Some people see diving as a macho sport full of hardcore divers that can handle anything. Well let me tell you that there is one thing that can bring any hardcore diver to their knees: cold water.
The water doesn’t even have to be that cold to chill you to the core. In fact, water as warm as 75 degrees (24 C) can be cold enough to make you shiver in your buoyancy compensator.
That’s because water wicks away your body heat much faster than air does. In addition, your body is also warming up the cold, compressed air that you’re breathing.
All these factors make you feel cold even in relatively warm temperatures. I’m a big sissy when it comes to cold water. I’ll don a wetsuit whenever the water temperature drops below 79 degrees (26 C). However I’m not going to wear a two-piece wetsuit when it’s 79 degrees (26 C). I’m going to wear something lighter.
That’s why I like Body Glove wetsuits so much. They offer several options that allow you to layer different sized wetsuits so you can be comfortable at any temperature.
Take the Body Glove Isotherm Long Arm for example.
It’s the perfect example of a good wetsuit to wear when the water is relatively warm. The .5mm construction provides enough warmth to keep you comfortable and the long sleeves will help to protect you from cuts and scrapes and from the sun as well. It looks sharp too.
However the Isotherm Long Arm isn’t going to help you if you’re diving in 72 degree (22 C) water. That kind of environment requires something much more substantial.
Take the EX3 3mm wetsuit for example.
That suit will give you excellent insulation when you’re in colder water. And if you’re a big baby like me, you can wear the Isotherm Long Arm under the EX3 for some extra thermal protection.
But what happens if you’re in 76 degree (24 C) water? It’s too cold for a .5mm wetsuit and too warm for a 3mm wetsuit (unless you’re me).
For mildly chilly water, Body Glove makes springsuits. These wetsuits are sometimes referred to as “shorties” because they look like shorter versions of full wetsuits.
If you plan on diving in a variety of conditions, you should invest in Body Glove’s System 5 Jacket/John set.
This set will give you additional layering ability so you can match your thermal protection to your diving conditions.
Another thing that I like about Body Glove is that their suits are anatomically cut which means that they’re designed to fit your body.
This makes Body Glove wetsuits a lot more comfortable than some other wetsuit manufacturers. In addition, Body Glove wetsuits are very competitive when it comes to pricing.
They’re definitely some of the best value buys for wetsuits.
Every diver should have at least one wetsuit, if not more. Diving is much more comfortable when you have the right amount of thermal protection.
Put your macho views of diving aside and buy a good wetsuit. I promise you’ll be much happier diving with a wetsuit than without one.
Have you got a Body Glove wetsuit?
How long have you had your Body Glove wetsuit? What do you like about your Body Glove wetsuit?
Which Body Glove wetsuit do you own? What do you dislike/like about it?
Are they worth the money? What type of diving do you do in them?
Take the Body Glove Isotherm Long Arm for example.
If you plan on diving in a variety of conditions, you should invest in Body Glove’s System 5 Jacket/John set.