If you’re an avid Sydney diver, you will know that the best diving around Sydney in between July to September. It is essential to maximise your diving pleasure to you remember to keep warm while diving. These 4 tips will help you stay warm so you can go diving even if the water’s a bit chilly.

Choose the correct wetsuit

You might think this is obvious, and perhaps it is, but choosing an appropriate wetsuit can really affect your dive.

For Sydney waters, we recommend a 7mm or a 5mm with a hooded vest for the cooler months. Most of the Abyss instructors use a 7mm all year round and top this up with a hood, hooded vest  to remain toasty warm.

Minimize Water Flow

When choosing a wetsuit, the fit is crucial to ensure good mobility and to prevent heat loss. The suit should have no baggy or loose spots or large wrinkles in the arms and legs; your suit should be snug in all areas but not uncomfortably tight or restrictive. Again by going into a dive centre, you can ensure you get a wetsuit that meets the needs of your body shape

Water flow can also be minimised by the design of the seals (neck, wrist and ankle) along with the zipper. When choosing a wetsuit, discuss this with your instructor and ensure that they explain how to fold the seals to minimise water movement.

Lining of Wetsuit

Modern technology has bought many significant improvements in wetsuit design. One of the more recent improvements has been with wetsuit lining technology. The first improvement was through the use of rapid-dry linings which ensured that the wetsuit would be dry when it was put back on. In recent times OMNIRED Technology has proven to offer the best thermal protection available in the diving industry.

Again the Abyss staff tend to prefer wetsuits using OMNIRED technology as it ensures they stay warm no matter what Sydney diving conditions throw at them.

Omnired Technology

Omnired Technology is the next generation of infrared technology, proven to deliver thermal warmth, protection, and faster recovery. Ominired’s 13-thermo reactive minerals are embedded in the fabric of the material. They convert outbound body heat into thermal energy and reflect it back to the body, allowing divers to maintain their optimal body temperature and stay warm in the water.

This process has been proven in strict scientific studies to outperform similar technologies.

Wear a hood

Wetsuit hoods are designed to cover your head and face, while stilling leaving your face free for your mask and regulator. You may be surprised at the amount of body heat that’s lost from our heads. Aim for a wetsuit hood with a long neck, as this will tuck into your wetsuit, further reducing the amount of skin exposed to the cold.  This goes for your hands and feet also, if you find they get cold, cover them up by wearing gloves and boots underwater.

Rug up on land

Staying warm before and between your dives means you will take more heat into the water with you. Wear warm clothes, including long pants, a jacket and beanie and scarf if necessary. A windbreaker and beanie are great for during your surface interval as it will protect you from the wind chill and allow your body to regain that lost latent heat.

Eat a meal before you dive

Eating a good meal before going for a dive is important for many reasons. Firstly, it creates much-needed energy to keep you alert – even more important when diving in cold conditions. Plan your meals to help your body maintain warmth throughout your dive.