Wetsuits are the specific attire people wear while participating in water sports such as scuba diving. You may notice that scuba divers wear black wetsuits on the water. The color black has many functions that few people are aware of, and they are designed to serve unique purposes.
So, why is a wetsuit’s color primarily black? The black color is the most efficient in absorbing the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun resulting in skin damage and cancer. In addition, it offers a more streamlined appearance, which makes gliding easy without resistance while in the water.
Let us take a look and find out how the color of your wetsuit matters inside the water.
Why Do Scuba Divers Require A Wetsuit?
You will always see scuba divers wearing a wetsuit because water is an excellent insulator, making the body extremely cold in real-time. Divers can die from hypothermia if they dive into the sea without protection. This is why scuba divers must wear a wetsuit to protect themselves from water and cold.
Why is Black so Famous for Scuba Diving Wetsuits?
Nowadays, modern wetsuits are manufactured from a material known as Neoprene, which is a synthetic, water-resistant rubber material. During its manufacture, closed cells (gas bubbles) are sealed into the Neoprene sheets, which gives the wetsuits their insulating properties.
Neoprene has been black in color since the beginning of its manufacture. Although it can be stained to any color you like, this is a costly process and not prevalent in the industries where it is demanded. Additionally, when a carbon filter is added to the Neoprene sheet, it gives an even darker black color, making it resistant to UV rays. Therefore, the core material for these wetsuits is always black, to begin with.
Are All Scuba Diving Suits Black?
Despite black being the most popular shade, many other options add color to your diving suits. Many manufacturers add color panels to their black wetsuits to add value to the suit. For instance, a camouflage effect suit comes in brighter colors and is popular among spearfishers and freed divers.
However, all these colors that you opt to wear while diving may appear in different shades according to water depth. For example, as you go deeper into the water, the reds are lost first, then oranges, yellows, and so on. In other words, your wetsuit may look completely different once you penetrate so deep that you cannot see any color at all.
Does The Color Of A Wetsuit Matter?
Being the most popular choice, here are some reasons why black is the perfect color for scuba diving wetsuits:
- After a dive, a black wetsuit dries faster than any other color since it absorbs the most energy from the sun.
- Black is the most resistant to fading when used on bright sunny days.
- Different colors change their appearance as you go deeper into the water, but black color always appears black.
Takeaway
Now you know why most scuba diving suits are black for practical and economical reasons. However, it is entirely your choice to choose whatever color you want to wear to dive in; your body protection and safety are the most important, despite any color you are wearing.
