| Thermal Protection
| |
| | the neoprene, the warmer you'll stay.
|
| While most divers are putting their scuba
| |
| | Also, your wetsuit will decrease heat
|
| equipment into winter storage, others are
| |
| | loss by minimizing the water's movement
|
| gearing up for a season of cold water
| |
| | across your skin. This is why the
|
| diving. It's a great way for you to
| |
| | wetsuit's cut, fit, stretch, seals, and
|
| remain active in the sport throughout the
| |
| | fasteners are important.
|
| year. But, in order to remain a contented
| |
| | A dry suit is the next most common item
|
| and safe diver, you need to know about
| |
| | of exposure protection. It works in much
|
| thermal protection.
| |
| | the same way as a wetsuit, except that it
|
| How the Cold Affects You
| |
| | keeps you dry. A dry suit insulates your
|
| Being exposed to cold conditions has an
| |
| | body by trapping air between your skin
|
| effect on your blood's circulation.
| |
| | and the suit, instead of water.
|
| Usually, blood flow to your skin and
| |
| | As you descend in the water, your wetsuit
|
| appendages is diminished in favor of
| |
| | compresses because of the water's
|
| keeping your vital organs warm. The
| |
| | pressure. This compression of the wetsuit
|
| reduction in circulation happens
| |
| | reduces your buoyancy and thermal
|
| gradually over the course of a dive or
| |
| | protection. The biggest reduction in your
|
| multiple dives. Because of the impaired
| |
| | wetsuit's bulk and insulating protection
|
| blood flow to your body's appendages,
| |
| | occurs in the first thirty-three feet of
|
| finger dexterity is reduced. This can
| |
| | water. There is no way to make up for the
|
| lessen your ability to perform certain
| |
| | lost insulation once you're in the water.
|
| skills such as mask clearing, and the
| |
| | Compensate before the dive by putting on
|
| capabilities to adjust straps and belts
| |
| | extra layers of thermal protection to
|
| or operate snaps and clips.
| |
| | meet the demands of your diving
|
| Moreover, it is thought that the body
| |
| | conditions.
|
| tissues of the skin and extremities will
| |
| | Choosing the proper exposure suit is an
|
| have a reduced off-gassing due to the
| |
| | important part of planning your dive,
|
| decreased blood flow. Thus, you will have
| |
| | whether or not you use a wetsuit or dry
|
| a higher risk of decompression illness
| |
| | suit. By logging water temperatures,
|
| (DCI).
| |
| | depths, bottom times, and thermal
|
| Also, when your body is cold during a
| |
| | protection information, you'll put
|
| dive, your rate of breathing increases,
| |
| | together a statistical reference work for
|
| which means your rate of air consumption
| |
| | future dive planning.
|
| increases, too. As a matter of fact, it
| |
| | Five Strategies For Preserving Body Heat:
|
| will almost double. You'll end up using
| |
| |
|
| more air from your tanks in less time
| |
| | For a more comfortable and ultimately
|
| than if you were doing the same dive
| |
| | safer dive follow these tips for
|
| under warmer conditions. Furthermore,
| |
| | conserving body heat.
|
| you'll have to end your dive with more
| |
| | Stay warm before the dive. Heat loss is
|
| reserve air in your tank. For example: if
| |
| | gradual and can start long before you get
|
| you normally end a dive with 200 psi of
| |
| | to the dive site.
|
| air, you'll need to end with 400 psi. 200
| |
| | Stay warm between repetitive dives.
|
| psi might not be enough if you're cold
| |
| | Standing around in wet gear between dives
|
| and your air use has increased.
| |
| | can add to your body's deprivation of
|
| The effects of being cold and minor
| |
| | warmth through evaporative heat loss.
|
| problems could climax into a real
| |
| | Get warmed up as soon as possible after a
|
| emergency.
| |
| | dive. You can start on the dive boat by
|
| How A Wetsuit Works
| |
| | toweling off and getting into dry
|
| A wetsuit is the most common item of
| |
| | clothes.
|
| exposure protection. The purpose of a
| |
| | You can develop hypothermia without
|
| wetsuit is to insulate your body and
| |
| | immediately recognizing it. When choosing
|
| minimize heat loss. Wetsuits operate by
| |
| | your exposure suit, err on the side of
|
| trapping a layer of water between your
| |
| | thermal protection.
|
| skin and the suit. The heat from your
| |
| | Become an educated consumer. Visit your
|
| body warms up the layer of water, which
| |
| | local dive shop and have them show you
|
| helps you retain your body's temperature.
| |
| | the different styles of protective
|
| The thickness and quality of the wetsuit
| |
| | garments and accessories. Don't be afraid
|
| material (usually neoprene) determine the
| |
| | to ask questions.
|
| suit's ability to insulate. The thicker
| |
| |
|
