Do you pee in your wetsuit?

Let’s face it — if you’re a scuba diver, at some point, you’ll face the age-old question every diver asks themselves underwater: to pee, or not to pee? It’s one of diving’s most divisive debates, right up there with split fins or boat vs shore diving. Some divers openly admit to peeing in their wetsuit and others...deny it! But there's no judgment here. Just for interest, let’s see what the science is, the best logistics and the options available. There's no right or wrong (if its your own wetsuit), just a casual questions; do you pee in your wetsuit?

Do you hold it in...or let it go?

Staying hydrated

You might think that since you’re surrounded by water, you don’t need to drink it. Wrong! Diving actually dehydrates you way more than you think and it would surprise you how much extra water you need to drink to compensate for this.

Firstly, the air in scuba tanks is extremely dry. With every breath you take, your body has to draw moisture from your body so your lungs can humidify that air.

Then there is the immersion diuresis effect, which means, simply being in the water makes us pee more than usual.

Lastly, there is sweating. A lot of diving destinations are in the tropics. Especially when you are not used to the heat, you can expect to sweat…a lot!

Add these factors to hot sun, salty water and aeroplane travel, and you have the real potential of turning into a human raisin! Not to mention, dehydration is a contributing factor of DCS – even more important to stay hydrated when diving.

DAN recommends drinking 2L of water extra, on top of your normal daily intake if you are diving. So basically, every tank you dive, you should drink a large bottle of water on top. However, taking on large quantities of water quickly increases urine output too much, meaning the tissues do not have time to hydrate; so the recommendation is slow “pre-loading” before the dives by drinking one glass of water every 15-20mins.

What is immersion diuresis?

In simple terms; when your body is submerged in water, the added pressure and temperature change, cause your blood vessels to constrict. Blood then gets shunted to your core and away from your peripheries. The extra blood volume around your chest, is interpreted by our body as overhydration. So our brain sends a message to the kidneys to respond by making us urinate more, to get rid of the “excess” fluid. The result? That sudden urge to pee as soon as you back roll in or the moment you settle into the perfect hover over the reef.

The Flush

The same as if you pee in the toilet; if you pee in your wetsuit, its better to flush after. This will avoid the skin irritation, damage to the wetsuit and the smell when you get out the water. Here’s a couple of tips to flushing after you pee:

• The Classic Cuff Waft: Gently pull your wetsuit neck open and “waft” in fresh water. Remember to waft your ankles also – especially if you are in a semi dry. Its simple, discreet and effective.

• The Advanced Diver Flush: Turn upside down, use your alternate air source, and purge a jet of air down your neck. The bubbles rush through the suit and out your feet — ta-da, instant rinse! Just make sure you are aware of your surroundings, and don’t loose buoyancy. It’s very effective but not so discreet!

The debate:

Pros of peeing in your wetsuit:

• If you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go!

• Who would know?! You can be diving along and think that your buddy is concentrating on that cool nudi, but actually they are just concentrating on having a pee.

• Instant and sweet, sweet relief so you can carry on and enjoy the dive.

• Warms you up, but only momentarily, then most likely will make you colder than before, so probably not a real pro!

• There’s no shame in it; everyone’s done it (even if they say they haven’t – they for sure have!)

Cons:

• Wetsuit smell: The ammonia in your urine plus the smell of wet neoprene creates a really quite unpleasant smell. This will probably not go unnoticed when you get back on the boat or back to the dive centre.

• Skin irritation: Trapped urine in the wetsuit can cause itchy red rashes or possible infections if left too long, especially in tropical conditions where is hot and moist anyway.

• Wetsuit wear: Occasional peeing won’t destroy your suit, but over time, the bacteria can break down neoprene and zippers. So if you do pee in your wetsuit, make sure to wash it properly afterwards.

Alternative Options

Not all dive boats have toilets, and sometimes the ocean is your only option. And if you just can’t bear the thought of a warm, urine soaked wetsuit on your dive, there are other options. You can pee before/after the dive by taking off your wetsuit and jumping in next to the boat and letting go. But it’s not always as simple as it sounds. It is not uncommon for some divers to jump in the water to relieve themselves only to find that they physically can’t go. This is due to something called the “guarding reflex.” It is generally used to avoid us from embarrassing “leaking” when coughing/laughing by tightening everything. But when you’re in water and under slight pressure, your body confuses this pressure as unwanted, and your pelvic muscles tighten, trying to avoid accidental leakage and making it very hard to release!

Pro tip: Relax as much as you can (and think of waterfalls and running water). Eventually, nature should take its course.

There are also other alternatives to classic wetsuits so you can pee more easily:

Two-piece wetsuits: Easier access, and more direct and more effective “wafting” options.

Crotch-zip wetsuits: Yes, they exist: Fashion meets function. The best option for a subtle during-the-dive-pee, without the need to flush!

At the end of the day, whether you’re a proud pee-in-the-wetsuit diver or a hold-it-‘til-the-boat kind of person, remember:

• Stay hydrated – this is absolutely crucial when diving and will help to avoid DCS.

• Rinse your wetsuit really well. Use an eco friendly and natural soap. Hanging inside out in the sun can also benefit, as the UV rays can kill bacteria.

• And never, ever borrow a rental wetsuit without giving it a good sniff first.

Because underwater, there are two kinds of divers — those who pee in their wetsuit… and those who lie - so do you pee in your wetsuit ;) ?