How to choose your wetsuit?

The shopping team 15:59 pm, May 31, 2023

SHOPPING

The editorial staff of Europe 1 was not involved in the production of this article.

Want to go on an adventure? Go and discover the seabed! If these represent 70% of the Earth's surface, we estimate that we know only 75%. Even more surprising, while twelve men have already set foot on the moon, only four have reached the bottom of the Mariana Trench, including director James Cameron in 2012. The ocean is therefore a great field of exploration, whether in scuba diving, snorkeling or for the bravest, snorkeling. Particularly rich, beautiful and essential to life on Earth, this ecosystem is just waiting to be observed by all. Put on a wetsuit and slip into the shoes of Commander Cousteau and discover the treasures of the seabed. Especially since the France has the second largest maritime space in the world, the choice of spots is colossal! To prepare you as well as possible, we offer a selection of five models of wetsuit depending on the water in which you will immerse yourself.

Summary:

• The ZCCO 1.5mm short wetsuit, for surface dives
• The men's wetsuit long sleeves 3mm Pawhits, for warm waters
• The Cressi Castoro Man Monopiece 5mm suit for men, for temperate waters
• The Definition 7.0 ScubaPro 6.5 mm suit for women, for cold waters
• The Mountain Warehouse 2.5 mm full-body children's suit, to protect the little ones

How to choose your wetsuit?

The ZCCO 1.5mm short wetsuit, for surface dives

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ZCCO's short wetsuit will suit you if you spend long hours in warm waters. Indeed, neoprene shorty suits are made to protect you from the sun and wind during long shallow dives where you are exposed to UV. It is therefore ideal if you snorkel. With a thickness of 1.5 mm, it will not keep you warm but will bring you some comfort, prevent you from catching cold and skinning on rocky parts. In addition to surface diving, you can also wear it for surfing, canoeing or any other water activities. This unisex suit is available from XS to 3XL.

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The men's wetsuit long sleeves 3mm Pawhits, for warm waters

© Amazon

Are you going to dive under the tropical sun this summer? Take the Pawhits long-sleeve jumpsuit with you. Because yes, with its 3 mm thickness, it is ideal for all waters whose temperature is above 25 °. Indeed, it is part of the fine suits that will not keep you very hot during your descents but that will bring you comfort and will especially prevent you from catching cold if you stay underwater for a long time. Made of neoprene and imported nylon, it is particularly elastic and therefore gives you a certain freedom of movement. A point increased by the super-extendable panels added around the knees and armpits. It is therefore an entry-level suit, which will fulfill its functions if you are an amateur diver. This combination is available from S to 3XL.

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The Cressi Castoro Man Monopiece 5mm suit for men, for temperate waters

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With Cressi, you enter the big league. This world-renowned Italian brand was founded by two brothers passionate about the sea in the 1940s in Genoa. Today, although it is one of the market leaders, it is still entirely managed by the Cressi family who continue to innovate to make your dives unforgettable. With the Castoro Man Monopiece suit, you can dive with your eyes closed. Designed in a 5 mm lined neoprene, it will keep you warm in temperate waters (between 16 ° and 24 °), such as those of the Atlantic coast. The reinforcements on the knees, ankles and shoulders, protect you more from rocks and corals present in the depths, and extend the life of the suit. Another advantage: Cressi suits are known to be very simple to put on and take off. Finally, if you're chilly or go to colder waters, you can easily add a jacket and hood sold separately. This product is available from S to 4XL and in three different colors.

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The Definition 7.0 ScubaPro 6.5 mm suit for women, for cold waters

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ScubaPro is one of the other mythical diving equipment companies. Created in 1963 in the United States by two friends keen on scuba diving, it has gained notoriety thanks to its MK2 regulators, but not only. Computers, fins or vests, ScubaPro hardware is known to be reliable, durable and efficient. Their wetsuits are no exception, which is why the Definition 7.0 6.5mm for women is our favorite! Made to discover the abyss in cold waters such as lakes or deep dives, it will keep you particularly warm while leaving you completely free of your movements. Indeed, the neoprene and nylon used at ScubaPro are known and recognized to be flexible but very resistant. This elegant suit has also been thoughtfully designed: it is reinforced on the chest, ribs, arms, legs and knees and leaves flexibility at the joints. In addition, the cuffs added to the legs and arms offer a reduction in water circulation, which brings you all the more warmth. Finally, for even more comfort, the suit is equipped with a small zipper at the neck, in addition to the large back closure. It is therefore a high-quality wetsuit in which you can dive in cold waters while being protected! This combination is available in a dozen sizes.

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The Mountain Warehouse 2.5 mm full-body children's suit, to protect the little ones

© Amazon

On days at the beach, children are usually the first to enter the water and often the last to get out! Equipped with masks, snorkels, fins or nothing, they love to discover the treasures hidden in the rocks and aquatic plants. If they may be eager to spend their first dive at sea or in the pool, they often do not need this to spend hours with their heads underwater. But in order to best protect them, a suit is the ideal ally. Indeed, in addition to the application of sunscreen on the open areas, the full child suit from Mountain Warehouse of 2.5 mm protects the little ones from UV, but also from wind and cold. Designed in neoprene, it is light and flexible enough to give it total mobility to go diving, surfing, kayaking, or go shrimp fishing! Available in six different colors, often flashy, you will not lose sight of it! This combination is available from 3-4 years to 13 years.

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What thickness of combination for what temperature?

To choose the best wetsuit, it is necessary to ask yourself in which water you will dive. For warm waters with a temperature of more than 25°C, a thin combination of 1.5 mm integral or shorty is ideal. After, if you go diving in places devoid of rocks and you are not cold, a simple lycra will do the trick. On the other hand, if you tend to catch cold quickly, you can opt for a 3 mm. A little thicker, it will regulate the heat of your body compared to water and allow you to stay immersed for a long time. For temperate waters with a temperature between 16 ° and 24 °, you can turn to a 5 mm wetsuit. However, if you are doing deep enough dives, you can add a vest to your equipment to make sure you don't cool down, especially when you are stationary when passing the decompression stops on the ascent. For their part, the 7 mm are indicated for cold waters as we can find them in lakes or in the Atlantic out of summer season. Very thick, they will bring you all the necessary warmth during your sessions.

How to choose the size of your wetsuit?

For a wetsuit to be your size, it must be adapted to your morphology. It is therefore best to inquire with the size guide of the brand from which you make your purchase, while keeping in mind your measurements. Keep in mind that a suit will always seem a little narrow when you put it on because the materials used in their manufacture surround the body. However, it must not squeeze you too much otherwise you will lose mobility. On the other hand, a combination that is too large will give way to pockets of water inside, which is very unpleasant.

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