Snorkeling for Kids - Using a Wetsuit for Your Child

A Necessary Snorkeling Item for Kids - A Good Wetsuit

Snorkeling is one of our family's favorite activities.  We only usually check two bags, at the airport, on a vacation, and one of them is packed with snorkeling gear!  That being said, good snorkel gear is very important in our family.  Through some trial and error, we found that the biggest thing that ends children's fun when snorkeling --- is getting cold.  Being chilled will make nearly every child want to stop snorkeling and head for the beach.  Because of their smaller size, children become colder much faster than adults.

The solution to this problem is a great fitting wetsuit.  We have tried renting them, but have decided for our family, the best choice is to buy.  Currently, my son has a very nice suit that was picked up second hand for $15 and my daughter has one that we purchased from a a great online shop for $35.  http://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/wetsuits/category/kids-juniors-wetsuits.html

Wetsuits with Easy-Use Back Zippers

Our vacation destinations are usually lovely tropical islands, with warm waters.  However, even the warm tropical waters chill most children before the adults want to stop snorkeling.  A snug-fitting, thick neoprene wetsuit can double the amount of time (in our experience), that your child, will comfortably be able to snorkel.  When considering how much money is spent to take a vacation, an extra $15-50 for a wetsuit is a tiny investment.  The wetsuit will make your child more buoyant, keep them warm, and make snorkeling more enjoyable for everyone.

Our preference is the shorty wetsuit, which allows your child plenty of freedom of movement.  A full wetsuit can be restricting and then your child will likely not be inclined to wear it.  If you have a very young child, we highly recommend a warm belly wetsuit!  It is super cute and works exceptionally well and is one of the only thick wetsuit sized for a young child.  http://www.warmbelly.com/

Hang to Fully Dry

Once you own a great wetsuit, it is important to care for it properly.  At the beach, rinse well in fresh water (in Hawaii there are usually always open-air showers available).  And, once home, we learned the easiest way to clean them up (from a great snorkel tour group), simply fill a bath tub with some fresh water and a little bit of baby shampoo.  Then make sure to fully wash them off, inside and out.  Once rinsed well with the soapy water, rinse with fresh water, and hang to dry.  When fully dry, store for the next vacation.  A good wetsuit, will keep everyone in the water longer... and for our family, that is a great thing!