Scuba Wet & Dry Suits

A diving suit is a garment or device designed to protect a diver from the underwater environment. Modern diving suits can be divided into two kinds:

• "soft" or ambient pressure diving suits - examples are wetsuits, drysuits, semi-dry suits and dive skins
• "hard" or atmospheric pressure diving suits - an armored suit that permits a diver to remain at atmospheric pressure whilst operating at depth where the water pressure is high. Main article: atmospheric diving suits.

Ambient Pressure Suits

There are five main types of ambient pressure diving suits:

• wetsuits
• drysuits
• semi-dry suits
• dive skins
• hot water suits

Apart from hot water suits, these types of suit are not exclusively used by divers but are often used for thermal protection by people engaged in other water activities such as surfing, sailing, powerboating, windsurfing, waterskiing, caving and swimming.

Ambient pressure suits are a form of exposure protection protecting the wearer from the cold. They also provide some defence from abrasive and sharp objects as well as potentially harmful underwater life. They do not protect divers from the pressure of the surrounding water or resulting barotrauma and decompression sickness.

The suits are often made from Neoprene, heavy-duty fabric coated with rubber, or PVC.

Added buoyancy, created by the volume of the suit, is a side effect of diving suits. Sometimes a weightbelt must be worn to counteract this buoyancy. Some drysuits have controls allowing the suit to be inflated to reduce "squeeze" caused by increasing pressure; they also have vents allowing the excess air to be removed from the suit on ascent.

Wetsuits

Wetsuits are relatively inexpensive, simple, Neoprene suits that are typically used where the water temperature is between 10 and 25 °C (50 to 80 °F). The foamed neoprene of the suit thermally insulates the wearer. Although water can enter the suit, a tight fitting suit prevents excessive heat loss because little of the water warmed inside the suit escapes from the suit.

Drysuits

Drysuits are used typically where the water temperature is between -2 and 15 °C (28 to 60 °F). The wearer's body is kept generally dry by seals at the neck and wrists. The suit insulates the wearer in one of two main ways: by maintaining pockets of air between the body and the cold water in standard air-containing fabric undergarments beneath the suit (in exactly the way that insulation garments work in air) or via (additional) foamed-neoprene material which contains insulative air, which may be incorporated into the outside of the drysuit itself. These mechanisms work in tandem; drysuits without neoprene foam require more undergarments.

Semi-dry Suits

Semi-dry suits are used typically where the water temperature is between 10 and 20 °C (50 to 70 °F). They are effectively a thick wetsuit with better-than-usual seals at wrist, neck and ankles.

The seals limit the volume of water entering and leaving the suit. The wearer gets wet in a semi-dry suit but the water that enters is soon warmed up and does not leave the suit readily, so the wearer remains warm. The trapped layer of water does not add to the suit's insulating ability. Any residual water circulation past the seals still causes heat loss. But semi-dry suits are cheap and simple compared to dry suits. They are made from thick Neoprene, which provides good thermal protection. They lose buoyancy and thermal protection as the trapped gas bubbles in the Neoprene compress at depth. Semi-dry suits can come in various configurations including a single piece or two pieces, made of 'long johns' and a separate 'jacket'. Semi dry suits do not usually include boots, so a separate pair of insulating boots are worn.

Dive Skins

Dive skins are used when diving in water temperatures above 25 °C, 77 °F. They are made from Spandex and provide little thermal protection, but protect the skin from stings and abrasion. This kind of suit is also known as a 'Stinger Suit'.

Hot Water Suits

Hot water suits are used in cold water commercial surface supplied diving. An insulated pipe in the umbilical line, which links the diver to the surface support, carries the hot water down to the suit. The diver controls the flow rate of the water from a valve near the diver's waist. Pipes inside the suit transport the water to the limbs, front of the torso and back of the torso.

Diving Suit Combinations

• Some divers wear a wetsuit under a membrane drysuit.
• Some divers wear a thin "shorty" wetsuit under a full wetsuit.
• Some divers wear a "skins" under a wetsuit. This practice started with divers (of both sexes) wearing women's body tights under a wetsuit to get a bit of extra warmth.

Wet / Dry Suit Tips

A wetsuit protects your skin against abrasions and insulates you from the water to help maintain your body temperature. This may not seem important in warm Caribbean waters, but on multiple dives you can lose significant body heat. A high-quality, well-fitted suit makes diving more enjoyable. Here are a few things to look for:

Snorkel Tips

HTML clipboardA swimmer's snorkel is a tube about thirty centimeters (twelve inches) long, usually J-shaped, fitted with a reasonably comfortable mouthpiece, and constructed of rubber or plastic. It is used for breathing air from above the water surface when the mouth and nose are submerged, either during a surface swim before or after scuba diving, or during snorkeling.

The most common type of snorkel is a simple tube that is allowed to flood when underwater. The snorkeler expels water from the snorkel with a sharp exhalation on return to the surface. Some modern snorkels have a sump in the mouthpiece to allow a small volume of water to remain in the snorkel without being inhaled when the diver breathes. Some have a one-way output valve in the sump, which automatically drains the sump as it fills with water. Some snorkels have float-operated valves attached to the surface end of the tube to keep water out when the snorkeler submerges.

The maximum length of the tube is around fifty centimeters (twenty inches). A longer tube would place the lungs in deeper water where the surrounding water pressure is higher and the lungs would be unable to inflate when the diver inhales, because the muscles that expand the lungs are not strong enough to operate against the higher pressure.

Snorkel Tips

A snorkel is among the first pieces of gear you will probably buy. While they seem simple, there are a wide selection of purge methods and comfort features. Choose one that:

Scuba Gear – Mask Cleaning and Maintenance

By Anne Clarke

Scuba gear, like many other forms of sport and exploratory equipment, requires care and maintenance in order to last. Ideally, these items will not only last many years, but will also continue providing service which is as good as new.

Although not the most complex article of diving equipment, a scuba mask is no exception. It is a vital item which allows for underwater vision, whether the diving is taking place near Maui, Hawaii or Yongala, Australia.

Here are a few tips for taking optimal care of these items and retaining clear and comfortable sight for many dives to come:

• First time cleaning - Many new articles of scuba gear will come with labels which must be carefully removed. In addition to this, new masks in particular may have an oily residue or remainders of liquid silicone on their lenses or even their straps. Some of this material may be left over from the manufacturing process. The oily film may have been applied to the silicone to protect it during shipping. If left upon the lens, this film may cause the mask to fog up during dives. It may also prevent the mask from sealing to skin correctly, allowing it to slip off at inopportune times.
  To clear away these residues, there are a few cleaning solutions available. The first is a store-bought mask scrub. Be certain to read their instructions closely, as some are harmful for plastics. Other possibilities are to use a non-abrasive liquid dishwashing detergent, or even toothpaste. When toothpaste is utilized, it is important that a gel variety is not selected.
  Follow any of these treatments by rinsing the mask fully in clear and clean water before wearing.
• Travel care - Scuba masks commonly come in a protective case. These cases are ideal for their storage. Replacement cases are often available. For traveling convenience, a scuba gear bag may be purchased with a special pocket intended for holding the mask.
  Before leaving for a vacation which involves diving, it is wise to inspect the mask and ensure that it fits snugly. It (and all other gear) should also be inspected for any wear and tear. Ensure also that the equipment is fully dried before it is packed away.
• General treatment - Avoid leaving the mask in direct sunlight, which can be drying and bleaching. Also, do not place it face down as this may encourage scratches on the lens surface. Always clean the mask with freshwater after use.
• Defogging tips - Saliva and a toothpaste rinse are simple and generally readily available remedies to prevent the fogging up of diving lenses. There are also many commercially prepared defog solutions available for only a few dollars at any dive shop.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on parenting, recreation, and home decor. Her background also includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her useful articles on scuba diving, please visit Scuba Gear, home to useful information on Maui scuba diving and much more.

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