Water is not mens natural environment and since we can not breathe underwater a jump into the sea is always also a bit of a jump into the unknown. Of course fear is not the reason to wear a wetsuit, there are many much better reasons, but a wetsuit will also give you some comfort.
So in this article I will list the main reasons why should you wear a wetsuit and what are the benefits of wearing one.
1) Protection against cold water. Cold water can cause hypothermia and at the end even death. Because water is 25 times more heat-conducting than air you can become hypothermic even in summer and at times when you actually don’t think that the water is so cold. But if you stay in to long your body temperature will drop. So many times it is wise to wear a wetsuit even in the summer and in warm water, if you stay in for a long time.
How does the wetsuit keep you warm? A thin layer of water comes between your body and the wetsuit. Body heats it and the wetsuit prevents the heat from escaping further, hence you have an insulation layer. Because neoprene contains many bubbles the air in them also acts as great insulation. This of course only works if fresh cold water doesn’t constantly flush your wetsuit. So your wetsuits should be tight fitting, snug.
2) Wetsuits can also serve as protection against your own equipment, somebody else’s equipment, rocks, corals etc… So even if the water is warm it is sometimes wise to wear a thin wetsuit for protection. There are for instance special swimming wetsuits that protect you from jellyfish if you are swimming in areas that have lots of them.
3) Wetsuit improves your buoyancy. Because it contains many air bubbles it will help you stay on the water surface. But this effect is not so big that you could depend on it as you would depend on a life vest. Before enjoying water sports you need to know how to swim. And not just swim – you need to know hot to swim good! Wetsuit can help you be more confident in the water when you are learning how to swim, but it is not a substitute for your swimming abilities.
These are the main reasons why most of us today could not imagine our world without a wetsuit.
