Choose the right wetsuit

Probably the most effective thing you can do to stay warm while diving is to choose the right wetsuit for you. So how do wetsuits work? Wetsuits are supposed to be tight fitting, but they still allow some water inside. The water stays in the small gap between your skin and the wetsuit. Your body heats this small amount of water and the water acts as insulation to help keep you warm.

As well as this layer of water, the wetsuit itself has layers to help keep you warm. Just like on a cold winter’s morning, you would wear layers of clothes (scarf, sweater, jacket, etc), the wetsuit works under the same principle. Multiple layers of thinner material on top of each other work better to warm you up than one thick layer. The layers of the wetsuit trap air in between them which act as an insulator, too.

Neoprene is one of these wetsuit layers. Neoprene is a rubbery material that contains trapped bubbles which are a great insulator. All of these layering factors are what makes wetsuits perfect for keeping you warmer for longer underwater.

How to choose the right wetsuit

So now we know how wetsuits work, we can explore how to choose the right wetsuit. Firstly, get a wetsuit that fits you very well, if it’s too loose (especially on the neck, ankles and wrists) then too much water will leak in and it can’t be insulated by the body. Instead, it will just make us cold.

Next, choose an appropriate wetsuit for the environment. If you’re diving in tropical waters, a shorty would probably be enough to keep you warm for a dive, but if you’re diving in a lake in Europe, you’ll probably need a 7mm.

If you develop holes or rips in your wetsuit, fix them with a patch or neoprene glue, to avoid leaks. Leaks can add too much water to the gap between your body and the wetsuit, and make you cold.

Wetsuits wear down over time. Because they compress so many times on dives, they lose some of their thickness, and therefore some of their warmth. This is why it’s better to buy new instead of second hand. Even if the used wetsuit looks in good condition, it’s probably not as warm as a brand new one.

Wear a hood, gloves, vest, boots

As well as a wetsuit, you can choose to add extra layers to help keep you warm while diving. We lose a lot of our body heat through our head. A hood is a great piece of diving equipment to help us stay warmer while diving for longer. Hoods are made from the same material as wetsuits are, and work in the same way. It won’t keep your head from getting wet but it will insulate it.

Having cold fingers is a horrible feeling. While wearing a wetsuit your core and limbs can be nice and warm but your fingers could be almost numb from the cold. Diving gloves can be added to keep them toasty.

Cold feet are as bad as cold hands. Dive boots aren’t just for walking to dive sites that are by rocky terrain. They also help to keep your feet warm. You can buy boots in different thicknesses depending on where you will dive.

Finally, a diving vest can be added under your wetsuit for an extra layer of warmth. Some vests even come with a hood attached, this is a great option because it helps to seal the neck to avoid cold water from trickling down your back.