How to Care for Your Scuba Wetsuit?

Scuba wetsuits are available in different materials, quality, and stitch. They are made in order to suit the requirements of the activity a person may be doing. Each wetsuit has the function that it has to perform while the wearer enjoys the water sport. By this, it doesn’t necessarily mean the wetsuits are equipped with a special mechanism. Although, there are some wetsuits that work on batteries and help to keep the body warm under extreme conditions.

Proper care for wetsuits is vital to keep it working for a longer period of time. The calculation here is pretty simple: the more you use the wetsuit, the more aged it becomes. Hence, buy the wetsuits depending on the hours of use you are going to make. Always select the wetsuits that fit your body well. An ideal scuba wetsuit should give good mobility and flexibility to the body and should not restrict any movements.

Scuba wetsuits are available in hundreds of different patterns, thickness, material, style, cuts, etc. hence the care should be taken pertaining to the type of material used. It is important to know the type of materials used in the making of scuba wetsuits.

Neoprene — This is the most common and standard material used for making wetsuits. They go easy on the skin and obstruct the contact of water from the skin. It’s a type of rubber foam and is typically laminated with other materials that depend on the function of the material.

Standard Nylon Material — In this type of wetsuit, the outer lining of the wetsuit is highly durable as against the normal type of swimwear. It requires normal care that prevents the material from snagging, cuts and abrasions.

Skin Material Wetsuit — This is the material that is usually used inside or outside of the wetsuit. It is typically applied around the wrists, neck areas and ankles. It looks like a rubber material that is smooth and textured. It is usually used in the areas where a tight seal is required around the areas. Additional care is required in this case from preventing the cuts or abrasion to the material.

Thermo Skin Material — This material is used on the inside of the wetsuit. It has a silver color smooth skin type surface. The material has heat reflective properties and offers a sealing surface that is very similar to standard skin materials. The material requires care to protect against the cuts or abrasions. Sharp fingernails can cut the material hence proper care is required.

The wetsuit is made keeping in mind to protect the body from outside creatures and water temperature. The material exteriors are meant to withstand the usual wear and tear during normal dive. Abrasions can cut the material and puncture the exterior nylon surface. Hence care should be taken to avoid such situations.

After you have used the wetsuit, remove wetsuit with care. Firstly unzip the gear completely. Then remove each section at a time, this will help to prevent wetsuit from puncturing any of its panels with the fingernail.

Saltwater use can dry the wetsuits made of neoprene materials, which can adversely affect its flexibility. For saving your wetsuit from losing its flexibility, it’s important to soak and rinse the wetsuit thoroughly after every use. Soak it in the fresh warm water for at least 15 to 20 minutes and after that hose off the suit with fresh water again. Place it on the thick hanger with opened zippers as this will ensure there is maximum air circulation for complete drying. Please take care not to use strong agents for washing.

The extent to which you use your wetsuits often defines the lifespan of the wetsuits. It also largely depends on how you take care of your scuba wetsuit. Remember some of the tips that ensure you take proper care of your wetsuits:

a.Neoprene loses its flexibility in hot water, so soak your suits in lukewarm water.

b. Sun and UV radiation reduce the effectiveness of the material neoprene; hence do not place it for drying in the direct sun.

c. Dry your wetsuits by turning it inside out.

d. Store them properly in a wide hanger or flat surface

e. Clean thoroughly and dry the suit well

f. Never iron your wetsuit

Wetsuits will deteriorate over a period of time by losing its flexibility. The life cycle of the wetsuit heavily relies on the amount of use it has; hence the more the use the faster the chances of it losing flexibility.

Content source: https://medium.com/@evataylor021/how-to-care-for-your-scuba-wetsuit-d7405debfcee

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