Putting on a wetsuit is many scuba divers' least favorite part of diving. Because a properly fitting wetsuit needs to be fairly snug to be most effective, getting into a wetsuit can be a real struggle. And the colder the water you dive, the thicker the neoprene (not to mention adding hoods, gloves & boots), and the harder it can be to get into your wetsuit. Add curves to pull the neoprene over/around, and it can seem like a lot of work just to get "dressed" to go diving, especially for newer scuba divers.
Rather than waste energy before the dive tugging and pulling at the neoprene, there are a few things you can do to help get your wetsuit on more easily.
My personal favorite way to make the chore of donning a wetsuit less cumbersome is to wear a lycra skinsuit underneath. Lycra skinsuits are widely available, and they make it much easier to slide the neoprene over your body. They are very stretchy, and each size can fit a wide range of body types & shapes. Skinsuits also give great protection from sunburn when you're not in your wetsuit, and can be worn in waters too warm for a wetsuit to provide protection from stings and abrasions as well. Skinsuits designed for scuba diving have the additional advantage of having a small padded strip down the spine to provide a bit of extra cushioning between you and your BCD.
If you don't want to buy a lycra skinsuit, Under Armour or similarly smooth athletic wear and surfing rashguards work well. For budget conscious women divers, any cheap pair of nylon pantyhose or tights will do to help get the suit up and over your hips. (This technique is used by male divers as well, but not as often.)
Some people recommend putting plastic bags (like the kind found at most supermarkets in the US) over your feet when you don your wetsuit. I have found this method slightly helpful for students of mine who have trouble getting their feet/heels through the end of the wetsuit (ditto for hands/wrists).
Of course if you take the ease of donning a wetsuit into consideration before you purchase one, then there are several features you can look for. As materials technologies continue to progress, wetsuit manufacturers are making suits with more elastic (stretchier) forms of neoprene every year. Each manufacturer usually has its own proprietary name for their high-tech, elastic neoprene (or similar material), and they charge more for suits made out of that material. If you can afford the difference in price, the stretchier material usually does make it much easier to get into the wetsuit. However, be aware that some suits with increased stretchability have decreased insulative properties, meaning that they are not quite as warm as the same thickness of suit in a regular neoprene.
Another feature of wetsuits that makes them easier to put on is a smooth interior surface. A good cut for your body shape is also helpful, since the suit won't need to stretch as much to fit around your curves. Wetsuits with zippers and gussets around the ankles and wrists are also beneficial. At least one manufacturer (Wetwear) now makes suits with an option they call "EZ-ON" that has zippers that extend up the leg all the way to the thigh, and all the way up the forearm to the bicep. I've never tried an EZ-ON suit. From what I can tell, it looks like it would be very easy to get into, but I'm not sure that having zippers going so far up my arms and legs would be comfortable throughout the dive. I'd love to hear from anyone that's actually tried it. Feel free to send me a message, or leave your thoughts in the comments area!
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