How should I care for my freediving wetsuit?

Freediving Wetsuit Care Instructions After diving Directly after diving, thoroughly rinse your wetsuit in fresh water. If you can’t rinse it right away, leave it in a bag with some seawater—don’t let salt water dry on it. After rinsing, leave the wetsuit to air dry in the shade. Don’t dry it in the sun, near a fire, near a central heating system, or in a clothes dryer. Deep-cleaning a wetsuit From time to time, wash your wetsuit with a wetsuit-specific shampoo and follow the directions closely. Remove grease, oil, and other stains with a wetsuit-specific degreaser. Never use petroleum products on your wetsuit or place in a washing machine. Storing a wetsuit Store your dry wetsuit in a cool, dry place and avoid folding it for excessive periods. Folding a wetsuit for short-term transport is acceptable—for long-term storage, lay it flat or hang it on a hanger that doesn’t stretch out the wetsuit. Avoid storing in direct sunlight or close to heat sources. Repairing a wetsuit If you tear your wetsuit, use Neoprene Cement (available at most diving centers or watersports stores) to repair it. Follow the instructions carefully. Never sew smooth skin seams. Fabric-finished surfaces can be loop stitched, but avoid stitching completely through to the opposite side. If you need advice on repairing your wetsuit, contact us by email at info@molchanovs.com —we're happy to help you. Additional Care for PRO Wetsuits Because of the high-quality performance materials used in PRO wetsuits, you must be extra careful when putting on and taking off the wetsuit. We don’t recommend wearing PRO wetsuits for extended periods in direct sunlight. If you must, we recommend wearing a protective fabric T-shirt over the wetsuit to shield the glide skin layer from the sun.

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Female freediver wearing a womens cut fredddiving wetsuit while exploring a reef

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Molchanovs Freediving Wetsuit Features

Two-Piece or One-Piece Wetsuits

Whether you prefer the standard two-piece or the flexibility of a one-piece, we offer both–so you can tailor your wetsuit to your specific freediving needs.

1.5 - 5mm Thickness Options

Stay warm adventuring in any water temperature with neoprene thickness options ranging from toastier dives in the tropics or chillier sessions in a lake.

Full Range of Wetsuit Linings

We have it all–open cell wetsuits for freedivers who need the extra warmth, smoothskin for performance, and double-lined for all-around durability.

Custom Wetsuit Sizing & Features

Keep comfortable with glued and blind-stitched seams and raw cut cuffs. Choose between standard or custom sizes and sleeveless/hoodless options for a personalized fit.

Cut for Freedivers

A raglan cut gives freedivers an unrestricted arrow position, while seams that run under the knees ensure total freedom of movement for no-fins dives.

Trusted by World Champions

Elite freedivers demand the best for their record-breaking performances, which is why they consistently choose Molchanovs wetsuits for their competition dives.

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Freediving Wetsuit FAQs

Click here to see how to put on and take off a wetsuit correctly.

Freediving Wetsuit Care Instructions

After diving

Directly after diving, thoroughly rinse your wetsuit in fresh water. If you can’t rinse it right away, leave it in a bag with some seawater—don’t let salt water dry on it.
After rinsing, leave the wetsuit to air dry in the shade. Don’t dry it in the sun, near a fire, near a central heating system, or in a clothes dryer.

Deep-cleaning a wetsuit

From time to time, wash your wetsuit with a wetsuit-specific shampoo and follow the directions closely. Remove grease, oil, and other stains with a wetsuit-specific degreaser. Never use petroleum products on your wetsuit or place in a washing machine.

Storing a wetsuit

Store your dry wetsuit in a cool, dry place and avoid folding it for excessive periods.
Folding a wetsuit for short-term transport is acceptable—for long-term storage, lay it flat or hang it on a hanger that doesn’t stretch out the wetsuit. Avoid storing in direct sunlight or close to heat sources.

Repairing a wetsuit

If you tear your wetsuit, use Neoprene Cement (available at most diving centers or watersports stores) to repair it. Follow the instructions carefully.
Never sew smooth skin seams. Fabric-finished surfaces can be loop stitched, but avoid stitching completely through to the opposite side.
If you need advice on repairing your wetsuit, contact us by email at info@molchanovs.com—we're happy to help you.

Additional Care for PRO Wetsuits

Because of the high-quality performance materials used in PRO wetsuits, you must be extra careful when putting on and taking off the wetsuit.
We don’t recommend wearing PRO wetsuits for extended periods in direct sunlight. If you must, we recommend wearing a protective fabric T-shirt over the wetsuit to shield the glide skin layer from the sun.

For standard sizes, check the wetsuit’s product page for the sizing chart and choose the size closest to your measurements. If you want to take a step further and order a custom-sized wetsuit, click here to see how to accurately take your measurements.

Every freediver is different when it comes to how quickly they lose heat and start to feel cold in the water. You can use the temperatures and wetsuit thicknesses below as a general recommendation for a 1-hour freediving session:

28°C (82°F) and warmer: 1 - 1.5mm
24 - 28°C (75 - 82°F): 3mm
18 - 24°C (64 - 75°F): 5mm
16 - 17°C (61 - 63°F) and colder: 7mm

Get cold easily?

If you feel chilly quicker than others in the water, choose a wetsuit thickness based on the higher temperature in each of the ranges above. Consider purchasing a wetsuit with an open cell interior, which clings to your skin and minimizes water circulation, keeping you warmer longer. Important note: Open cell wetsuits must be put on in water or with lubricant.

For your time out of the water wearing a wet wetsuit, note that wetsuits with a fabric-lined exterior will feel cooler in windy weather as water evaporates from its surface.