Diving is about enjoyment and having the right wetsuit for you and the environment you are diving is the key to maximising your comfort and diving enjoyment.
The best piece of advice you can get in buying a diving wetsuit is to go into your local dive shop and get the advice from one of their instructors (not a salesman) on what suit they dive in and what the would recommend for you.
Adequate Thickness
The first line of defence against cold water is the wetsuit. Its ability to withstand cold is determined by many factors including thickness. A general guide to choosing wetsuit thickness in relation to water temperature is as follows: • Water temperature above 29° – 2mm wetsuit • Water temperature between 21 - 29°C – 3mm wetsuit • Water temperature between 15 - 21°C – 5mm wetsuit • Water temperature between 10 - 15°C – 7mm wetsuit • Anything below – dry suit
For Sydney waters, we recommend a 7mm or a 5mm with a hooded vest for the cooler months. Most of the Abyss instructors use a 7mm all year around and top this up with a hood, hooded vest or thermalution in the colder months.
Minimize Water Flow
When choosing a wetsuit, the fit is crucial to ensure good mobility and to prevent heat loss. The suit should have no baggy or loose spots or large wrinkles in the arms and legs; your suit should be snug in all areas but not uncomfortably tight or restrictive. Again by going into a dive centre you can ensure you get a wetsuit that meets the needs of your body shape
Water flow can also be minimised by the design of the seals (neck, wrist and ankle) along with the zipper. When choosing a wetsuit, discuss this with your instructor and ensure that they explain how to fold the seals to minimise water movement.
Lining of Wetsuit
Modern technology has bought many significant improvements in wetsuit design. One of the more recent improvements has been with wetsuit lining technology. The first improvement was through the use of rapid-dry linings which ensured that the wetsuit would be dry when it was put back on. In recent times OMNIRED Technology has proven to offer the best thermal protection available in the diving industry.
Again the Abyss staff tend to prefer wetsuits using OMNIRED technology as it ensures they stay warm no matter what Sydney diving conditions throw at them.
Omnired Technology
Omnired Technology is the next generation of infrared technology, proven to deliver thermal warmth, protection, and faster recovery. Ominired’s 13-thermo reactive minerals are embedded in the fabric of the material. They convert outbound body heat into thermal energy and reflect it back to the body, allowing divers to maintain their optimal body temperature and stay warm in the water.
This process has been proven in strict scientific studies to outperform similar technologies.
Benefits
Hydrophobic with quick-drying properties
Anti-microbial for defence against bacteria and odour
