Diving Suits

Posted on November 14, 2008

Diving suits are what divers normally wear when diving and are generally categorized into two kinds: soft and hard diving suits. They are used to protect the divers from different elements to which s/he is exposed when diving. These elements may include pressure, water, wind, even animals. Diving suits are designed to fit specific dive sites and the conditions in these sites.

Ambient Pressure Suits

Ambient pressure suits are also referred to soft diving suits and are further divided into four main types: wetsuits, dry suits, semi-dry suits, and dive skins. Ambient pressure suits are not limited to use by divers but are also used for thermal protection by water sports enthusiasts. Soft diving suits protect divers from the cold, abrasive, and sharp objects as well as dangerous underwater life but do not offer protections against water pressure. They are made of heavy-duty plastic coated fiber called neoprene and are subject to added buoyancy when used underwater.

Wetsuits are inexpensive soft suits used for water temperatures between 10 to 25°C and are constructed rather simply. Dry suits, on the other hand, are thicker than wetsuits and may be used in water temperatures as low as -2 to -15°C with seals at the wrists and neck to prevent water from entering the suits. Typical dry suits have air-vent vales that allow the diver to control the pressure while ascending from a dive. They may be made from neoprene or thinner materials, such as vulcanized rubber or laminated nylon layers. Semi-dry suits are used in water temperatures ranging from 10 to 20°C and are thicker wet suits with better seals at the neck, wrists, and ankles. They are made from neoprene and are cheaper than dry suits. Dive skins are the thinnest dive suits available on the market and may be used in water temperatures above 25°C. Dive skins are made from spandex, offer little thermal protection.

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