How Wetsuits Work

Wetsuits help people to stay in the water longer by trapping body heat and warm water inside the suit.

The material in a wetsuit (typically neoprene) acts as a layer of insulation around the wearer, which slows down the loss of body heat to the surrounding water.

Wetsuits are designed to let a little bit of water inside the suit and keep it there. The body warms the water and the suit traps it against the skin, preventing the warmed water from circulating away from the wearer.