How to choose cold water diving gear

How to choose cold water diving gear

Le cold water diving they are not for everyone. Body heat is dissipated much faster than it happens out of the water, and the cooling of the extremities can quickly spread to the whole body, making diving very difficult and exposing the diver to various risks.

Winter diving can be very rewarding, but it is essential to know how to protect yourself from the cold, starting with thescuba diving equipment: if you don't have a wetsuit suitable for cold waters, in fact, it won't be enough to follow the advice of experts on dressing. On the contrary, including the uridon in your equipment can be a real turning point for those who love fishing in winter.

Cold Water Diving: What to Know

For those who are used to fishing in summer, the idea of dive into cold waters it could be almost disturbing. In reality, winter can offer very rewarding underwater experiences and excellent possibilities for catching. All in a quiet context, which has already forgotten the hordes of bathers and aggressive yachtsmen of the season just gone by.

In water, however, the body heat is dissipated to a greater extent and faster. The first thing to avoid is the cooling of the end, which can lead to dangerous numbness: it will therefore be necessary to equip yourself with quality gloves and shoes of the right thickness, without forgetting to also protect your head, which can lose up to a third of your precious body heat.

Others the practical advice concern dressing and acclimatization. Among other things, experts recommend:

• Start with short dives to gradually get used to the temperature;
• Refresh yourself with hot drinks after each dive;
• Bring a container with plenty of hot water with you (it will help during the dressing and undressing);
• Choose a place that is easily accessible by car, so you don't have to walk for long distances with the wet suit.

When fishing in winter, the moments before and after the dive can be critical, as you are particularly exposed to the elements: starting from the assumption that fishing from a boat is for a few adventurers, it is important to avoid as much as possible finding yourself walking for tens of meters in the full wind with a wet suit on.

In fact, when you come out of the water, you take your clothes with you. physical consequences of diving at low temperatures, which can go well beyond the sensation of being cold.

The effects of cold water on the body

Thanks to the recent trend of cold water baths (Ice bath), whose real and presumed beneficial effects on health are praised, the theme of low temperature diving it has become a sort of hot topic in medical-scientific research.

A Norwegian study published in 2022 on theInternational Journal of Circumpolar Health he analysed over 100 searches on the subject, to reach the conclusion that "Without further studies, the topic will continue to be a matter of debate".

In short, there is still a lot to understand about the royals effects of cold baths on the human bodyWhat is certain is that prolonged contact with cold water has a powerful impact on the body, and triggers a shock response that can involve the cardiovascular system but also the more unsuspected adipose tissue.

As the study states, cold water immersion “appears to reduce and/or transform body fat tissue, as well as reduce insulin resistance and improve insulin sensitivity”. However, there are also some very real risks: the most common ones are linked to cardiorespiratory problems, which are often connected to the initial cold shock, and thehypothermia.

Cold Water Diving: Understanding Hypothermia

When the body temperature drops below 35°C, the heart and nervous system fail to function properly, so hypothermia is considered a full-blown medical emergency. In severe cases, the breathing rate and heartbeat continue to slow until they stop. Therefore, it is essential to know Recognize hypothermia from the first symptoms, in themselves and in their diving companions.

According to Outdoor Swimming Society, among the signs that indicate a possible state of hypothermia there are:

• chills and numbness;
• loss of coordination (the swimming position can gradually become more vertical);
• weakness in arms and legs (clearly visible when swimming);
• clenched jaw;
• difficulty speaking;
• hands that close into claws;
• inability to control hands and feet.

Those who suffer from hypothermia tend to have slow reaction times and poor coordination. Very often he cannot pronounce words correctly, and may appear stiff and uncoordinated – to the point of being unable to walk alone.

What to do if you suspect hypothermia?

The moment he realizes he no longer has the perfect control of your body, is critical get out of the water immediately and warm up as soon as possible, removing all wet clothes quickly and drying yourself without rubbing your skin. Once dry, you should immediately put on warm clothing, including hat, gloves and thick socks.

Having thermal clothing, wool sweaters or a simple hot water bottle (not to be placed in direct contact with the skin) on hand can be very helpful in speeding up recovery, as can taking hot drinks and foods. However, hot baths on the skin should be avoided.

How to choose cold water scuba gear

One of the fundamental precautions to avoid exposing yourself to the risks of hypothermia is to use clothes that fit right. Before diving, make sure that your wetsuit, gloves, boots and hood are not too tight.

Talking about the move, in particular, attention must be paid to neck and wrist seals, which must fit tightly but not too tightly: in fact, clothes that are too tight can limit blood flow to the extremities, causing numbness and tingling and thus increasing the risk of hypothermia. The same goes for fins, which should leave the right amount of space for footwear.

As for thickness, experts recommend using a wetsuit at least 6,5 mm, possibly with Bermuda shorts, complete with gloves and shoes which should be 3-5 mm thick. The ideal combination of thicknesses, jackets and boots depends a lot on individual preferences. In any case, it is good practice to test the comfort of the suit before each dive in cold water, especially at the end.

The adoption of theuridone, or duck bill, can be very helpful in reducing the risks associated with the cold: its presence in fact facilitates the exit of urine from the wetsuit, avoiding the stagnation of liquids in contact with the skin and drastically reducing the sensation of cold.