Wetsuits for Scuba Diving

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Wetsuits: the easiest way to say warm underwater

Wet suits are the most popular form of thermal protection for scuba divers. They are easy to use and inexpensive. Wet suits are made from neoprene; synthetic rubber foam that is filled with thousands of tiny gas bubbles. Neoprene wet suits are available in a variety of thicknesses from 2mm-9mm. The thicker the neoprene the warmer the wet suit, although wet suits made from 5mm and 6mm neoprene are very bulky and sometimes uncomfortable to wear.

Diving in Fiji Blog

A blog by Richard Akhtar, Joe Tuku and Simon Parry of Mad Fish Dive Centre at Matava about the great scuba diving around the Fiji Islands. Some of the highlights of living and working in Fiji is the diving on the soft coral reefs with sharks, mantas and teeming life on the reefs.
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Wetsuits on Amazon

Some good deals online if you know your size

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Fitting a Wetsuit

A good fit ensures best results

A wet suit must fit your body snugly for it to offer the best protection. Once you enter the water a thin layer of water enters your wet suit filling the space between your skin and the inner surface of the wet suit. This layer of water is then warmed to your body temperature and it helps to keep you warm throughout your dive. Some people prefer to have their wet suit custom-made for a perfect fit. If you have a wet suit custom-made you can specify the minute details regarding shape, color and extra detailing that may not be available in most off-the-rack wet suits.

YouTube vids with wetsuit hints

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Wetsuit Styles and Designs

Wet suits are available in many styles and colors. Some of the most popular styles of wet suit include:

- The Full-Body Wet suit - a full one-piece wet suit which covers your entire body. These are the most commonly found wet suits as they are used in all water temperatures, in varying Wet suit thicknesses.

- The Shorty Wet suit - a one piece wet suit with short sleeves and legs which end mid-thigh. These are a preferred a wet suit for scuba diving in warmer waters.

- The Farmer John Wet suit - a two piece wet suit, including bib-style overalls and jacket with an attached hood. These are a preferred wet suit for cold water diving, since the layering offers added protection.

Vote for your wetsuit choice

3/2mm Tilos Titanium Skin Chest Full Suit Jumpsuit Wetsuit Mens Womens Surf Surfing Scuba Dive Diving Jet Ski Wetsuit Wet Suit S Med Large XL 2XL 3XL

3/2mm Tilos Titanium Skin Chest Full Suit Jumpsuit Wetsuit Mens Womens Surf Surfing Scuba Dive Diving Jet Ski Wetsuit Wet Suit S Med Large XL 2XL 3XL

This is an Unreal price on the Tilos 3/2mm Titaniu more...0 points

EVO UNISEX 3MM FRT ZIP SHORTY

EVO UNISEX 3MM FRT ZIP SHORTY

Easy to get in and out of, this unisex top quality more...0 points

EVO LYCRA HOOD

EVO LYCRA HOOD

This 5-oz lycra hood offers protection from jellyf more...0 points

4/3mm Men's Billabong FOIL Steamer Full Wetsuit

4/3mm Men's Billabong FOIL Steamer Full Wetsuit

Congrats on finding the Billabong FOIL series of w more...0 points

3/2mm Men's Billabong FOIL Full Wetsuit

3/2mm Men's Billabong FOIL Full Wetsuit

Congrats on finding the Billabong FOIL series of w more...0 points

Wetsuit Accessories

There are a variety of wet suit accessories available as well, including: separate hoods, gloves, vests, jackets, step in jackets and booties, which can usually be found at any scuba gear retailer. These accessories can offer added warmth and protection to a basic wet suit and give you versatility to adjust the level of protection you need based on the location of your dive. Not all scuba diving locations will let you use all accessories!

For example, in Bonaire, Caribbean you are not allowed to wear scuba gloves while scuba diving to prevent divers from the temptation of touching any plant life or animal while in the water.

Always check with your dive shop about which accessories you may use while scuba diving.

Great Deal on Wetsuits on eBay

Low priced, hardly used wetsuits...

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Blog Posts chatting about wetsuit choice for tropics

Emma Nicholsby of Divetech
When Emma was 21 she went on a trip to New Zealand and Australia where she took a Scuba resort course at the Great Barrier Reef. It was a great experience, but she didn't really think much about it when she went home to Scotland.
Be Safe: Keep a Wetsuit Between You and the Water
The wetsuit you buy should match the activity it's intended for. Wetsuits are used to scuba dive, surf, windsurf and do triathlons. Will you be in cold water or warm? This will determine how much insulation you need. Get enough insulation to keep you ...
Art of Retrieval at Vallew View Golf Course
The 57-year-old brothers, who in their youth would chase down foul balls for the Tommy Lasorda-managed Ogden Dodgers baseball club, now don wetsuits and scuba gear to scoop out about 300000 balls a year from golf course water hazards and abandoned ...

Wetsuit Thickness Chart

Temperature Suit Thickness*
76°F - 86°F 1/16" neoprene or lycra
69°F - 84°F 1/8" neoprene
64°F - 77°F 3/16" neoprene
49°F - 75°F 1/4" neoprene
33°F - 66°F 3/8" neoprene

Wetsuit Maintence

6 tips to make it last a long time

The key to keeping your wet suit clean and odor-free is proper maintenance after each dive. These maintenance procedures will help to keep your wet suit in good shape for many years of scuba diving.
  1. Rinse your wet suit, inside and out, in clean, freshwater after each dive and allow it to dry thoroughly before storing. After a dive your wet suit will be covered in a salty residue and/or dirt; this must be rinsed clean to prevent the neoprene from degrading. Your wet suit must be completely dry before storing to ensure the neoprene stays clean, odor-free and free of mildew or mold.
  2. Wet suit zippers should be lubricated occasionally to prevent degradation of the metal or plastic.
  3. Always store your wet suit out of direct sunlight. Direct sunlight will break down the neoprene after years of exposure.
  4. Periodically machine or hand-wash your wet suit. A good rinse after each dive helps to keep your wet suit clean, but to ensure there is no residue or grit left on your wet suit you must properly clean it on a regular basis. You can purchase a commercially prepared neoprene shampoo, zipper lubricant/desalter and neoprene sealant to thoroughly clean and seal your wet suit. A commercial shampoo and sealant are specifically manufactured to care for your neoprene and is the recommended method for proper maintenance.
  5. Always store your wet suit on a wide hanger to prevent the neoprene from cracking or becoming misshapen.
  6. Any holes in your wet suit can be fixed using commercial wet suit cement.

Wetsuits on CafePress

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by

StuartinFiji

I am a scuba diving instructor living in Fiji. I have been teaching scuba since 1992 in the Caribbean and since 1996 in Fiji (yes been living here for... more »

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