PEEING IN YOUR WETSUIT

Even though many people consider it embarrassing, peeing in the wetsuit is completely natural and almost inevitable, as a consequence of the so called mammalian dive reflex and in particular of the Gauer-Henry reflex.

During the dive, mechanical factors such as absence of gravity (not 100% correct but let me put it this way), vasoconstriction due to temperature loss and increased environmental pressure trigger a substantial blood flow from the body extremities to our body core and thus towards our vital organs, giving them the false impression of a fluid overload.

The extra blood volume activates mechanoreceptors located in the surface of heart and lungs that transmit to the kidneys an order to produce urine, in an attempt to regain the fluid balance in the body.

As easy as that!

So, scientifically seen, peeing while diving is very natural because it is a survival mechanism!

Anyway, if peeing in the wetsuit is really unavoidable and socially accepted (among divers, at least...) for sure we can minimize its consequences, for the sakes of our dive buddies, with some simple rules:

• before the dive avoid diuretic beverages such as coffe, to reduce the urge. Anyhow, keep in mind that pre-dive hydration is essential to prevent DCS and the amount of water in your body plays only a secondary role in the diuresis process. On the contrary, a lack of water in your body will result in an stronger smell;

• buy your personal wetsuit as soon as possible, avoid peeing in rental suites. Do it for you, for the next customer and for who is going to clean the wetsuit after you used it, as a matter of respect;

• if you need to pee, do it early in the dive and not in the very end of it;

• during the dive open the neck of your wetsuit and let some water inside it before climbing back to the boat, it will help to reduce the smell;

• never hang the wetsuit upwind on the boat: if you do not smell it, this does not mean that also the other don’t!

• when you rinse the wetsuit do not put it in the same tank with other people, use the shower and rinse the wetsuit inside out with abundant neutral soap;

• remember that urine contains bacteria: clean the wetsuit inside-out, with neutral soap, and let it dry carefully before turning it over.

PLEASE DO NOT PEE:

• in your semi-dry!
• in your drysuit (unless it has a pee valve)!