Diving Wetsuits – How Do They Keep You Warm • 07.02.10
Is a wetsuits just a wetsuit and are all wetsuits made the same? Can you use a wetsuit that is meant for diving when you go swimming, surfing, windsurfing etc…? To some point you can, wetsuit is designed to keep you warm no matter for what sport it was originally meant. But on the other and wearing a wrong wetsuit can be limiting.
Two basic things you need to look for when you a buying a wetsuit are fit and warmth. The wetsuit must fit you just right, if it is too big it can be almost useless. And you have to get the right wetsuit thickness for the water temperature. So it is very important where the wetsuit will be used. Will you go scuba diving in Tahiti, snorkeling in the Seychelles or deep sea diving around Northern Europe?
So how do wetsuits work, how do they keep us warm? The main thing here is the material from which they are made of. Neoprene is a rubbery material that contains lots and lots of small bubbles filled with gas. These bubbles act as insulation against the cold water and give the neoprene great insulation capabilities.After you put on your wetsuit and enter the water a thin layer of water will come between your body and the neoprene. It will be heated by your body and you will be warm. If you are diving – when you reach greater depths the water that might have entered the wetsuit will be squeezed out by the pressure.
So how thick wetsuit do you need greatly depends on the water temperature. And water temperature depends on the location and time – where and when are you going to use your wetsuit. Another thing to consider is also your sex. Wetsuits for women are a bit different that wetsuits for men.
The difference between men and women wetsuits is in shape. But this is not what we are talking about here. Women should get thicker and warmer wetsuits because womens body has more surface area than mans and therefore cools down faster. And generally speaking it is always better to have a wetsuit that is warmer since if you are too warm you can let some cold water in but if you are cold you will soon have to leave the water.
The other thing to keep in mind is that a two-piece wet suit is likely to keep you warmer than a one-piece wet suit. The two-piece wet suit has the benefit of double insulation around the groin and chest areas. However, double the insulation also leads to greater restriction in movement and greater buoyancy, which would require you to carry more lead, than you would have to in a one-piece suit of similar thickness.
With water temperature and wetsuit thickness covered you need to worry about the fit. Only the right fit will let you use your wetsuits insulation capabilities to the max.
Clement has a blog about wetsuits where he gives useful advice on triathlon wetsuits like for instance a full list of wetsuit brands and more.

