| Are you looking out to buy a new wetsuit for a | | | | insulation. Now if you're adventure should lead you to |
| scuba diving vacation but don't know where to start? | | | | cold water locations and at thermocline depths at |
| Before you drift dive into the coast of Florida or | | | | that, settle for a thick, full suit instead of shorties. |
| explore the underwater splendor of Fiji Islands, allow | | | | Getting the entire body insulated from the chilly |
| us to impart a few guidelines to help you select a | | | | conditions of the depths is necessary to prevent |
| matching wetsuit that would provide ultimate | | | | hypothermia and provide utmost comfort to the |
| comfort and flexibility as you cruise the depths of | | | | diver as well. |
| your intended diving destination. | | | | Thickness of the Material |
| Shorty or Full Suit? | | | | Neoprene is a compressible garment that has |
| Shop through online retailers and surely you will learn | | | | become the standard material for wetsuits due to its |
| that wetsuits don't come in a single style or design | | | | ability to respond efficiently to changes in pressure |
| for that matter. Some are outfitted with sleeves | | | | with a corresponding shift in volume or aid in the |
| while others are not. A particular wetsuit may be | | | | diver's neutral buoyancy. Warm water dives would |
| designed to wrap around the entire body while | | | | require the neoprene wetsuit to carry a torso |
| another one would only conceal the torso, with the | | | | thickness of 2mm while for cold water dives, torso |
| garment rising a little over the knees. It would save | | | | thickness should vary from 3mm to 5mm where its |
| you time to buy whatever feels right as to price and | | | | application is directly proportional to the drops in |
| preferences, but then common sense would dictate | | | | temperature of a particular dive spot. |
| that wetsuits come in different forms and sizes for a | | | | Be very particular with the size and fit |
| reason. Common terms to encounter include | | | | The one size fits all criteria does not apply to |
| jumpsuits, farmer johns and shorties though selection | | | | wetsuits. As much as possible, the garment should |
| should be focused on the purchase of either shorties | | | | snuggly fit the diver's body since a poor fit around |
| or a full suit. | | | | salient sections, such as the arms and around the |
| If you plan to dive in warm water, particularly in | | | | thighs, allows more water to collect on these areas |
| tropical or subtropical locations, a sturdy piece of | | | | instead of a thin film, which compromises the |
| neoprene shorties will give ample protection and | | | | material's ability to keep you warm. |