Do you ever get confused trying to find the perfect wetsuit ready for your next spearfishing trip? Trying to find a balance between durability, flexibility and thickness can be confusing and overwhelming. Suit up! You’ve come to the right place!
Our HUNTMASTER team has covered ‘everything you need to know about wetsuits and why choosing the right wetsuit is important’! We’ve dived deep down to what type of wetsuit is perfect for your next adventure, and why it’s so important to invest in the right one.
What are wetsuits made from?
Wetsuits are made from a chemical compound called Neoprene. Neoprene is an eco-friendly rubber-like material that is commonly worn during water activities. Wetsuits are designed to stretch to a certain degree, contouring your unique body shape. Its water-resistance is perfect for spearos (like yourself), as its flexibility and light spandex blend support your movement underwater.
Made from modern-day technology, our wetsuits are made from liquid seal technology over bind-out stitching. It’s completely sealed, which means there is a smaller risk of any tears on your wetsuit. If you’re allergic or have a certain reaction to neoprene, it’s highly recommended to ‘sea’ a doctor or health professional. To reduce direct contact, alternative wetsuits such as stinger shirts and rash shirts, are suggested wearing under your wetsuits.
How do I know if a wetsuit is the right size?
If you haven’t worked it out already, you don’t need to wear anything under your wetsuit. When you dive into the ocean, a thin layer of water will retain itself between the wetsuit and your skin. It’s important to find the right size in a wetsuit, as you don’t want to feel uncomfortable underwater. Keep in mind, wetsuits are not the same size as your clothes!
Wetsuits are supposed to restrict your body but to a certain extent. The design of a wetsuit is meant to feel snug on your body, but not painful. It’s kind of like a new pair of shoes. You can still move the foot around, but your foot won’t slip out. Not too tight, but not too loose either, just perfect.
Now use the same technique with wetsuits. You don’t want your wetsuits to be too tight on your body. Although the neoprene is designed to outline your body figure, it’s important to have some room to breathe comfortably and move around. If your wetsuit is too tight, it can restrict your breathing capacity, affecting your lungs and oxygen intake. It can also restrict movement and flexibility when spearfishing underwater.
However, you don’t want your wetsuit to be too loose either. If your wetsuit is not fitted, it can affect your performance underwater. Excess water can enter the layer between the wetsuit and your skin. Instead of keeping you buoyant in the water, it can weigh you down, making it more difficult for you to stay below surface level. Instead, the wetsuit is meant to keep you buoyant and reduce your drag when diving underwater.
Also, keep in mind that your body type matters. It’s recommended to consider your body measurements before making any purchases. For example, if you identify to have broad shoulders or bulky arms, you might want to think about going up a size. However, if you identify to be thin with slimmer limbs, then you might consider going down a size. For our women’s collection, the wetsuits are designed in a unique way, as there is more support around the chest and waist region. If you want to know your wetsuit size, check out our size chart below!
A quick way to work out if a wetsuit is perfect for you is if you’re able to breathe comfortably, make small circular motions with your arms and do light squats. Remember, a wetsuit is supposed to feel like a second layer of skin!
What thickness should I choose?
As mentioned before, your wetsuit is supposed to feel snug and comfortable on your body. The thickness of a wetsuit is crucial when spearfishing. Both cooling down and overheating your body can influence your ability to spearfish, ultimately losing your power. Wherever you are heading, you should also do some research and consider the temperature of the water. to your trip!
Let’s talk more about thicknesses.
Wetsuits are measured in millimetres (mm). Our HUNTMASTER wetsuits come in 4 different thicknesses; 1.5mm, 3.5mm, 5mm, 7.5mm.
If you’re heading to the warmer tropical waters, like the Coral Sea or the Great Barrier Reef, suit up in our 1.5mm – 3.5mm wetsuit. The thinner neoprene wetsuits will allow your body to be in constant motion. Your body won’t feel restricted when you’re spearfishing, as there are more flexibility and less risk of injuring yourself.
If you’re heading to the colder waters, like Jervis Bay or Tasmania, it’s ideal to invest in a 5mm - 7mm wetsuit. The thicker neoprene wetsuits lower the risk of injury when breaking through the water. Your ligaments, muscles and tendons are also warm and flexible, reducing the risk of potential muscular injuries.
Keeping your body at the average body temperature is crucial for spearfishing. The appropriate thickness of the wetsuit will provide a sufficient amount of warmth to your body when underwater. Your body will unexpectedly experience hypothermia or hyperthermia if consistent body temperature of 37oC is not maintained. This is also known as homeostasis.
Curious to know more about our wetsuits? Find our HUNTMASTER page here, where you can find our unique designs and interesting facts! If you still can't find out what you need to know email our friendly team at customercare@huntmaster.com.
