You might have asked why wetsuits are not waterproofed if they are meant to protect you from the cold.

Wetsuits are protective garments worn when you go out to enjoy your surfing, wakeboarding or if you feel like going on a scuba diving tour, especially if the water temperature is low or if you think you will be staying out in the water quite a little longer.

Wearing of wetsuits is necessary when you are playing near or in the waters. It works by maintaining or preserving your body heat to protect you from hypothermia. But why is it not waterproofed if it is meant to maintain your body heat? Below are some facts that might help you understand how wetsuits work.

Wetsuits are made from a very flexible rubber called Neoprene. This material that makes up your scuba diving wetsuit or your surfing wetsuit is waterproofed. However, the entire wetsuit itself is not a waterproofed garment.

This is made so because wetsuits work in protecting your body by letting a small amount of water into it. A wetsuit is designed to have openings at some portions of the suit like the neck, the arms or at the wrist, and the ankles. Although water is not allowed in any other parts of the suit, these openings let a small amount of water to occupy little spaces just right at the surface of your skin.

Once you are submerged in the water, the very minimal water between your body and the suit will eventually be warmed by the body. This will act as the body’s insulator from the cold atmosphere outside. It is also important that the wetsuit should fit you perfectly to avoid baggy areas that will cause more water to enter the suit. When this happens, it body heat could be drained rather than preserved.

This is the mechanism of how wetsuits work, and thus they are not waterproofed. Although the suit is intended to keep you warm while you are in the cold, it does not however keep you dry. So the next time you put on your wetsuit, be prepared to get wet.

Tags: Surfing

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