Choosing a Wetsuit follow these tips for the perfect wetsuit!

Choosing a wetsuit is one of the most important decisions you will make when you start spending your hard earned cash on diving equipment. Get it wrong and you will either freeze or have trouble breathing.

Sounds extreme I know, but to me comfort is not negotiable it is 100% necessary. Oh yeah and it is real easy to get it right.

Before you jump in a buy the first diving wetsuit you see, even before you try a wetsuit on, make sure you understand what kind of diving you are going to be doing, it may save you heaps of dollars in the long run.

What type of diving will you be doing?

This relates to how active you will be underwater, I know you won't be swimming marathons, but if you are going to be stationery for long periods of time, camera and strobe in hand waiting for the goby to come out and show himself, then choosing a wetsuit that is thicker than normal may be perfect.

The more active you are the warmer you will be and the less insulation you will need.

What water temperature will you be diving in?

I know this sounds pretty obvious, but sometimes the obvious is overlooked when looking at wetsuits in glossy magazines or on nice racks at you local dive shop.

The colder the water the insulation or thicker the diving wetsuit you will need. On the other hand if all your diving will be in tropical waters then a lycra suit would be perfect.

As a general rule the following wetsuit thickness are commonly used in differing water temperatures:

27 degrees C / 80 degrees F and up
Use a lycra suit, body glove, or even a 3mm steamer/full or spring wetsuits.

21 degrees C / 70 degrees F up to 27 degrees C / 80 degrees F
In this range I would be using either a 3mm or 5mm steamer or full length wetsuit, depending on my activity level and the weather outside.

10 degrees C / 50 degrees F up to 21 degrees C / 70 degrees F
Without a doubt I would only consider a full length or steamer wetsuit, one piece or two with hood and gloves or a drysuit. In this temperature water it is easy to get cold very quick.

10 degrees C / 50 degrees F and under
This is drysuit diving, no if's or buts, no drysuit no dive, well I wouldn't, you can lose heat very quickly in cold water.

Don't forget once your underwater you cannot get warmer and I have never seen anyone overheat!

How long will you be diving?

Multiple dives a day will slowly cool you.

Putting on a wet wetsuit when you are already cold, is miserable and will chill you even before you get into the water.

A greater length of time underwater will also effect choosing a wetsuit. The deeper you dive the more compressed your wetsuit will become and will therefore lose some of its insulating properties.

Choose your diving equipment wisely.

Choosing a wetsuit, simple isn't it??

If you think about it logically, it is not very difficult to work out the variables you need to consider when choosing wetsuit.

In fact it is really common sense.

You may end up with a couple of wetsuits, but in general I would err on the side of more insulation than less. Also don't forget that if the wetsuit is a poor fit, it will not matter what thickness you have it will not do the job you want of it, you know keep you warm underwater. To lose and water will move in and out freely and you will never warm up. To tight and it will be almost impossible to put on and may also restrict your breathing, not a good thing when you are underwater.

If you would like more information on scuba wetsuits, have a look here.

Have you every struggled into a wetsuit and thought this is all too hard? Well have a look here for some good tips on how to get into your wetsuit and out again.

Oh and make sure you know the best way to look after your wetsuit.

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