How To Maintain A Scuba Diving Wetsuit

Ten Tips For Keeping The Scuba Wetsuit In Good Working Condition

Nov 9, 2008

Keeping scuba diving equipment in good operating condition is vital for safe and enjoyable diving. A scuba diving wetsuit needs to be well maintained.

A good wetsuit is a vital piece of scuba diving equipment, especially in the colder waters of the world. But even the lucky divers who send the majority of their time in the warm tropical waters, such as Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, still need a wetsuit of some kind, if only for protection from the tropical sun or marine stingers.

A scuba wetsuit can be ruined if not cared for properly. The following are ten tips that can help ensure a scuba diving wetsuit will provide many years of faithful diving service.

1) Always rinse the wetsuit in fresh water after use. This ensures no salt crystals form that can cut into the fabric of the suit. The seams are usually the first to go and the suit will eventually just fall apart.

2) Dry the suit after rinsing, hanging in the shade. The ultraviolet of the sun’s rays can damage the suit.

3) The wetsuit must be dry before being put away for storage. Store the suit hanging up or laid out flat. Ensure the neoprene is not kinked or folded. If it is just stuffed in a gear bag, the neoprene will set in that position.

6) While diving, use good buoyancy control to prevent the wetsuit from scaping on coral or hard rocks. This not only damages the suit but also the marine environment.

7) Inspect the suit regularly for any damage. Cuts, tears or fraying stitching should be repaired immediately.

8) Use a suit that fits correctly. Too loose and it will not provide warmth. Too tight it could cause a suit squeeze, and be damaged from being overstretched. The wetsuit must be rated suit for the diving conditions. A thick wetsuit in warm conditions could lead to overheating, especially when waiting to get in the water. A thin wetsuit in cold water diving could lead to hypothermia.

9) Take care putting on a wetsuit. Use a Lycra suit underneath to make the suit slip on easier. Plastic bags on the feet and hands also help.

10) Use the correct weight for the suit and diving conditions. This leads to an improved diving enjoyment as there is less reliance on buoyancy control during the dive. It also provides protection of the underwater environment, the diver and the wetsuit.

The service that a wetsuit gives the diver is dependent on the service that the wetsuit gets.

The copyright of the article How To Maintain A Scuba Diving Wetsuit in Scuba Diving is owned by Bruce Iliff. Permission to republish How To Maintain A Scuba Diving Wetsuit in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.