Dry suit facts for kids
A dry suit is a type of protective clothing worn by scuba divers who swim in very cold water, such as in the Arctic ocean or the North Atlantic ocean. A dry suit gives a diver more protection from cold water than a wetsuit does. A wetsuit lets water touch the diver's body, but a dry suit is sealed so it does not allow water inside the suit.
Contents
History
The Pirelli dry suit was designed in the 1930s and used by Italian divers during World War II. The suit was two pieces made from thin and elastic rubber. Sometimes knit fabric was added as a liner except at the sealing areas at the neck, wrists, and waist. After the war, people who like to dive for fun were allowed to buy the suits.
British divers of World War II used a similar suit made by Siebe Gorman. Although British suits varied through the years, they all had the same basic design.
In 1945, companies in California began making rubber suits as well. B.F. Goodrich was the first company to make a pressure-tight zipper in 1946. This allowed divers to determine how much air to inflate (put in) and deflate (blow out) from the suit so they could have more control of their buoyancy.
Components
Dry suits must have a shell of watertight material and seals to keep water from entering the suit. Usually, an inflation valve with gas supply and dump valve are provided as well.
- Shell: The main part of the dry suit is a waterproof shell made from a membrane-type material, foamed neoprene, or a hybrid of both.
- Membrane: Membrane dry suits are made from thin materials. They usually do not stretch, so they need to be over-sized or baggy to allow the swimmer to have a good range of motion. To stay warm in a membrane suit, divers must wear an insulating undersuit and be careful not to puncture or tear the suit.
- Neoprene: Neoprene is a type of synthetic rubber that can be "foamed" while it is being made. This makes tiny enclosed air bubbles in the suit, forming a buoyant and thermally insulating material. Many wetsuits are made from this material. Neoprene dry suits are usually more difficult to put on and remove than membrane dry suits because the material is tight and elastic. Although foamed-neoprene dry suits provide some insulation, divers usually wear thermal under-suits in cold water.
- Hybrid: Some suits combine the features of membrane and neoprene suits. A membrane top is attached to a neoprene bottom that covers part of the torso and is held on by sleeveless straps over the shoulders. This style is often used for surface water sports, especially in very cold water.
- Seals: Seals at the neck and wrists keep water from entering the suit because they fit tightly against the skin of the diver. The seals are not completely watertight, however, so divers may get a little bit of water in their suit. Seals are usually made from latex, rubber, or foam neoprene, but are also available in silicone rubber.
- Waterproof entry: Modern dry suits have a watertight zipper. Usually, the zipper is across the back of the shoulders on a dry suit. Other common places to put the zipper are diagonally across the torso, straight down the middle of the back, up one side of the front, and around the back of the neck to partway down the front. Because waterproof zippers are stiff, they make it difficult for a diver to get in and out of the suit. Before watertight zippers were invented, most divers used a long rubber "tunnel" that could be folded shut and rolled together from the sides after the diver entered the suit through it. They would fold the tunnel and clamp it with a metal clip.
Applications
Surface
Boating and Water Sports
Dry suits are often worn for boating, especially sailing, and on personal watercraft in the winter months. Boating dry suits are less rugged than diving dry suits. They are meant to protect boaters from spray and from cold water if they accidentally fall overboard.
Dry suits are also used for windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking, water skiing, and other surface water sports. Membrane-type suits are commonly used in the spring and autumn with moderate water temperatures, but people prefer neoprene and hybrid dry suits for surface sports in cold water.
Working, Survival, and Rescue
Crew members who work on the decks of commercial ships and people who fly in small aircraft over open water wear a type of dry suit known as an immersion survival work suit. They are usually a three-part system consisting of:
- A warm undersuit made of a synthetic fabric designed to pull moisture from sweat generated by physical exertion away from the user’s skin.
- A dry suit made with a waterproof breathable membrane to let moisture out of the suit.
- A durable outer shell, designed to protect the dry suit and to carry tools and survival gear. The outer shell may also have an inflatable bladder to help the wearer float in water.
Ships carry dry suits meant for emergencies only. They are not meant to be worn all the time. They are usually one-piece suits that can be put on quickly and have colors that can be easily seen with reflective tape patches.
Dry suits are also worn by rescue personnel when they are working in cold water.
Underwater
People who dive for fun use dry suits where the water temperature is below 60 °F (15 °C) or when they will be in the water for a long time. The suits are made in both membrane and neoprene. Unlike surface dry suits, they have inflation and deflation air valves and may be more durable.
Dry suits used for commercial and military diving are heavier and more durable than recreational diving dry suits because they are used in harsh environments. They can be used for underwater welding or diving in a contaminated area. Boots, gloves, and a helmet keep the diver from being contaminated by the water in places like sewage pits or chemical storage tanks. These "hazmat suits" are most often made of a cloth liner coated with vulcanized rubber, which is easier to decontaminate than other dry suit materials because of its slick surface.
Interesting facts about dry suits
- A dry suit costs 4 to 5 times more than a wetsuit.
- The cost works out to be cheaper per dive, however, because dry suits are more rugged and last longer than wetsuits.
- Dry suits protect the diver from sun exposure.
- Neoprene suits are more form-fitted, which require less air to be used in the suit and offer the diver a more streamlined suit.
- Many dry suits have additions like pockets and padding built into them.
- It is important to wash a dry suit in and out, after every dive.
- Keeping the waterproof zippers waxed helps them last longer.
- Wrist and neck seals must fit snuggly against the skin to keep water out, but not too tight to avoid breathing or circulation issues.
Images for kids
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Waterproof zipper installed on a membrane-type dry suit
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Dry glove with attachment ring and liner
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Dry suits with latex seals; Top: quick-change seal (Viking ring); Bottom: glued seal.
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Inflation valve on neoprene suit
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Aluminium cylinder and valve intended for argon at a maximum pressure of 139 bar to be used for the inflation of a dry suit while scuba diving
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Seatec quick disconnect end fitting commonly used for most dry-suit and buoyancy compensator inflation
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Low pressure inflation hose with CEJN connector (right) used for some dry suits
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Auto dump valve on neoprene suit
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Chinese-made full-body chest-entry dry wading suit with attached boots, gloves and hood with uncut facepiece.
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Chinese-made full-body chest-entry dry wading suit with attached socks, wristseals and neckseal.
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Naval aircrew immersion flight suit
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DUI crushed neoprene dry suit seam waterproofing detail
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Neoprene dry suit glued and stitched seam with inside seam tape detail
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Seam detail on trilaminate dry suit showing double-stitched seam from the outside.
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Neoprene dry suit seam outside stitching detail
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Torn latex rubber dry suit wrist seal
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Cracking of latex rubber dry suit wrist seal
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Frayed edge of zipper tape
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Siebe's improved design in 1873, from the Illustrated London News. The helmet's basic features can be seen: A helmet, supplied with air from the surface, and a waterproof suit. The corselet of the helmet is clamped onto the suit with wingnuts over a rubber flange.
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Yellow Skooba-"totes" dry suit manufactured by So Lo Marx Rubber Company of Loveland, Ohio, in late 1950s or early 1960s.
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Royal Navy divers in Sladen suits during the Second World War
