Most common wetsuits you see come with a "closed cell" neoprene. This is when both sides of the neoprene have a protective layer of nylon fabric This has the added benefit of protecting your wetsuit from tears caused when donning your suit (jaggered fingernails) but it does result in a loss of thermal insulation due to the water it allows to flow between the skin and the suit. An "open cell" suit on the other hand has a layer of nylon fabric only on the outside of the suit thereby allowing you skin to come into direct contact with the neoprene and forming a good seal that will keep the cold water out and your body warm. Obviously one would have to take proper care of an open cell suit, this I will cover in a later article.
Another positive aspect of wearing a wetsuit is that it adds protection from more than just the weather elements but also from the critters that live in our oceans. We are hunters, and as such we are often required to conceal ourselves so as to make that prized catch, this might require us to lay in a gully, or in a bit of seaweed, actions that if unprotected, might bring with it some nasty scratches and grazes, many of which can become infected and painful. I have personally experienced a coral rash (hydroid sting), something I will do everything possible to avoid in the future.
 |
| Coral Rash |
In Port Elizabeth we also get a fair amount of Blue Bottles (Portuguese Man O' War) blown into the bay by some of the seasonal Southerly winds. These and other Cnidaria can inflict very painful stings that can very quickly put a person into shock and ruin a days diving. A decent wetsuit while not providing full cover (face, hands and feet) does reduce the risk of extensive stings considerably.
 |
| Blue Bottle Sting |
An added feature of wetsuits that has become popular over the last few years is the camo print. this obviously enables a person to blend in a little more with their environment making them a little more likely to fool that prized catch. Although this is a great feature one must remember the limitations when diving multiple locations where the colour of the water and fauna change considerably as this could end up having the opposite effect to the desired camouflage.
 |
| Camo Print Wetsuit |
Most spearfishing wetsuits will be in a 2-piece configuration. This will give the added benefit of a double layer of neoprene over the torso increasing the thermal protection, but also making it easier to don the wetsuit. Most will also come with a built in hoodie that covers the head, this drastically helps retain warmth as its been said that the body can loose up to 50% of its body heat through the head. As you can imagine most wetsuit manufacturers make wetsuits in a variety of thicknesses from 2mm all the way to 7mm. One will have to look at the average sea temperatures where they plan on diving when making this selection.
Here are a couple of the main local (South African) manufactures of good spearfishing wetsuits:
