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How To Care For Your Wetsuit

By Bill

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Rinse - Rinse your suit in fresh water as soon as you are finished diving for the day. Most dive operators have a rinse tank for this purpose. Salt water can cause neoprene to lose its flexibility, not to mention the nasty smell an unrinsed wet suit can have.

Soak - When you get back home — or better yet, back to the hotel — soak your wetsuit for about 15 minutes in warm water. You can also use a special wet suit shampoo at this stage (we sell Sink the Stink). You should shampoo your suit every once in a while for best results.

Hang to Dry - They make hangers just for wetsuits. These are the best to use if you have one. However, a basic plastic hanger will work also. Whatever you do, do not use thin wire hangers as these can rust and start to degrade the neoprene in the shoulders. You want to thoroughly dry your wetsuit before storing it, otherwise nasty things will start appearing and smelling. Avoid that at all costs.

Inspect for Damage - Before you store your scuba diving wet suit, check for any rips or tears. They are much easier to fix while small.

Store Properly - Ideally, your wetsuit should be stored flat or hung on a special wetsuit hanger or a sturdy clothes hanger. Do not crumple it up and shove it in a drawer. This can cause the wetsuit to crease and lose some of its insulation effectiveness.

Last Updated: 2/7/2012

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