When diving in waters more incredible than your body temperature brings down your temperature. In even the warmest tropical waters, you need some thermal protection to keep warm on long dives. Hence, there is a need to wear exposure protection like a wetsuit or dry suit. Another plus of wearing a wet or dry suit is that it protects your skin from the harsh sun, which divers seem not to notice when underwater but still affects our skin.
Here’s a closer look at Scuba Diving Exposure Protection and what you need to look for when buying any:
Rash Guard/ Skins
On the boat or above water while scuba diving or when performing any water sport, a rash guard is the best form of UV protection against sunburnt. It’s not ideal for thermal protection, but it’s still useful. A rash guard (also known as rashie, rash vest, or skin) is a versatile garment that serves many purposes and can be worn as an inner layer or outer garment. Scuba Divers usually wear a rash guard inside their wetsuits as extended periods can cause chafing injuries with the skin constantly in friction with the wetsuit. Additionally, the extra layer of clothing offers a tiny bit more insulation to the diver underwater by adding a layer, especially in the case of a full jumpsuit-type skin.
While selecting a rash guard, if you want maximum protection from the sun, go for a full-sleeve rash guard rather than a short-sleeve one. Also, look for fabrics treated with a special UV coating (not all have UV protection). Some offer up to SPF 200+ protection from the sun’s harmful rays and are tested and approved.
Lightweight and quick-drying rash guards are key to your comfort. They are usually available in nylon, lycra, spandex, or polyester, and some manufacturers even offer antibacterial fabrics as well. A good rash guard is a useful piece to have, even if not for diving but for other water sports, as while sunscreen is only as effective when you apply it, it leaves room for missed spots. A full-sleeved rash guard can give you superior protection from the sun.
Wetsuits
Wetsuits are a basic Scuba diving essential. As we mentioned in our 10 Rules of Buying Scuba Diving Gear post, they are a must-have. The perfect wetsuit needs to have the right fit, thickness, and style.
When you go wetsuit shopping, you have several choices of styles. There’s the Full wetsuit, also known as the full-body wetsuit, with sleeves right up to the wrists and legs to the ankles. Needless to say, it offers full protection and better warmth as it covers most of your body.
Secondly, there’s the Shorty. Shorties, as the name suggests, have short sleeves and end just above the knee. A good choice for warm-water diving, many divers prefer shorties because they allow greater flexibility in movement underwater. They’re also easier to put on and take off than a full-length wetsuit.
Another wetsuit option is the Farmer John/Jane, a two-piece suit. A sleeveless full-length piece is worn with a covering jacket. This style is also available in short form.
Thickness is probably the most important consideration you’ll have to make when buying a wetsuit. It’s critical to keep you warm and toasty during a dive. The thicker the wetsuit, the warmer it will keep you. Some wetsuits have two thicknesses on different parts of the wetsuit. For example, a 5/3 mm wetsuit means the thickness would be 5 mm on the torso and 3 mm on the arms and legs.
Here’s a rough guide to the water temperatures and wetsuit thicknesses often recommended. But remember that it does ultimately depend on your cold threshold and personal preferences; there’s no right or wrong.
- 2 mm: Water temperatures above 85 F
- 3 mm: Water temperatures between 70-85 F
- 5 mm: Water temperatures between 60-70 F
- 6.5 mm: Water temperatures between 50-70 (at these temperatures, the use of a drysuit can also be recommended)
Your wetsuit must fit perfectly for it to be effective. So, trying on wetsuits before you buy any is crucial. If you can put it on quickly, it’s too big for you. Especially since you’ll be wearing your wetsuit when it’s dry on land, a sign of the right fit is a little struggle, huffing and puffing when you put it on. Your Scuba diving wetsuit should feel snug on you, and it will probably think that your movement is restricted, which is normal. There should not be any significant gaps in the underarm or crotch area. However, there may probably be a gap at the small of the back, which is okay. At the same time, the wetsuit shouldn’t be too tight so that it cuts off circulation at your wrists and ankles or restricts movement so much that you can’t even bend your knees in them.
To dive into colder waters, refer to our Scuba Gear Buying Guide on Cold Water Diving Exposure Protection.
