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 what are the main three reasons why should you wear a wetsuit? I will list them here and then we will take a look at each one of them in more depth. 1. Wetsuit will keep you warm. 2. Wetsuit will give you extra protection. 3. Wetsuit will improve your buoyancy.
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.
Wetsuit keeps you warm by catching a thin layer of water between your skin and the neoprene. This water is heated by your body heat and acts as insulation together with the neoprene itself. Neoprene is full of small closed cells - bubbles that are filled with air and act as insulation. The only danger here is that your wetsuit is to big for you and that fresh cold water will constantly rush in and flush the warm water out. So be careful when you buy your wetsuit.
2) Wetsuits as protection. I covered protection against cold but wetsuits also act as protection against physical damage. The soft, rubbery neoprene will dampen the blows if you hit a rock, coral or your own or somebody else's equipment. For instance in surfing really shallow reef, if you are not 100% confident that you will make it, wear a wetsuit and save some skin.
3) Buoyancy. Aside from that, wetsuits can protect poor swimmers. Due to the buoyant nature of neoprene, it will help you float better. It is not a life-vest, but it'll help.
These are the main reasons why most of us today could not imagine our world without a wetsuit.
So what are the main three reasons why should you wear a wetsuit? I will list them here and then we will take a look at each one of them in more depth. 1. Wetsuit will keep you warm. 2. Wetsuit will give you extra protection. 3. Wetsuit will improve your buoyancy.
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.
Wetsuit keeps you warm by catching a thin layer of water between your skin and the neoprene. This water is heated by your body heat and acts as insulation together with the neoprene itself. Neoprene is full of small closed cells - bubbles that are filled with air and act as insulation. The only danger here is that your wetsuit is to big for you and that fresh cold water will constantly rush in and flush the warm water out. So be careful when you buy your wetsuit.
2) Wetsuits as protection. I covered protection against cold but wetsuits also act as protection against physical damage. The soft, rubbery neoprene will dampen the blows if you hit a rock, coral or your own or somebody else's equipment. For instance in surfing really shallow reef, if you are not 100% confident that you will make it, wear a wetsuit and save some skin.
3) Buoyancy. Aside from that, wetsuits can protect poor swimmers. Due to the buoyant nature of neoprene, it will help you float better. It is not a life-vest, but it'll help.
These are the main reasons why most of us today could not imagine our world without a wetsuit.
About the Author:
Clement C. has been wearing wetsuits for many years while swimming and surfing in cold ocean. If you need more information on wetsuits check out his website where he will also help you find the wetsuit thickness and water temperature chart and answer any other questions you might have.
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