You have no idea what sorts of hazards there are in a long, dark street, or in the choppy, murky sea. A lightweight and skintight wetsuit that most water sports professionals wear will not only protect you from cold, but also help you swim better.

So what are the main three reasons why should you wear a wetsuit? I will list them here and then we will take a look at each one of them in more depth. 1. Wetsuit will keep you warm. 2. Wetsuit will give you extra protection. 3. Wetsuit will improve your buoyancy.

1) Protection against cold water. Cold water can cause hypothermia and at the end even death. Because water is 25 times more heat-conducting than air you can become hypothermic even in summer and at times when you actually don’t think that the water is so cold. But if you stay in to long your body temperature will drop. So many times it is wise to wear a wetsuit even in the summer and in warm water, if you stay in for a long time.

Wearing a wetsuit can prevent that. Made of lightweight closed-cell neoprene, it allows a film of water to exist between your body and the suit. And since water is heat conducting, the water draws away the heat from your body but is not released to the surroundings, due to being trapped by the suit. This layer acts as an insulator, providing you warmth derived from your own body. Add that to the nitrogen gas bubbles that exist in the lining of the suit which further prevents heat loss and you will stay warm in cold waters!

2) Protection. Wearing a wetsuit protects your body. Although not indestructible, the neoprene material is able to dampen any blows your body might receive. And between pieces of coral tearing your suit open, instead of your skin, it is perhaps wise to wear a wetsuit.

3) And finally there is buoyancy. I already mentioned that neoprene is full of air filled bubbles, so wearing a wetsuit will help you float better. Here I would like to warm you that before you take on any water sports you need to know how to swim – swim good! Wetsuit is not a life vest.

These are the main reasons why most of us today could not imagine our world without a wetsuit.