How Does a Wetsuit Work?
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The Wetsuit
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For those involved in a range of water sports, a wetsuit is a necessary piece of equipment. Wetsuits are protective clothing designed to be worn in the water during such activities as windsurfing, surfing and scuba diving. Wetsuits help the wearer by preserving body heat and providing needed insulation. Wetsuits can also protect the body from jellyfish, sharp coral and other underwater hazards.
How Does it Work?
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Wetsuits are made of a thin synthetic rubber fabric called neoprene. Neoprene contains hundreds of small nitrogen bubbles that help insulate the wearer. The wetsuit itself provides protection from cold water but it serves another important purpose. It also allows a layer of water to be trapped next to the skin. As the swimmer's body heat warms up the water layer, it acts as an additional insulator. Because water can sap heat from the body up to 25 times faster than air, people can get hypothermia (drop in body temperature) much faster in water than on land.
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Different Types of Wetsuits
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There are different thicknesses and styles of wetsuits, depending on what they will be used for. In colder environments, thicker neoprene wetsuits are worn, while a light flexible suit works for tropical waters. Different shapes affect the way a wetsuit works. A full body suit, known as a steamer, covers the torso and the whole arms and legs. A shorty just covers the torso. Long johns cover the whole leg but come up to a bib overall front and do not cover the arms. Wetsuits generally have no feet or hood as they are designed to lock in body heat at the core rather than at the extremities.
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