How important is exposure protection?

[ScubaRook]

I was thinking of getting a very thin wetsuit for diving in Tahiti since I get sun burn very easily. I don't know how good sunscreen works for scuba diving or not. But, do people ever wear them for just snorkeling? Or will I really look like a dork.

 

[Paco]

In Roatan, a year ago March, our DM dove only with swim trunks, 3 and 4 dives a day. And he does that all the time. Definitely depends on the individual.

 

[Damselfish]

I was thinking of getting a very thin wetsuit for diving in Tahiti since I get sun burn very easily. I don't know how good sunscreen works for scuba diving or not. But, do people ever wear them for just snorkeling? Or will I really look like a dork.

I usually wear a lycra skin or my 1mm suit when snorkeling - much prefer it to slathering myself in sunsceen. Turning bright red on one side, now _that_ looks dorky. :furious:

(My understanding is most "waterproof" sunscreens wear off relatively quickly when you're actually _in_ the water, as opposed to just sweating or splashing around.)

 

[DiveMaven]

I wore a 3mm shorty when we got certified in Hawaii in April, and had planned on buying just a shorty for warmth. I soon changed my mind! On our final certification dive, one of the people we were diving with (who was wearing a shorty) came up with about 50 sea urchin spines in her knee!! :11: She had apparently "brushed" the reef with her knee and was in a considerable amount of pain because of it.

Because of her, I decided to buy myself a 3mm full suit to protect against what's in the ocean, including jellies and fire coral when we go to the Caribbean later this year.

 

[H2Andy]

Because of her, I decided to buy myself a 3mm full suit to protect against what's in the ocean, including jellies and fire coral when we go to the Caribbean later this year.

good deal, and don't forget about your first line of
defense:

1. awareness
2. good bouyancy
3. awereness