Shopping for your first wetsuit is a big milestone in your scuba diving journey, however selecting that wetsuit isn’t at all times the simplest activity! In partnership with our pals at Scuba.com, we’ve received the last word information for the way to decide on a wetsuit for ladies.
1. Why ought to I select a ladies’s wetsuit?
First up, you is perhaps questioning why you want a selected ladies’s wetsuit. In the event you’ve suffered via a course in a poorly becoming rental swimsuit, you’ll know why! A number of wetsuits are minimize straight up and down, however plenty of our bodies aren’t.
Ladies’s wetsuits are created with our physique proportions in thoughts. Seams and panels are sometimes constructed in a option to permit extra space for hips, boobs, and bums. This makes for a extra flattering swimsuit, however extra importantly, a greater functioning swimsuit.
Your wetsuit works by trapping a skinny layer of water between your pores and skin and the neoprene. That is then warmed up along with your physique warmth, and it’s truly the layer of water which retains you heat. In a badly becoming swimsuit, water will simply flush via and make you chilly all through your dives, so a well-fitting swimsuit is necessary for security causes, too!
Having mentioned that, not all ladies’s our bodies are proportioned in the identical manner, so it’s necessary to attempt a couple of manufacturers on to determine which wetsuits will give you the results you want! A few of our curvier group members favour manufacturers reminiscent of Henderson and Naked, while we frequently hear that Fourth Ingredient designs work nicely for slimmer our bodies.
2. What circumstances will you be diving in?
It is a fairly apparent one, however the temperature you’ll be diving in would be the largest think about selecting a wetsuit. Will you principally be diving in colder water? Or are you a tropical traveller heading to hotter temperatures?
The colder the water temperature, the thicker the wetsuit you’ll need – extra on that in a second. Nonetheless, it’s not simply the thickness which will probably be affected by water temperature. There are many types and lengths of wetsuit to select from, too.
In the event you dive in various locations, you may nearly consider your wetsuit as a part of an outfit. You possibly can layer collectively completely different wetsuits or items to attain extra customisable publicity safety. Equipment like hoods, gloves, and boots could make an enormous distinction to your tolerance to chilly.
So will one wetsuit give you the results you want, or are you higher off investing in layers? Moderately than simply going for one swimsuit and hoping for it to cowl quite a lot of circumstances, take into account a few layers. You may select a 2mm shorty and a 5mm full swimsuit, for instance, to provide you choices for a number of temperatures.
3. What thickness do you have to select for the temperature?
So what wetsuit thickness do you have to select for scuba diving in several temperatures? Right here’s a tough information to make use of as a place to begin.
| Temperature ºC | Temperature ºF | Publicity |
|---|---|---|
| 30ºC or above | 86ºF or above | Divewear, rash guard, or swimwear |
| 27-29ºC | 80-85ºF | 2-3mm, both shorty or full |
| 24-26ºC | 75-79ºF | 3-5mm full swimsuit |
| 20-23ºC | 68-74ºF | 5-7mm full swimsuit and equipment (hood) |
| 17-19ºC | 63-66ºF | 7mm full swimsuit and thicker equipment (hood, gloves) |
| 14-16ºC | 57-61ºF | 7mm semi-dry |
| 13ºC or beneath | 55ºF or beneath | Drysuit |
Nonetheless, keep in mind that non-public tolerances to chilly can range massively. If you understand you run scorching, select one thing thinner. Really feel the coolness shortly? Go for the subsequent thickness up, or be ready so as to add a layer beneath or on high.
4. What different options do you want?
When you’ve dialled in your wetsuit thickness resolution, you may take into consideration among the different options to look out for when selecting your wetsuit. These could make an enormous distinction to your wetsuit’s match, consolation, and its suitability on your diving model.
Flexibility
As an entire, wetsuits have change into much more versatile over time as neoprene expertise has superior. Nonetheless, some wetsuits are nonetheless extra versatile than others. Selecting a swimsuit which boasts a versatile materials will probably be far more comfy above and beneath the water.
It’s additionally an ideal alternative in case you have any mobility points, because it makes getting out and in of your swimsuit rather a lot simpler.
Zips
Sure, each wetsuit could have zips. However the place they’re could make an enormous distinction in how nicely you get on along with your wetsuit. Attempt on quite a lot of again zips and entrance zips to see which you discover simpler. On thicker fits, you may even take into account types with diagonal zips.
Ankle and wrist zips could be one other nice characteristic to look out for. Once more, these could make donning and doffing a lot simpler, they usually may also assist forestall water flushing via your swimsuit.
Customized Sizing
If the dimensions charts aren’t wanting promising, take into account selecting a customized wetsuit. Though it’s not the most cost effective choice, having an ideal match is a profit price paying for. With some customized wetsuits, you can even select so as to add options like particular zip placements, or in-built hoods.
5. Full size or shorty?
In terms of hotter climes, you may both go for a full size wetsuit or a “shorty”. It is a wetsuit with quick legs and arms. There are variations of those, some with even shorter legs, some with vest-style sleeves, and so forth.
A shorty could be nice for permitting flexibility as you may simply bend on the elbows and knees. In the event you’re somebody who runs scorching, having extra pores and skin uncovered to the water might help you regulate your physique temperature in heat circumstances.
Nonetheless, neoprene doesn’t simply preserve you shielded from the water temperature. Even divers with the perfect buoyancy may very well be caught in a sneaky present and swept right into a rogue fireplace coral. Selecting a full size wetsuit even for heat water may assist to guard you from bumps, scrapes, and people pesky invisible stingers floating within the water!
6. What’s the cope with semi-dry wetsuits?
If the phrases “7mm semi-dry” left you scratching your head, we’ve received you! A semi-dry wetsuit is thicker, and has extra superior zips and seals to stop water getting into the swimsuit. With a well-fitting semi-dry swimsuit, your core ought to stay dry through the dive.
Even staying a bit extra dry will make an enormous distinction to how chilly you’re feeling. Semi-dry fits are a incredible choice for stepping into barely colder waters in the event you’re not able to make the leap into diving in a drysuit.
What wetsuit will you be selecting? Share your wetsuit journey with our group!
Disclaimer: This text is sponsored by Scuba.com, nonetheless all views are our personal. Sponsorships assist us develop the Women that Scuba group and frequently supply useful and galvanizing content material.
