close
Peeing in Your Wetsuit: Hot or Not?

Peeing in Your Wetsuit: Hot or Not?

Written by Leisure Pro Staff
|
Published on November 25, 2014

They say there are two types of divers in the world: those who pee in their wetsuits, and those who lie about it, making the subject one of the more uncomfortable discussions on the dive boat.

Peeing in your wetsuit may sound pretty gross to you, but every diver faces this call of nature at some point in their diving life. There are actually some pretty compelling reasons to do it even though it isn’t the most pleasant thought. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of peeing in your wetsuit.

Let it go, let it go…

It is perfectly natural to have the urge to pee when you are diving. There is a biological phenomenon known as immersion diuresis. When your body goes into cold water, the blood vessels constrict. This causes your blood pressure to rise, which in turn leads to the sensation of needing to pee. Therefore, it can make you feel very uncomfortable if you resist the urge to pee while you are diving. Peeing in your wetsuit can be a huge relief and allow you to enjoy yourself without being distracted by fighting the urge to urinate.

Another positive about peeing in your wetsuit is that it can warm you up for a while. The first time you pee in your wetsuit, you may be surprised at how good this warmth actually feels, and could possibly find yourself trying to shift it throughout your suit.

The convenience of peeing while diving is also a consideration. It’s not common for most dive boats to have bathrooms (unless you’re on a liveaboard or a “party boat”). You don’t want to cut short a dive by having to surface to pee outside of your wetsuit, and that is just one reason why many divers go ahead and pee on the dive.

Hold it now!

When you pee in your wetsuit, it obviously soils it, which can cause quite a stink. Also, peeing in your wetsuit can actually cause damage to the suit. Urine can be especially harmful to the seals on a wetsuit, causing them to age and break down prematurely.

peeing in your wetsuit

The pee in your wetsuit can also be a health hazard, leading to a rash that is very similar to diaper rash if you do it all the time and don’t take measures to clean the suit afterward.

To avoid these consequences, make sure that you thoroughly rinse your wetsuit with fresh water after every diving session, and treat it with a wetsuit shampoo or a product like Sink the Stink fairly regularly to make sure there’s no lingering urine.

Whether you admit to peeing in your wetsuit or not, rest assured you aren’t some disgusting freak that will be named and shamed. But don’t ever think this excuses a number two!

Leisure Pro Staff

Leisure Pro Staff

Marketing Director for LeisurePro