As always never dive with equipment you have not been trained to use.
Diving equipment is expensive so we want it to last as long as possible, with a little care you can get long, safe life out of your equipment. Remember to protect your investment.
A wet suit works by trapping a layer of water next to your skin your body warms the water and with the neoprene insulation it keeps you warm. If the wetsuit is too loose the water will flush through and you will freeze, too tight and it will become difficult to breath and restrict blood circulation.
NEVER BUY A SUIT THAT YOU HAVE NOT TRIED ON FIRST.
Having bought the suit, now you need to look after it. This will protect your investment and make sure it lasts as long as possible.
There are a few simple rules to follow. The first of which is, as soon as you can after use lean fresh water. Don’t forget to turn it inside out and give the inside a rinse as well. Make sure you remove any sand and grit pay attention to the zip, cuff and neck areas.
Hang it up to dry, initially inside out – that’s the bit that’s going to be next to your skin so its best to get it dry first. Once the inside is dry then turn it the right side out and dry the outer.
A good hanger really helps the drying process, we use C-Monsta hangers that have separate formers for gloves, boots and the wetsuit itself.
When you hang the wetsuit don’t put it in direct sunlight for long periods and certainly never store your suit where it is exposed to direct sunlight.
After your holiday when you have unpacked, give the wetsuit a final wash its nice to use Zybax wetsuit cleaner and odour eliminator. This will mean that it is fresh and pleasant ready for the next time you use it.
Give the wetsuit a good inspection making sure there are no tears. Neck wrist and ankle seals may be damaged when taking the suit off, they should be tight, always handle them with care and try to avoid pulling on any stitching.
Some repairs can be made if you are very careful using Aquasure repair adhesive.
Its also worth giving the zips a clean and lubrication with zipcare just to keep them free and working without snagging the inner seal.
When you store the suit hang it somewhere warm and dry with the zips undone to keep the insides fresh and dry.