The Difference Between Wetsuits and Dry Suits

When it comes to diving, maintaining body warmth underwater is crucial to ensure a safe and comfortable experience. Exposure suits, such as wetsuits and drysuits, play a vital role in slowing down heat loss and protecting your skin from the elements. In this article, we will delve into the key differences between wetsuits and drysuits, helping you determine which suit best suits your needs.

The Importance of Exposure Suits

Heat Loss and Thermal Protection

Submerging your body in water results in rapid heat loss. Even in warm tropical waters, prolonged dives can still lead to a significant drop in body temperature. This is why wearing an exposure suit is essential to retain heat and prevent hypothermia. These suits act as insulators, reducing the rate of heat loss and ensuring you stay warm throughout your dive.

Sun Protection

While underwater, it's easy to forget about the sun's harmful rays. However, exposure to UV radiation can still affect your skin, leading to sunburn and long-term damage. Exposure suits provide an additional layer of protection against the sun's rays, safeguarding your skin during dives.

Understanding Wetsuits

What is a Wetsuit?

A wetsuit is a specialized garment designed to keep divers warm and protected in water. It is typically made of neoprene, a synthetic rubber material known for its excellent insulating properties. The unique construction of a wetsuit allows it to trap a thin layer of water between the diver's body and the suit, which is then warmed by body heat, providing insulation against the cold.

How Does a Wetsuit Work?

Wetsuits work on the principle of trapping and retaining body heat. The neoprene material used in wetsuits has small air pockets that reduce heat transfer, effectively insulating the diver's body. As water seeps into the suit, it forms a thin layer that gets warmed by the body, creating a thermal barrier. This trapped water, combined with the insulating properties of the neoprene, helps to regulate the diver's body temperature in cold water environments.

Advantages of Wetsuits

Flexibility: Wetsuits are known for their flexibility, allowing divers to move comfortably underwater. The neoprene material is stretchy and molds to the body, providing a snug fit.

Buoyancy: Wetsuits offer inherent buoyancy, which can be advantageous for divers who require additional flotation during their dives.

Protection: Wetsuits provide a layer of protection against abrasions, stings, and minor cuts, safeguarding divers from potential hazards in the water.

Limitations of Wetsuits

Thermal Protection: While wetsuits offer insulation, they are better suited for temperate and warm water conditions. In extremely cold waters, the insulating properties may not be sufficient.

When should I use a wetsuit?

Wetsuits are typically used to prevent you from getting too cold when diving in waters that are 50-89 degrees Fahrenheit. Wetsuits come in a variety of thicknesses and with different levels of coverage. For warmer waters you may choose to wear just a short wetsuit that covers the core but leaves the legs and arms intact, and for colder waters you may need a full-length wetsuit that is 7 millimeters thick. Everyone feels the cold differently and has personal preferences for style and thickness, but here's a rough guide to which wetsuit is right for which water temperature:

82-89°F (28-32°C): wetsuit or 1mm short wetsuit

75-84°F (24-29°C): 3mm full-length wetsuit

65-75°F (18-24°C): 5 mm full-length wetsuit

50-65°F (10-18°C): 7 mm full-length wetsuit

When choosing a wetsuit, you may also need to consider sun exposure and hazards in the water. Covering your arms and legs may not be necessary for warmth, but if the dive site is prone to jellyfish, a wetsuit can help protect you. They also provide sun protection.

Exploring Drysuits

What is a Drysuit?

Unlike wetsuits, which allow water to enter and form a thin layer for insulation, dry suits are designed to keep the diver completely dry throughout the dive. A drysuit is typically made of waterproof material such as Gore-Tex or vulcanized rubber and features watertight seals at the wrists, neck, and ankles.

How Does a Drysuit Work?

Drysuits work by creating a barrier between the diver and the water, preventing any water from entering the suit. Unlike wetsuits, which rely on water for insulation, drysuits rely on thermal undergarments and occasionally heated undergarments to provide warmth. The air trapped inside the drysuit acts as an additional insulating layer, helping to maintain the diver's body temperature.

Advantages of Drysuits

Thermal Protection: Drysuits are highly effective in cold water conditions. By keeping the diver completely dry, they eliminate the risk of hypothermia associated with prolonged exposure to cold water.

Versatility: Drysuits can be used in various water temperatures, making them suitable for both cold and warm-water dives. The diver can adjust the undergarments to accommodate different conditions.

Customization: Drysuits can be tailored to fit the diver's specific measurements, ensuring maximum comfort and mobility underwater.

Limitations of Drysuits

Buoyancy Control: Drysuits do not offer inherent buoyancy and may require the use of additional weight systems to achieve proper buoyancy control.

Mobility: Drysuits can restrict mobility compared to wetsuits due to their bulkier nature. Proper training and practice are essential to maneuver comfortably in a dry suit.

When should I use a drysuit?

You should wear a wetsuit when the temperature is below about 50 ° F/10 ° C. Some divers may even choose to switch to a drysuit instead of a wetsuit at higher temperatures to ensure an enjoyable dive is not interrupted by shivering. Wetsuits work by using an insulating layer to heat the small amount of water that enters the suit and sits between the neoprene and your skin. Drysuits are designed to keep you completely dry - this keeps you warmer more effectively as our body temperature gets colder much faster in water than in air. Technical divers use drysuits even in warmer water temperatures, due to the fact that they spend much more time underwater than recreational divers and need to ensure they stay warm throughout.

Choosing the Right Suit for You

When deciding between a wetsuit and a drysuit, consider the following factors:

Water Temperature: Wetsuits are suitable for warmer waters, while drysuits are preferred for colder conditions.

Dive Duration: If you plan on longer dives or diving in colder waters, a drysuit will provide superior thermal protection.

Mobility and Comfort: Wetsuits offer greater flexibility and ease of movement, while dry suits may feel bulkier but can be tailored for a better fit.

By assessing your diving needs and the conditions you will encounter, you can make an informed decision about the type of exposure suit that best suits your requirements.