Question: If I order a wetsuit online and the size doesn’t fit, what do I do? 

Answer: If you find that the wetsuit you have ordered online isn’t the best possible fit, just simply write the problem on a piece of paper and place that in a post pack with the wetsuit and the purchase order receipt and send it back to us. If you have misplaced the purchase order receipt that was sent to you, its fine to include on the purchase order number located in the top right hand corner on the piece of paper where you have written the problem with the wetsuit. Once we receive the return we will send you the size you request and you can expect it to arrive the day after we send it if you live in Australia.

Question: Can I be sure you will have the wetsuit in stock?

Answer: We carry more than 2000 wetsuits and rashies in stock however we are unable to guarantee that we will have what you wish to purchase in stock because of store specials and suppliers. If you want to make sure we have what you want to purchase in stock then just give us a call on (07) 3391 2299.

Question: How long will it take to get my wetsuit? 

Answer: With a standard post pack ($6.50-$10.00) you can expect to receive your order within 3-6 working days and with an express post pack ($8.50-$12.00) you can expect to receive your order within 1-2 days. Not only will you receive your order faster with an express post pack , it is also registered which enables us to track where it is and we can guarantee your order won’t be lost in transit.

Below is some information sourced from www.360guide.info that will answer most questions and assist in choosing the right wetsuit.

WETSUIT THICKNESS FACTORS

When choosing the right wetsuit for a certain water temperature and conditions, the main factors to consider are water temperature, air temperature, wind, cold sensitivity and activity. Lets take a quick look:

Water temperature

This one is obvious, the colder the water the thicker wetsuit you need.

Air temperature

Air temperature is a lot of times connected with water temperature. Warmer air & water in summer, colder in winter time. Like duh! But there are a lot of places where ocean currents influence water temperature so much, that it can be way off from what you could expect from the air temperature and time of the year. So there are times when air and water temperature are out of sync.

Wind

Wind cools the surface of your body constantly and increases the feeling of cold.

Cold sensitivity

Just how quickly do you get cold?

Activity

What are you doing in the water and what sport is your passion. For instance, you can surf so hard smoke comes from your ears or you can sit on your surfboard thinking, meditating and contemplating whatever. You can be in the water most of the time or above the water or even under the surface.

The water temperature - wetsuit thickness chart below is therefore just for your orientation and is a bit on the safe side, so you can stay in the water longer. Every waterman knows for himself how sustainable to cold he is and how quickly he gets cold. At some point, when the water temperature gets to low you also have to wear booties and when it gets even colder also gloves and a hood. Thicker wetsuit also means you get tired sooner because the movement is more restricted. Also completely new and fitting wetsuit is warmer that an older wetsuit that is already a little loose. And at last, quality of the wetsuit definitely counts - this is why good winter wetsuits for low temperatures aren't cheap.

So before we get to the temperature chart I can see some hardcore surfers complaining that they can surf in a shorty wetsuit in 59F (15 C) degree water, but why would you want to be cold if you don't have to be. Just to be HC? When blood slowly starts coming back to your fingers that are so numb you can't get out of your wetsuit for half an hour and every heartbeat feels like someone is smashing your fingers with a hammer? When your feet feel like they belong to some rubber dummy when you are slipping over rocks on your way out of water? Its a part of why we love it... :)

In recent times, you can find some funny wetsuit - water temperature charts done by major wetsuit companies, that are not very realistic. I guess they also use them for promoting the quality of their wetsuits. Like: "You only need a 3/2 XY wettie in 54F (12C) water. Yeah, its so advanced you can sleep in a freezer." If they are not talking about the new battery heated wetsuit, then they are probably full of shit.

WATER TEMPERATURE WETSUIT CHART

With good equipment, there is no limit for cold water surfing. The bigger problem is getting out of your wet wetsuit in the freezing parking lot. To sum it up, in our experience: "If you only get one wetsuit get a 4/3!" It is the most versatile and useful in widest range of temperatures.

 

 

 

Will a wetsuit protect me against abrasions?

A wetsuit offers excellent protection against abrasions, cuts, coral burns and coral stings. Neoprene offers the best protection however lycra suits still prevent burns, stings and irritation.

Will a wetsuit protect me against marine stingers?

Yes, a wetsuit provides protection against all marine stingers, it is important to be careful where the wetsuit meets gloves and booties as there can be gaps. It isn’t uncommon to get stung on the face or in the mouth. (I have been stung in the mouth when I opened it to put a snorkel in.)

Below is some information about jellyfish from http://www.jellyfishfacts.net/methods-of-protection-from-jellyfish-stings.html

Jellyfish inhabit all the marine waters of the world. There are about 2000 species of jellyfish and they are spread across all the seas and oceans of the world. They inhabit all level, from the surface of the water to depths beyond 1000 feet. If you are considering swimming, surfing or diving in a marine environment, you are very likely to encounter some species of jellyfish. While most jellyfish have stinging apparatus, not all of them are harmful to human beings. The venom in the sting of most jellyfish is so mild that it does not have any noticeable effect on human beings.

On the other hand, there are jellyfish that can produce any serious effects on human beings, including causing instant death. While it is important to know the treatments for jellyfish stings and this vary from species to species, it is even more important to protect oneself from jellyfish stings. But, before we look at methods of protection from jellyfish, let us briefly look at why and how jellyfish sting.

Jellyfish sting as a method of self defense. They do not actively attack any creature, including human beings. The tentacles of a jellyfish are lined with thousands of nematocysts that contain venom and a length of barbed thread that gets fired into the flesh of the victim and injecting the venom into his/her body. These nematocysts are triggered by the presence of chemicals on human skin or on the scales of a fish. If there were no contact with the chemicals on a human skin, the jellyfish would not feel threatened and the nematocysts would not get activated.

There are ways to neutralize the presence of chemicals on the human skin in marine waters. The safest and the most effective method is to wear a wetsuit. When the tentacles of the jellyfish touch the surface of the wetsuit, they do not sense the presence of any chemicals and pass without stinging. There are also lotions available today, that when applied thoroughly to the human skin prevent the jellyfish from sensing any imminent threat in the presence of the person. Safe sea stinging lotion is known to be effective in preventing jellyfish stings.

Some jellyfish, especially the deadliest of them all, the box jellyfish is known to be able to penetrate the wetsuit of a diver and sting him/her anyway. The sting of the box jellyfish is the deadliest among all creatures of the world and can cause death in less than 4 minutes of being stung. For protection against box jellyfish, which inhabit the waters around Australia, Australians have developed a special wetsuit designed from more resistant material. On the other hand, nylon panty hoses are also known to be effective in protecting humans from the deadly sting of the box jellyfish. That is the reason you may find a number of Australian lifeguards wearing nylon panty hoses on their arms and legs.

Will a wetsuit protect me from the sun and harmful UV rays?

A wetsuit definitely offers protection against the sun and harmful UV rays. It is impossible to do sun damage or get sun burnt in the areas covered by a wetsuit. This is one reason why hoods are popular as they protect your neck and ears. Sunscreen  and a hat is also very important because it’s easy to get sun burnt when you are out in a boat all day and getting in and out of the water frequently,

Will a wetsuit protect me against deadly sea snakes?

A wetsuit offers protection against sea snakes. Sea snakes are some of the most poisonous snakes in the word however there fangs in most cases are quite short and thick neoprene can definitely give protection.

Below is some information about sea snakes from http://www.allthesea.com/Sea-Snakes.html

Sea Snakes : The sea snake is primarily found in the northern waters of Australia. There are approximately 31 different species of sea snake. All of them are dangerous to humans, but relatively few of these bites cause any significant injury because the sea snake fangs are extremely tiny, only 2-4 mm. in length. They do contain neurotoxins, however, but most often cannot penetrate the wetsuit worn by a diver. Deaths that have been documented occurred among fishermen who ran into their nests. Sea snakes bear their young on shore, and spend the remainder of their lives in the ocean looking for food, fish and eel. They are very shy and not aggressive by nature.

After being bitten, side effects generally do not appear for 20-30 minutes, at which point severe pain is experienced in the affected limb. Droopy eyelids, respiratory weakness and muscle pain can occur. There is anti-venom available for sea snakes; however, if unavailable, the anti-venom for the tiger snake may be used. An adult sea snake may carry enough venom to kill approximately three adult people. Its primary neurotoxin can cause peripheral paralysis. The sea snake venom is approximately two times more potent than the land snake venom, in comparing rattlesnakes, copperheads and water moccasins. Although more lethal, there is less chances of being bitten given the small size of the fangs and less aggressive nature of the snake.

Types of sea snakes : There are five major groups of sea snakes.

1) Hydrophiids : 'true' sea snakes

The largest group of sea snakes, the hydrophiids or 'true' sea snakes, evolved from Australian terrestrial elapids that returned to the marine environment around 30 million years ago.

Hydrophiid sea snakes have the same toxic venom and envenomation apparatus (they are proteroglyphs meaning they have fixed front fangs) as their terrestrial ancestors.

Hydrophiid sea snakes have exploited the viviparity that exists in some of their terrestrial ancestors, and have thus freed themselves entirely from the need to return to land to breed.

There are 54 species of hydrophiid sea snakes.

2) Laticaudids - sea kraits

The laticaudids or sea kraits comprise five species, four of which are marine. They are strongly banded and commonly seen in large numbers on beaches in south east Asia and some Pacific Islands.

Sea kraits have also evolved from terrestrial elapids and are proteroglyphs and have highly toxic venom. However they are very placid and unlikely to bite unless provoked.

Sea kraits are the only group of sea snakes that are oviparous (egg laying) and must return to land to breed.

3) Acrochordids - file snakes

The acrochordids or file snakes comprise three species. One species is fully marine while the others live in estuaries and freshwater habitats.

File snakes are not venomous and they give birth to live young.

4) Homalopsids - mangrove snakes

Homalopsids are colubrids that are confined almost entirely to estuarine environments.

There are nine species of aquatic homalopsids that are found primarily in tropical Asian waters and northern Australian waters. Only three species are fully marine.

Homalopsids are venomous but they are rear-fanged.

5) Natricids - salt marsh snakes

Natricids are colubrids that are confined almost entirely to salt marsh environments.

The three species of marine natricids are confined to temperate and subtropical north America and are not venomous. It is thought that these natricids might be in the early stages of evolving marine adaptations.

i) Banded sea snake : Laticauda colubrina

Description : Smooth-scaled snake that is a pale shade of blue with black bands. Its oarlike tail provides propulsion in swimming.

Characteristics : Most active at night, swimming close to shore and at times entering tide pools. Its venom is a very strong neurotoxin. Its victims are usually fishermen who untangle these deadly snakes from large fish nets.

Habitat : Common in all oceans, absent in the Atlantic Ocean.

Length : Average 75 centimeters, maximum 1.2 meters.

Distribution : Coastal waters of New Guinea, Pacific islands, the Philippines, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, and Japan.

ii) Yellow-bellied sea snake : Pelamis platurus

Description : Upper part of body is black or dark brown and lower part is bright yellow.

Characteristics : A highly venomous snake belonging to the cobra family. This snake is truly of the pelagic species--it never leaves the water to come to shore. It has an oarlike tail to aid its swimming. This species is quick to defend itself. Sea snakes do not really strike, but deliberately turn and bite if molested. A small amount of their neurotoxic venom can cause death.

Habitat : Found in all oceans except the Atlantic Ocean.

Length : Average 0.7 meter, maximum 1.1 meters.

Distribution : Throughout the Pacific Ocean from many of the Pacific islands to Hawaii and to the coast of Costa Rica and Panama.

Species diversity and distribution : There are approximately 70 species of sea snakes living in our modern oceans. They account for 86% of marine reptile species alive today. Other marine reptiles include 7 species of sea turtles, the salt water crocodile and the marine iguana.

Sea snakes are cold blooded reptiles and are found primarily in warm tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific. They are not found in the Atlantic Ocean or Caribbean Sea.

The area of highest species diversity is between Singapore and Borneo, with 27 species. Australia.s coastal waters also has a high species diversity that ranges between 17 to 21 species, and the Great Barrier Reef has 14 species of sea snakes. Although sea snakes need warm tropical waters to survive, they are occasionally blown south by storms and have been recorded in Sydney harbour.

Marine fouling and shedding of skin : All snakes shed their skins. Sea snakes shed every two to six weeks, which is more frequently than land snakes and more often than needed for growth alone. The process involves rubbing the lips against coral or other hard substrate to loosen the skin. The snake then catches the skin against something to anchor it and crawls forward leaving the skin turned inside out behind it.

Skin shedding allows sea snakes to rid themselves of fouling marine organisms such as algae, barnacles and bryozoans. Otherwise they would be covered with fouling organsims like the hull of a boat that needs to be cleaned and this would interfere with the snakes ability to swim efficiently and may also cause disease.

Olive sea snake starting to shed its skin. The old skin is turned inside out along the snakes body behind the head.

Courtship, mating and reproduction : Like all snakes and lizards, male sea snakes have two penises. They are called hemipenes, but each is an autonomous independently functioning penis and only one is used during mating. Mating takes place for long periods and sea snakes must surface for air during that time. The female controls breathing and as she swims to the surface the male is pulled along attached via the hemipenis. At the surface the male needs to gulp for air or he has to wait til the next time the female comes up the the surface to breathe. Males are unable to disengage until mating is finished.

In species where courtship has been studied, eg olive and turtlehead sea snakes, one or more males follow the female very closely and occasionally prod the head and neck of females.

All sea snakes except the latidcaudids give birth to live young after gestation periods that range from four to eleven months, depending on the species. Most species reproduce every year. The timing of the reproductive cycle varies enomously between species and also differs between geographical locations for the same species.

Young are born underwater and must be independent immediately to swim to the surface to breathe. There is no parental care. In some species look quite different to the adults eg juvenile olive sea snake are strongly banded while the adults are not.

 

Will a wetsuit protect me from sea birds?

This may seem like a ridiculous question however 2 of our customers have been attacked by sea birds. Sea birds can be a problem when you are laying on the surface getting ready to dive; there have been occasions where divers have been pecked on the head and on the back. A wetsuit does offer protection against birds however they can give you a nasty peck and tear open your wetsuit.

Below is some information about sea birds sourced from http://www.allthesea.com/Sea-Bird.html

Sea Birds

Birds are found worldwide in many habitats. They can fly over some of the highest mountains on earth as well as both of the earth’s poles, dive through water to depths of more than 250 m (850 ft), and occupy habitats with the most extreme climates on the planet, including arctic tundra and the Sahara Desert. Certain kinds of seabirds are commonly seen over the open ocean thousands of kilometers from the nearest land, but all birds must come ashore to raise their young.

Many sea birds are excellent swimmers and divers, including such distantly related types of birds as grebes, loons, ducks, auks, cormorants, penguins, and diving petrels. Most of these sea birds have webbed or lobed toes that act as paddles, which they use to propel themselves underwater. Others, including auks and penguins, use their wings to propel themselves through the water. Swimming sea birds have broad, raft like bodies that provide stability. They have dense feather coverings that hold pockets of air for warmth, but they can compress the air out of these pockets to reduce buoyancy when diving.

Many fish-catching sea birds can dive to great depths, either from the air or from the water’s surface. The emperor penguin can plunge to depths of more than 250 m (850 ft) and remain submerged for about 12 minutes. Some ducks, swans, and geese perform an action called dabbling, in which they tip their tails up and reach down with their beaks to forage on the mud beneath shallow water.

Sea birds obtain most or all of their food from the water. All aquatic sea birds that live in saltwater environments have salt glands, which enable them to drink seawater and excrete the excess salt. Albatross, shearwaters, storm petrels, and diving petrels are considered the most exclusively marine of all sea birds. Sea birds spend much of their time over the open ocean, well away from land.

Many other sea birds have aquatic lifestyles but live closer to land. Among these are penguins, which live in the southernmost oceans near the Antarctic. Some species of penguins spend most of their lives in the water, coming on land only to reproduce and molt. Grebes and divers, or loons, are found on or near lakes. Grebes are unusual among sea birds because they make their nests on the water, using floating plant materials that they hide among reeds. Pelicans, known for their long bills and huge throat pouches, often switch between salt water and fresh water habitats during the year. Gulls are generalists among the sea birds, feeding largely by scavenging over open water, along shores, or even inland areas. Waterfowl, a group that includes ducks, geese, and swans, often breed on freshwater lakes and marshes, although they sometimes make their homes in marine habitats.

 

Seabirds - Biological Significance

Seabirds have benefited from controls on hunting and egg collecting, which were once prevalent in the nineteenth century for sport, food and feathers. Migratory species are affected by different pressures in each country they visit. For example, the roseate tern faces natural predation and trapping in West Africa, but not in the UK.

Seabirds - Affects and Effects
Seabirds may be affected by:

It is also possible that long-term changes in the climate and oceans have affected populations of both sea birds and the fish that they feed on. Oil is one of the greatest hazards because spills initially float, exposing sea birds to oiling of their plumage. The Mersey pipeline oil leak in 1989 killed over 4,000 sea birds, most of which were common species of gull. The Sea Empress spill in 1986 is known to have killed at least 7,000 sea birds. This included some 3,500 over wintering common scoters. Although such pollution has occasionally led to substantial mortalities of sea birds in estuaries, there is no evidence of it having any long-term significance to populations.

 

Will a wetsuit protect me from sharks?

The answer is no, a wetsuit offers no protection against sharks. However if you are wearing a 9mm wetsuit and a wobbegong latches on it shouldn’t be able to sink its teeth into your flesh. If sharks are a major concern to you it is possible to buy a shark shield. 

Below is some information on sharks and a link to the great Australian shark count.

Massively misunderstood and a source of fascination for many, the Shark is globally recognised and, quite often, feared. Many species of Shark are hunted for sport or for delicacies and medicine, meaning a worrying trend in worsening conservations statuses for many Shark species.

There are about 368 species of Shark ranging from the tiny Spined Pygmy Shark to the massive Whale Shark.

The truth of the Shark is different - while many perceive a Shark to be a ruthless killing machine, only about 25 species are reported to have attacked people. While hard to quantify, you are supposedly more likely to be killed by a pig or a donkey than a Shark. The idea is that Shark attacks and fatalities are so ridiculously low that you are more likely to be kicked to death by your mule.

Sharks are often fished for sport and this causes more damage than is realised. Sharks are part of the natural ecosystem and upsetting the balance can have knock on effects to other marine species, and consequently this can affect human life in the way of fishing catches and tourism.

The ancestory of the modern Shark can be traced back to over 450 million years ago. So well evolved is the shark that the species has survived successive max extinctions, including the disaster at the end of the Permian period (245 million years ago) when 96% of other marine life was made extinct.

The Shark is a creature to be admired and respected, not vilified and exterminated. We at Shark Information hope that you enjoy this website and also that we can help you understand the Shark.

Great Australian shark count:

http://www.auf-spearfishing.com.au/serendipity/auf_index.php?/archives/18-Great-Australian-Shark-Count.html

 

TWO ADVANCED COLD AND WET WETSUIT TECHNIQUES

Since we finished the chart with some really cold water, here are also two useful tips for putting on a cold wet wetsuit. Wet wetsuit is harder to put on than dry, not just because of the great and enjoyable wet and cold feeling but also because it sticks to your skin and it won't go on. So to do it faster you can try this:

 

• It helps to put a PVC bag on your leg or arm before you push it through your wetsuit. Your arms/legs will slide through the sleeves like a hot knife through butter.

• The other trick is to have a dry rash guard in store. Put it on before you get into a wet wetsuit and you won't feel the cold neoprene on your body. But really, just get it over with as quickly as possible and get into the water.

Most sun shirts, swim shirts, rashies, rash guards and lycra’s offer excellent protection against harmful UV rays. For the best protection, especially for children we recommend long sleeves and/or hooded rashies or for the ultimate protection full body lycra suits which are available with a hood.

Below is some detailed information about UPF UV protection factor and 50+ protection against the sun.

 About Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) Testing

Clothing provides one of the most convenient forms of protection against UVR but not all garments offer sufficient sun protection.

Over-exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation) can cause sunburn, skin damage and an increased risk of developing skin cancer. Clothing provides one of the most convenient forms of protection against UVR but not all garments offer sufficient sun protection. All fabrics have some ability to block UVR and laboratory testing is performed to determine how effective different fabrics are. The ARPANSA UV laboratory performs Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) testing on fabrics and other materials.

The UPF rating indicates how effective a fabric is at blocking out solar ultraviolet radiation. This testing is performed according to Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS4399. UPF ratings range from 15 to 50 with higher ratings indicating more effective blocking and therefore better protection for the wearer of a garment made from the fabric. Fabrics that test higher than UPF 50 are rated as UPF 50+.

ARPANSA (formerly the Australian Radiation Laboratory) has performed these measurements on fabrics since the early 1990's. Testing methods developed here were adopted by the Australian Standard; Sun protective clothing - Evaluation and classification AS/NZS4399: 1996. This standard was released in July 1996 to introduce a standardised UPF testing method and it also specifies appropriate wording to be placed on labels of clothing claiming to offer sun protection. Copies of this standard are available from
Standards Australia.

UPF testing involves exposing a fabric to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and measuring how much is transmitted through the sample. Different wavelengths of radiation in the UVR spectrum have different effects on human skin and this is taken into consideration when calculating the UPF rating.

Factors that contribute to the UPF rating of a fabric are: -

• Composition of the yarns (cotton, polyester, etc)
• Tightness of the weave or knit (tighter improves the rating)
• Colour (darker colours are generally better)
• Stretch (more stretch lowers the rating)
• Moisture (many fabrics have lower ratings when wet)
• Condition (worn and faded garments may have reduced ratings)
• Finishing (some fabrics are treated with UV a bsorbing chemicals)

Why should I buy a wetsuit for my young child?

A wetsuit makes swimming safer for young children whether it’s used in the pool or at the beach. A wetsuit will keep your kid warm in cold water and also block out wind when they are out of the water which also assists in keeping them warmer. With 100% sun protection on the areas covered by a wetsuit your child is protected against harmful UV rays and sun burn. Wetsuits also protect you from marine stingers and abrasions. They can also prevent oyster cuts which can be very painful and potentially dangerous if they get infected. Another fantastic reason to buy a wetsuit for your young child is that they make your kid more buoyant and it assists with learning to swim.