A good wetsuit isn't cheap, and how you look after it between dives has more effect on its lifespan than how often you use it. Neoprene breaks down from salt, sun and rough handling long before the seams wear out. A few minutes of care after every dive will keep a wetsuit performing well for years instead of one or two seasons.
Rinse it every time
Salt, chlorine and sand left in the neoprene dry out and stiffen the material. Rinse your wetsuit in fresh water as soon as you can after every dive or swim — inside and out, paying extra attention to the zipper. If you can't rinse straight away, keep it wet in a bag rather than letting salt water dry on it.
Skip the regular detergent
Everyday laundry detergent and fabric softener strip the natural oils out of neoprene and break down the glue in the seams. A dedicated wetsuit wash — like Adrenalin Wetsuit & Gear Wash — removes the smell and bacteria without damaging the material. It's a small cost against a suit that can run into the hundreds of dollars.
Dry it the right way
Hang your wetsuit on a wide, rounded hanger such as the Ocean Pro Multi Purpose Hanger— a wire coat hanger will crease and eventually tear the shoulders. Dry it inside out first so the inner lining dries faster, then turn it right side out to finish. Keep it out of direct sun; UV breaks down neoprene and fades colour faster than almost anything else.
Store it flat or loosely hung
Long-term storage matters as much as drying. Fold as little as possible — sharp folds held for weeks create permanent creases in the neoprene. A wide wetsuit hanger in a cool, dark cupboard is ideal. Avoid hot cars, garages, or anywhere the wetsuit will sit compressed for long periods.
Small tears don't mean a new wetsuit
A neoprene cement such as Gear Aid Aquaseal or Cressi Wetsuit Cement will fix small seam splits and pinholes in minutes, and a lifting seam can usually be resealed rather than replaced. Worth doing before a small tear grows on the next dive.
Browse our Scuba Diving Wetsuits, Spearfishing & Freediving Wetsuits and Snorkelling Wetsuits ranges, or check our Size Guides to get the fit right before you buy.