Join DiveBuddy.com

Meet new scuba divers, maintain a virtual dive log, participate in our forum, share underwater photos, research dive sites and more. Members login here.

#135
Lube. Yep. Lube.
Jacob_Boprie - 4/20/2015 5:51 PM
Category: New Diver Q&A
Replies: 15

So a friend of mine recommended lube to get into a wetsuit. While I usually just put my suit on in the water but it was an interesting suggestion. So does anyone use lube? If so what do you use?
#3720
Subscribed
tstormdiver - 4/20/2015 6:43 PM
Nope. Seems a little messy to me. How about a lycra skin? Soapy water? plastic grocery bags? One thing people sometimes forget, if you are wet & the suit is dry or you are dry & the suit is wet,... it will be a pain. If you are wet & the suit is wet (as you do) or you are dry & the suit is also dry,... much easier.
#5828
Agojo - 4/20/2015 8:10 PM
Lycra skin and lycra socks works well wet or dry. Lycra glove liners are also available and make getting those 5 mil gloves off when wet a lot easier.
#135
Subscribed
Jacob_Boprie - 4/21/2015 5:23 AM
Yeah the messy part is what turned me away from the idea I think. I did a little searching before posting on here and found a million different types. Seems water and hair conditioner is the most common mix but that doesn’t seem good for the water.
#20384
LatitudeAdjustment - 4/21/2015 6:02 AM
I’ve seen someone use watered down baby shampoo to slide in. My problem has always been getting out of my 7 mil, the 3 mil’s are not an issue.
#1639
Subscribed
SeaGoat - 4/23/2015 6:13 AM
I wear a lycra skin under my thicker (7mm or 9 mm) wetsuits. You may also want to consider buying a more flexible wetsuit. If your budget conscious, XS Scuba’s Flex suits are good. My favorite are the Henderson Hyperflex suits if you are willing to splurge.
#135
Subscribed
Jacob_Boprie - 4/23/2015 7:35 AM
Living and diving in Michigan means a 7mm wetsuit for me. Usually its alright to get in and out of as long as I’m in the water. Speaking of which, I’m glad to get my diving kit together only to have it snow here....in April.
#72
Subscribed
Fldivebum - 6/09/2015 11:03 AM
I just soak my suit in water, wet myself down and slide right in.. If I`m dry, it IS a pain...
#2635
Subscribed
John_giu - 6/22/2015 8:12 PM
A generic KY (NO HE DIDN’T SAT THATTTTT!) type water soluble lube can be had at any pharmacy.
Just add some condoms to the order so you wont be embarrassed by the lube.

I’ve tried it, other than odd looks you get it works well and washes out clean. I wouldn’t use a petroleum based lube as it is probably hard on aquatic life and neoprene.
A few plastic bags in your dive bad work well for getting your feet through the ankle of a wet suit.

I guess wet works if you are diving warm water, but light weight wet suits aren’t the problem it’s those 7mil cold water suits.
#413
searly28 - 7/07/2015 4:47 AM
Well, in the old days, we used baby powder. These days I don’t use anything, but the baby powder still works great. Just shake some in your suit and hop in.
#2635
Subscribed
John_giu - 7/07/2015 5:52 AM
From searly28: ell, in the old days, we used baby powder. These days I don’t use anything, but the baby powder still works great. Just shake some in your suit and hop in.

And you get to smell baby fresh.
#413
searly28 - 7/07/2015 6:15 AM
Yep, an added bonus, but only briefly.
#267
Subscribed
Starky - 6/26/2017 12:27 PM
Ok, I’m a new diver but this works great for me. I saw a video from Australia and they used plastic shopping bags. Just slip your foot or hand in the bag and it slides right into the suit wet or dry. The problem I find with this method is getting the bag out once your arm or leg is in the suit. The bags are so thin that they tear easily if you are wet. I swapped the shopping bag for an ice bag and I am able to pull on it a little harder to get it out. I just recently completed my advanced open water and used this method several times as it was hot and we were in and out of our suits. Even my instructor had not seen this method and was impressed on how little trouble I had getting into a wet wetsuit. Hey, something to try anyway.
#2242
MDW - 11/02/2018 2:29 PM
KY works great for drysuit seals, but I don’t think I want to slather my whole body in it to don a wetsuit.
I like the plastic bag idea. the keep yourself and the suit dry until you get in it idea works well, but not if you already dove the suit today (or yesterday or the day before if it’s not hot and dry season). Lycra works well, for arms and legs, but most people don’t have lycra gloves and socks for hands and feet. Maybe a hybrid of lycra jumpsuit for body and KY just on hand and foot would be a compromise solution.