size we strongly suggest the following:

1) Always refer to the correct size chart for the suit you wish to purchase. Various styles and brands size differently. As an example, you may be a large in one style/brand but be a medium-large in another. Even a suit made by the same manufacturer may change sizing from year to year.

2) Select your size based on your current, actual weight, height and measurements. Please do not guess or base your size selection on outdated information.

3) When in doubt weigh yourself on an accurate scale and take current measurements with a tape measure. If you do not have a tape measure, use a long piece of string and then measure it on a ruler. It may be easier to have someone help you and the measurements will generally be more accurate.

If you are purchasing the suit for someone else be sure to get their correct sizing information. Most sizing issues can be easily avoided by understanding how wetsuits are supposed to fit and selecting the suit based on accurate information.

Dressing A Wetsuit
Because wetsuits are cut to be form fitting they require different techniques for donning (putting on) and doffing (taking off).

Certain style suits are much easier to take off (and to a lesser extend put on) with the help of a buddy so be sure have someone around when donning your suit. Try on your new wetsuit in clean, dry place free from pet hair and dirt just in case you need to exchange it for a different size or style. Do not use powder or any other type of lubricant, those techniques don't work. Plus, the chemicals they contain can damage the suit. You will also be more comfortable if you try your suit on in a cool location such as an air conditioned room.

It is not uncommon to have to "wiggle" to get the suit on and into place. Many experienced divers joke about the various "Wetsuit Dances" seen over the years as people gear up at the dive site. While it may initially feel silly, putting on a proper fitting suit takes more work than the average pair of pants. However, the comfort you will experience in the water makes it all well worth it.

If you are donning a full suit (long legs) it is easier to begin sitting down. Dress the suit by putting each leg (one at a time) through the ankles and working the suit up to you knees. Some suits have skin seals at the wrists and ankles which may make it difficult for your foot/hand to just slide through. If your suit has skin seals, gently stretch the opening rather than fight against the skin seal. If your suit has knee pads, work them into the right position before pulling the suit up any further. Once the suit is up to your knees, stand up and pull the suit over your hips. You will likely need to work the legs up so the crotch is in the right position. Dress the arms just like you did with the legs, one at a time, working the suit up to the elbow before putting in on the rest of the way. Depending on the style of suit, you may need help from a buddy to help zip it up.

Two piece suits (generally called step-ins) usually have one leg you need to step through and the other needs to be zipped. It may be more comfortable to start the zipper up part of the way, step through both legs and then dress the arms.

Again, keep in mind that wetsuits feel very different than clothing, especially out of the water. They are designed for optimal in-water comfort and performance.

Should I Wet My Suit Before Putting It On?
The trick is wet on wet or dry on dry. Meaning your skin should be dry if the suit is dry or your skin should be wet if the suit is wet. A trick for multiple dive (snorkelling) days is to turn your suit inside out which will allow the inside to dry even though the outside may still be wet.

Undressing A Wetsuit
To take off your wetsuit, peel it off inside out. Do not try to step out of it as you would with normal clothing. Open the Zipper (or have your buddy open it for you). Work you shoulders free and then peel each arm out (turning the suit inside out as you go) one at a time. Roll the suit down doing the same for each leg. Depending on the style, you may need a buddy to initially pull the suit off your shoulders. Remember, the trick is to peel the suit off, turning it inside out as you go.

To take off a neoprene hood, start by reaching both hands inside to grab the material at the chin and neck. Bring you chin down to your chest while simultaneously pulling the chin/neck out with your hands. Continue to lift up towards the top of your head keeping you chin close to your chest.

To take off a vest (or hooded vest), stretch one armhole until you can get that elbow and arm inside. Bring that arm outside at the waist, which will pop the vest up over your shoulder. If your vest has a hood use the steps above to take it off and then extract your other arm.

Boots and gloves can be taken off by either pulling them off inside out, the same way as with a wetsuit or by reaching inside the opening and pulling your hand/foot free while holding on to the glove/boot.

Wetsuit Care and Maintenance
When properly cared for, your wetsuit will last for many dives to come. Proper storage is essential and will significantly extend the life of your suit.

Rinse your suit in fresh water after every dive. Gloves, hoods and boots should be cared for in the same way.

Pay extra attention to zippers and knee pads as they are common places where sand, dirt and salt build up. An old toothbrush is great for getting into the small spaces without damaging the suit.

Once your suit is clean and rinsed allow it to completely dry inside-out. Then turn it right-side-out to allow it to fully dry before putting it away. Store your suit in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Excessive exposure to sunlight (and chlorine) will cause the suit to fade.

Do not store a wetsuit folded for extended periods of time. It can actually damage the material and decrease its insulating ability. It is best to hang your suit up on a wide, heavyweight hanger. Narrow hangers can damage and/or distort the shoulders, plus they are rarely strong enough. Stay away from metal hangers (or hangers with metal parts). The metal can stain (and even damage) any part of the suit in comes in contact with.

A little extra care and attention go along way to extending the life of your investment. Proper wetsuit care will also make for easier, more pleasant gearing up and helps to keep the material supple. Your wetsuit will thank you...