Choose the Proper Thickness The thickness is probably the most important factor that will determine your comfort underwater. The thicker the wetsuit, the warmer you will be. Choose the thickness based on the type of water and diving you will be doing. In colder water, wear a thicker wet suit to prevent chill and hypothermia. The chart below gives average recommendations for wet suit thickness for water temperatures. The ranges overlap depending on individual body heat and comfort; some divers may be more comfortable in a lighter suit, while others may appreciate a thicker neoprene.

Sometimes people have trouble putting on a wetsuit.  The tips and graphics below will help you understand the correct way to put on a wetsuit. 

If you have a thick SCUBA Diving wetsuit (5-7mm thick) you may want to consider a full body lycra or dive skin. This lycra suit will make it easier to enter and exit the suit.

CAUTION: Pull wetsuit with fingers and finget tips. Never use finger nails as they can cut the delicate neoprene

Step 1: Legs to Hips

Pull wetsuit legs over your feet and ankles.  Then work up the legs in sections and pull over the hips.

Step 2: Adjust Legs

Starting below each knee, take time to pull up each leg, wor]]> Scuba diving and surfing wetsuits are all make of neoprene in most cases but the difference between generally is style and cuts.  If you are looking at a shorty or full suit up to a 4/3mm thickness chances are that each suit can be used for surf or scuba with no problems.  The thicker scuba wetsuits have more air bubbles in the neoprene that acts to keep the suit from compressing at depth, thus losing warmth.

Thicker surf suits have less bubbles in the neoprene so if used for Scuba, once the diver reaches about 33 feet or even 60 feet the atmospheric pressure will compress the suit thus making it less warm. 

So, the answer is, shorties and full suits up to about 4/3mm thick are pretty much interchangeable, as long as you are happy with the style and cut of the suit.

When shopping for a wetsuit, sizing is always an issue. It helps to keep the following tips in mind when deciding which size you should choose. Sizing is based on height & weight as the two basic measurements. You will have trouble finding a suit that fits without knowing these two measurements. Other (very) helpful measurements are chest/torso, arms, bra size (women) and inseam.

Men & Boy Measurements

Neck: Measure the circumference of your neck just above the base and around your Adam's apple. Place wo fingers between your neck and the tape measure.

Arm/Sleeve: With your arm bent slightly, put your hand on your hip. Start the tape measure at the center of the back of your]]> We have all heard the line:  I just went to put on my wetsuit for the first time this year and it shrunk.  Now, the joke is that you may have gained a bit of weight and you are making an excuse that the wetsuit has mysteriously shrunk.   Well, best I can figure, the answer here is both. 

Now, lets start with the "Shrink" part.  Wetsuits are made primarily from Neoprene, a material that comes in many thicknesses but the main part is that is has air bubbles in it that add insulation to the diver or surfer.  Now, most neoprene over time has been proven to loose its “stretch” or not be as pliable.  Thus it can be argued that it in fact Shrunk.  Mainly because it doesn’t have as much stretch. 

Now the material part:  We also know that if you gain weight, work out or o]]>

Rinse - Rinse your suit in fresh water as soon as you are finished diving for the day. Most dive operators have a rinse tank for this purpose. Salt water can cause neoprene to lose its flexibility. Not to mention the nasty smell an unrinsed wet suit can have.

Soak - When you get back home, or better yet, back to the hotel, soak your wetsuit for about 15 minutes in warm water. You can also use a special wet suit shampoo at this stage (we sell Sink the Stink) You should shampoo your suit every once in a while for best results.

Hang to dry - They make hangers just for wetsuits. These are the best to use if you have one. However, a basic plastic hanger will work also. Whatever you do, do not use the thin wire hangers as these can rust and start to degrade the neoprene in the shoulders. You want to thoroughly dry your wetsuit before storing it. Otherwise, nasty things will start appearing and smelling. Avoid that at all costs.

Inspe]]> Wet suits and dry suits are very important when it comes to scuba diving. Your normal body temperature hovers around 98.6F (37C). If you are scuba diving in water that is cooler than your body temperature your temperature will drop. In all water, even the warmest, tropical waters, you will need thermal protection, like a wet suit, dry suit or dive skin, to keep warm and to keep safe while scuba diving. The cold affects our ability to think and our physical response time slows, which can lead to an accident. Warm tropical water will begin to feel cold after prolonged scuba diving, so it is always a good idea to wear light insulation at a minimum.

When choosing thermal protection, like a wet suit or dry suit, you]]>

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When shopping for a wetsuit, sizing is always an issue. It helps to keep the following tips in mind when deciding which size you should choose. First, you need to know your measurements.

Men & Boy Measurements

Neck: Measure the circumference of your neck just above the base and around your Adam's apple. Place wo fingers between your neck and the tape measure.     

• Arm/Sleeve: With your arm bent slightly, put your hand on your hip. Start the tape measure at the center of the back of your neck. Run the tape measure across the top of your shoulder, down to the elbow, and then to your wrist.    

• Chest: Standing with your arms at your side, place the tape measure arou]]> Many scuba divers always wear a dive skin underneath their wet suit. Dive skins can help make getting in and out of your wet suit a little easier because the neoprene slides better along the surface of the lycra than it does against your skin

  ]]> If you are scuba diving in colder water you may want to invest in a dry suit. They are considerably more expensive than wet suits, but the level of warmth and protection is unmatched by any other form of thermal protection. A dry suit can be made out of foam neoprene, crushed neoprene, vulcanized rubber or heavy-duty nylon. They use a combination of wrist seals, a neck seal and a waterproof zipper to keep you dry.

  Most dry suits incorporate fully attached scuba booties as well. For added warmth you can wear dry-suit underwear underneath the dry suit. The underwear traps a layer of air between your skin and the water, which warms to your body temperature and helps to keep you warm. Like any thermal protection, the amount of underwear you need is based on the water temperature, your activity level during a dive and your body size. It is important for you to try different amounts of insulation to determine what you need.

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