Josh's Professional Photography Equipment

Next to fins, mask and a tank, the accessory that most symbolizes today’s scuba diver is a wet suit. Usually made of a combination of neoprene rubber and synthetic fabrics, wet suits 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 wet suits 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

The first wet suits 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 west suits 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

The basic principle of the wet suit is simple; water flow 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. Wet suits are designed to let water actually come in contact with the skin, as opposed to dry suits, which are sealed to keep water out. Wet suits 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.

Types of West Suits

There are many different types of west suits 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.

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 wet suit, 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.

Booties

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

Gloves

The last important accessory. Gloves must not only protect against cold water, but also must stop sharp coral and rocks from damaging the skin. Gloves often have textured fingertips to help in handling gear or other objects during a dive.

Summing Up

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

Edward Price has had a keen interest in scuba diving for many years. For more practical tips and information on wet suits, visit his scuba diving resource site now.

How do i tighten the neoprene neck seal on my “divemaster” northern divers drysuit?

I need to know how to go about this at home; what type glues and the whole procedure (in steps if possible) from beginning to end. Also how much to bring it in going by my neck size and the neckseal size as it is just now.

Once the neoprene seal has stretched, you won’t get it back again. You really need to replace it with a new seal, (consider getting the wrist seals done at the same time if you have to, and don’t forget to check the boots out as well!). Neoprene seals are harder to replace than latex seals and I would recommend you go to your local dive store and have a chat to them about it before you do anything else I’m afraid.

Here’s a good article on the kind of wear to look for elsewhere while you’re at it:

http://www.divernet.com/gear/suits198/suits198.htm

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