O
f all the pieces of dive gear you
own, your wetsuit might be the
most personal. That stretchy,
rubbery shell is essential in all
but the warmest conditions, and even then they
protect skin from abrasion. For optimum thermal
protection, it should fit like a second skin.
The Basics
Customized wetsuits exist for a variety of water
sports, but dive-specific suits are in a league of
their own. Compare a diving suit to those worn
by surfers and you’ll see functional differences.
The arms and shoulders are positioned
differently (surf suits require better overhead
reach for paddling), and diving wetsuits are
often thicker to account for the compression
that occurs at depth, which reduces insulation.
Wetsuits are traditionally made with
closed-cell foam neoprene, a material that
starts as a rubbery, white chip with a consistency like the
sole of a sneaker. Plasticizing and foaming agents are used to
soften the material, which is then vulcanized so it maintains
its shape. Carbon black is added to improve tensile strength
and turn the milky-white neoprene black, which makes it
more resistant to sunlight.
There’s a lot of science behind modern wetsuits, and the
materials used can significantly affect the manufacturing
cost. “When you buy a wetsuit, the price is related to its
contents,” said Allan Edmund, president of Henderson
Aquatics. “Neoprene is a relatively expensive ingredient.
Wetsuits made from pure neoprene maintain their flexibility
longer. They’re easier to put on, and they tend to be more
expensive than wetsuits made from combinations of
neoprene and other materials.”
The type and quality of fabric placed over the neoprene
affects price, too. Wetsuits made with higher-stretch fabrics
such as Lycra® and spandex are more expensive than suits
with nylon exteriors. Although it’s difficult to generalize, less-
expensive suits often have a lower percentage of neoprene.
Such suits may wear down more quickly, becoming stiff and
hard to put on.
Keeping Warm
Neoprene density, fabric thickness and the wetsuit’s sealing
properties are the elements of suit design that most influence
warmth. “There’s an industry standard that for Caribbean
destinations, diving in a ‘three-mil’ is acceptable,” Edmund
said. But, of course, everyone has his or her own level of
cold tolerance. Generally, the colder the water, the thicker
the wetsuit or the more layers (e.g., hooded vests or shorties
worn over full suits) you’ll need.
108
|
FALL 2012
GEAR
T E X T B y T e r r y W a r d
P H O T O S B Y S T E P H E N F R I N K
Wetsuits
Divers’ second skins