Your wetsuit is one of the most important pieces or equipment when it comes to scuba diving, so it’s even more important to make sure you give it a good dosing of TLC. Each wetsuit serves a differed purpose when scuba diving; and as such are made with a variety of materials, qualities and stitching. All designs have different functions and allow you to enjoy your water experience in a different way. Taking proper care of your ‘second skin’ is vital to ensuring longevity but a good rule of thumb is: the more you use the wetsuit the more aged it will become. So, if you are an active diver it’s best practice to purchase a high-quality suit that you can get a few laps in with.
Types of scuba diving wetsuit material
Neoprene: The most common of the materials, neoprene wetsuits are easy on the skin and prevent water from getting inside. It’s a type of rubber foam that is typically laminated with other materials.
Standard Nylon Material: This style of wetsuit features a highly durable outer lining. It requires standard care to prevent snagging, cuts and abrasions.
Skin Material Wetsuit: This is the material can be found on both the interior and exterior of a wetsuit, and is typically found around the wrists, neck areas and ankles to prevent water from getting inside. Additional care should be taken around these areas to avoid the sealing factor of the material being compromised by cuts or abrasions.
Thermo Skin Material: This material is heat reflective and acts as a sealing surface similar to standard skin materials. The material requires extra care to protect against the cuts or abrasions such as sharp fingernails.
Taking care of wetsuit during and after the use
A wetsuit’s function is to protect the body whilst in the water both against the elements and from the marine life. With this is mind, the materials used on the exterior of wetsuits are specifically designed to withstand standard wear and tear which occurs during regular dives. Damage to the exterior can cause the wetsuit to lose its functionality and therefore you should be taking extra care to keep your wetsuit in good condition.
After each dive, you should ensure to remove your wetsuit with care by firstly unzipping the gear completely. Then, rather than attempting to pull the suit off in one go, try removing a section at a time to help prevent the wetsuit from puncturing any panels or cause unneeded strain on the material.
Cleaning your wetsuit
Neoprene wetsuits can become dry and brittle after saltwater exposure leading to limited flexibility. To prevent this from occurring, soak and rinse the wetsuit thoroughly after every use in fresh warm, and after that, hose off the suit with fresh water again. Dry in a flat position with opened zippers as this will ensure there is maximum air circulation for a thorough drying. Take care not to use strong agents for washing.
Tips to keep your wetsuits in good condition for longer
How often you dive is a big factor when determining how long your wetsuit will last for, but in addition to this, taking proper care of your suit is essential for frequent divers. Here are some things you should consider to help prolong your wetsuit’s water life.
- Neoprene loses flexibility in hot water, always soak in lukewarm water.
- Neoprene wears down faster from sun exposure, dry wetsuits in the shade.
- Dry inside out and never iron
- Store properly in either a wide hanger or flat surface
- Clean thoroughly and dry the suit well
If you are looking for a premium quality wetsuit, the team at Dolphin Scuba have a diverse range of premium scuba brands and dive accessories available both in store and online. Our staff are experienced scuba divers who can talk you through the best option to suit your dive needs and educate you on proper cleaning procedures and care. Our Welshpool dive store is open seven days a week with wetsuits available both online and in store. Please contact our friendly team on 08 9253 2488 if you have any questions about our products or stockists.