On wetsuits and the buying thereof

garroad_ran

Hello H/A

I'm planning a trip to a subtropical region in early January and will be trying my hand at scuba diving (I'm taking the PADI Open Water Diver course, five enclosed dives + four open water dives). I'm thinking it would be nice to have a wetsuit to use throughout the course, but I'm living in an area of Japan better known for its severe winters than any diving locations, so finding wetsuits in a brick-and-mortar shop is proving to be impossible.

Having never owned or even worn a wetsuit before, I'm curious if there's any reliable way of getting a decent fit if I choose to order online.

japan

Probably not, though most brands make pretty comprehensive sizing information available. If you don't have any option but buying online, pick somewhere with a generous returns policy.

It might be worth contacting the instructor/school you're using and finding out what your options are for buying equipment when you're out there.

Shazkar Shadowstorm

i mean, i guarantee you your course will include a wetsuit rental

anytime i've gone diving, well, only a handful of times, but they've always provided a wetsuit

well, except for my open water dives, which i did in grand cayman in august when the water was in the high 80s so i didn't need a wetsuit

but i would say don't worry about it for now, it's probably better to get some dives in before you invest in a wetsuit, as the majority of reputable dive shops will provide one with your courses/dives, or only charge you a tiny bit more for one
and you're not gonna need a wetsuit for your pool dives

Pel

On one hand, it might be better to rent for a while before you make the investment. On the other hand, if you do your research and buy used, then resell, you can essentially use it for free (possibly - the cost of shipping and ebay fees). To my experience, wetsuits are pretty forgiving WRT to sizing, it's more a matter of what you find comfortable. I've never bought one on ebay, but I know that when my wife buys athletic clothing there, the listing usually includes a picture of the owner wearing it and this gives an idea of sizing.

garroad_ran

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I didn't realize it was possible to rent wetsuits, so it didn't even occur to me that it might be included in my course. I'll be sure to ask the school about that.