Should i wear a wetsuit

Wetsuits are designed to keep you warm, without anything special to be worn underneath. If particular circumstances arise for which you will need extra clothing underneath, such as changing in public or renting a wetsuit and feel comfortable wearing something underneath , there are several options.

Often, the water activity you will be performing will dictate the best undergarments you can wear:. While you can wear two wetsuits, this will impair and restrict your mobility in the water severely. There are many different opinions on this question. The answer is, you have to do and go with what works best for you, whether this means wearing a speedo or going full-on commando.

The main reason divers and water athletes choose to wear undergarments underneath their wetsuit is for added layers translating into added warmth in colder temperatures, both in and out of the water. It is also essential to consider the temperature of the wind and air out of the water when deciding on additional undergarments.

Choosing the right material and type of undergarment is also crucial: one-piece, two-piece, and full-body options are all available. Instead of going with a thicker wetsuit, which restricts movement and draining their energy faster, many choose to wear thin layers underneath, serving as additional layering and insulation. All in all, added undergarments provide an additional layer of protection against any form of abrasions, including cuts and scrapes, as well as bites and stings.

While many divers opt to go nude underneath their wetsuits, it can be uncomfortable and painful due to your skin continually rubbing against the inside of the neoprene material, causing chafing and soreness.

Another reason why many divers and water athletes choose to wear undergarments is for decency purposes. For this reason, most divers and water athletes opt to wear undergarments, as changing in public places such as boats or a busy beach is often the norm.

Wearing a bathing suit or speedo will allow you the appropriate coverage while changing in public. If you are a little wet and sweaty, if you are attempting to put on a wetsuit in your hotel, the constant tugging and pulling might lead to possibly tearing the suit. Your fingernails can even rip out small chunks of your suit if you are struggling too much. In this instance, cool off a little and dry yourself with a towel before slipping into the suit.

That way, you and the wetsuit are both dry. In case you are diving in warm waters and do not need extra layers or added protection, but would still like added protection for your private regions, especially if you are renting your wetsuit, men can opt for a diving brief. Some of these garments come in thin, lightweight lycra material. This is what gives neoprene the thermal insulating properties for use in water. This foaming process also gives neoprene its buoyant properties too.

Scuba divers need to add weight to compensate for this added buoyancy in order descend. More Reading : How does a buoyancy control device work?

It has been used in a number of other applications too. Heat transfer or heat conduct is the transfer of energy between objects that are in physical contact with each other. If this heat transfer can be slowed by using certain materials , this is what creates thermal insulation. Foamed neoprene offers good thermal insulation because it contains small bubbles of nitrogen gas. Nitrogen is a poor conductor of heat, which is what makes it the perfect thermal insulator. With foamed neoprene, this heat transfer occurs mainly through diffusion.

This in turn reduces heat loss from your body, and is what creates the thermal insulation needed in water. The thicker the foamed neoprene or the thicker your wetsuit, the better the thermal insulation in water. One of the reasons why you feel hungry after scuba diving is because of the extra heat loss underwater. You can burn up to calories per hour scuba diving , and heat loss is a main contributor to this. In water we loose heat 25 times faster than on land, which is why you need to be thermally insulated with an exposure suit like a wetsuit.

More Reading : How does scuba diving burn calories? Anything much below these temperatures you are better to us a semi-dry suit or a drysuit. In addition to considering water temperature, you also need to consider the activity you are doing, i. Plus consider your own personal sensitivity to getting cold. Which of course is different for everyone and is different between men and women too.

With a better understanding of how a wetsuit works, lets now consider what to wear under a wetsuit. More Reading : Why am I so hungry after scuba diving? Take a read of this article about a lizard that can breathe underwater from a scuba-tank like bubble …I was fascinated when I read this!

You must bear in mind that whatever you wear under your wetsuit will get wet, which means if you wear nothing, only you get wet. Yes you heard me right, you can be completely naked underneath your wetsuit. In fact by having nothing between your wetsuit and your skin lessens the amount of water that can get in. This in turn will help your body to warm a thinner layer of water up. However, the option of going naked under your wetsuit is more challenging if you are planning to change in a public place.

Women wetsuit wearers have more bits to cover up than men and are more likely to get unwanted attention. Let alone trying to do this at the same time as trying to cover your naked body. The last thing you need is to get yourself arrested for indecent exposure!

But for comfort purposes choose a pair of less bulky board shorts. You can also surf comfortably in the midwinter sea. A full order is recommended to increase the heat retention effect of the wetsuit. If you measure your body and use a wetsuit that fits your body shape, you will be comfortable with almost no water ingress.

I am surfing in Japan. I can surf in trunks for a short time. However, I wear a wetsuit spring type. Because I love surfing and stay in the ocean for at least 3 hours. Surfing is the best pleasure. I want to surf for as long as possible. Wetsuits give you buoyancy. Surfing is a dangerous sport. Even if you are swallowed by the waves, your body will float faster because of its buoyancy. The leash code may be cut.

You may be separated from the surfboard. Even in such a case, if you have a wet suit, your body will float. Wetsuits are one of the safety equipment. Especially beginners should wear it.

If you are swallowed by the waves, the fins and nose of your surfboard may injure you. Also, in the case of a reef surf spot, you may be injured by being swallowed by the waves and hitting the reef.

In cases like the one above, a wetsuit will protect your body. The most important things are that you are comfortable, confident, and appropriately dressed for the temperature of the water. All that being said, wetsuits are an excellent choice for surfers of all ages and ability levels. Here are the pros and cons of surfing in a wetsuit :.

Tip 1 — pay attention to the stitching. Tip 2 — consider the thickness.