Using A Wetsuit While Freediving – What To Know

If you have ever observed other people swimming in the ocean or engaging in any number of water activities, you have probably noticed someone wearing a wetsuit at one point or another. Wetsuits are useful pieces of equipment that can enhance a particular experience of a person while in the water. However, the question here is whether or not wetsuits are useful for freedivers. In this article, we break down everything you need to know so that you can make your own informed decision.

What Is A Wetsuit?

A wetsuit is a form-fitting, compression material suit that, when worn by a diver, aids in insulating heat near the body. They are constructed from layers of insulating materials and can protect a diver from ultraviolet rays and abrasive surfaces that a diver might encounter while diving.

How Does A Wetsuit Work?

Wetsuits are designed to prevent the loss of body heat to the surrounding water. Water is a good conductor of heat and when the human body is submerged, the water can suck heat from the body, which can lead to serious problems such as hypothermia. Wetsuits prevent this loss of body heat by insulting the diver’s natural body heat within the suit, which prevents the loss of heat to the surrounding water.

Wetsuits are constructed from different insulating layers of materials which all have their specific purposes. The outer layer of the wetsuit usually consists of some sort of tough, abrasion resistant material. Within the inner layers of the wetsuit is a material known as neoprene. This is the technology that gives many of today’s modern wetsuits their effective insulating properties. Neoprene is a spongy material that is infused with gas bubbles (usually nitrogen). These bubbles are not good conductors of heat and they serve a key factor in the neoprene’s ability to keep body heat within the suit. Some wetsuits take their insulation layers a step further and include some sort of heat reflecting metal liner within the suit.

Contrary to what many people believe, wetsuits don’t actually keep divers dry while wearing them. On the contrary, they actually keep divers warm by allowing a thin layer of water into the suit. This layer of water is suspended between the area that lies between the diver’s skin and the inner surface of the suit. Since the wetsuit is designed to keep the diver’s body heat in, the thin layer of water is heated by the natural body heat that is emitted from the diver’s skin. That warm water is held against the diver while they swim, and warmth is retained. A wetsuit literally allows you to wear warm water while you swim around in cold water.

Why Do People Use Wetsuits

There are a number of reasons why people might choose to wear a wetsuit. The obvious being that they help keep the wearer of the suit warm while engaging in activities that involve cold water environments. If you have ever tried swimming in cold water, you have likely noticed how your activities can be cut short once your internal body temperature begins to drop.

Another benefit of wearing a wetsuit is the protection they offer against ultraviolet rays. If you are going to be out in the water and beneath the harmful rays of the sun for an extended period of time, you would be wise to protect yourself from potential damage to your skin. Many modern-day wetsuits offer UV protection to the person wearing them. So, if you happen to be wearing a full-body wetsuit, you can relax in knowing that you have full body protection from the sun without having to reapply sunscreen to the parts of your body that are covered by the suit.

Yet another benefit to wetsuits is the protection they offer to a diver’s skin against abrasions and harmful surfaces. Wetsuits are durable and can serve as a protective shield against surfaces that can irritate and potential cut your skin. If you have ever been in the ocean and had the misfortune of being toppled by a wave, you know first hand how painful it can be as you are smeared along the coarse, sandy ocean floor. Additionally, if you are going to be doing any activity near rocks or rough or sharp surfaces, a wetsuit can offer you the protection you need against these surfaces.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Using A Wetsuit While Freediving

Whenever you utilize a piece of equipment for freediving, there is going to be a give and take in terms of advantages and disadvantage. One of the main disadvantages of a wetsuit is the buoyancy that comes with the neoprene. Neoprene is the material that insulates the suit and keeps your body heat sealed within. It accomplishes this through the use of nitrogen filled gas bubbles within the fabric. These bubbles help to keep in heat that is generated from your body whereas this heat would normally be absorbed by the cool water that surrounds you. The problem here is that these bubbles are buoyant and will work against you as you attempt to dive. You will have to work harder to dive while wearing a wetsuit. Its entirely possible that you may have to incorporate a weight belt in order to effective dive, depending on how thick and, thus, how buoyant your suit is.

Additionally, wetsuits compromise your ability to move within the water. Remember that these suits are meant to be snug against your body. This way water can be trapped against your skin while your body heats that water and, in turn, your body temperature will be maintained within the suit. However, a snug suit will also affect your range of motion and your mobility. Your normal swimming stroke will be impacted as your work against the resistance of the wetsuit.

What Are The Different Types Of Wetsuits

Closed Cell Wetsuit – The Neoprene that insulates the suite is covered on both the inside of the suite (where it touches your skin) and the outside of the suite (where it is exposed to the water) with lycra or nylon or some sort of protective fabric. This fabric offers protection to the neoprene and increases the overall durability of the suit.

Open Cell Wetsuit – There is no fabric or lining on the interior side of the neoprene. The rubbery neoprene material is in direct contact with your skin. This means that your body is extra warm, however, the rubbery neoprene can cling to your skin, which can make it difficult to get on and off. You may actually have to rub a lubricant over the material to enable you to pull these suits on and off.

Smooth Skin Wetsuit – There is no fabric on either the inner side or the outer side of the neoprene. These suits have less fiction than their counterparts that have a fabric lining the outer and/or inner layers. However, these wetsuits tend to be more fragile because they lack a protective layer that would otherwise be provided by fabric.

Hooded Wetsuits (or Separate Hoods Entirely) – Many suits wither come with a hood attached to them or you might see where you can buy a separate hood to wear on your head as an add-on to a wetsuit that you already own. These are beneficial because so much body heat is lost through the head when you are in cold environments. These hoods can prevent that by insulating your head.

Two-Piece Wetsuits – As the name implies, these suits come separated into the top and bottom. These allow for a greater range of motion while being more form fitting to the diver. These can be beneficial if you are using an open cell design and the neoprene is clinging to your skin. A two-piece suit can be easier to get on and off and still be functionally sound.

How Thick Should A Wetsuit Be For Freediving

Below is just a general recommendation for the thickness of wetsuits in comparison to the water temperatures that you are planning on diving in.

65F -75F: 3/2 mm to 2 mm

60F – 65F: 3/2 mm to 2 mm

55F – 60F: 4/3 mm

50F – 55F: 4/3 mm to 5/4/3 mm

45F – 50F: 5/4/3 mm to 6/5/4 mm

Below 45F: 6/5/4 mm

What Is The Best Type Of Wetsuit For Freediving

The overall goal when it comes to selecting a wetsuit for freediving is to select the thinnest wetsuit possible. Earlier, we mentioned that the neoprene that insulates the suit contains gas bubbles and these bubbles make the suit buoyant. The thicker the neoprene layer of the suit, the more buoyant the suit becomes. As you become more buoyant, you will have to work harder to descend into the water and you may have to add weight onto your body to counteract the buoyancy. This is why you want to select a thin wetsuit that will keep you adequately warm but not make you over buoyant.

You will also want to select a wetsuit that is well tapered to your body. Overly baggy suits or suits that are too constrictive can inhibit your ability to maneuver in the water. This is why many freedivers use two-piece wetsuits. When picking out a two-piece wetsuit, you can mix and match the sizing of the top and bottom of the suit depending on the shape of your body. This will allow you to get an extremely comfortable fit.

Beyond the thickness and the cut of the wetsuit, the style of suit is a matter of personal preference. Closed cell wetsuits are generally more durable due to the fabric that overlays the neoprene on both the outside and the inside. This is why scuba divers typically use these suits since they can withstand the abuse that comes from all the diving equipment that the divers wear. Open cell wetsuits offer outer durability while being extremely warm on the inner layer. These are a good “middle road” when selecting a wetsuit for freediving. However, smooth skin wetsuits offer flexibility and minimal resistance when diving, which makes these suits a preference among many freedivers.

Do I Need A Wetsuit For Freediving?

The short answer is, no. Wetsuits are not necessary for freediving. However, they are beneficial and they can enhance your experience. The important thing to remember is to choose a wetsuit that is a minimum thickness but still keeps you warm and doesn’t make you overly buoyant. You want to be able to enjoy the water and dive as long as possible and the right wetsuit can help you accomplish this.