How to Dry a Freediving Wetsuit

Why Drying Your Freediving Wetsuit Matters

A freediving wetsuit is a different animal from a surf suit. The open-cell neoprene on the inside is soft, sticky, and built to hug your skin without a lining. That same open-cell foam soaks up water and holds it, which is great for warmth and rough on the suit if you let it stay wet. The way you dry a freediving wetsuit decides how long it lasts. Salt crystals, trapped moisture, and direct sun are the three things that wreck neoprene early. Salt left in the foam draws water back in and keeps the suit damp for days. Trapped moisture turns into that locker-room smell you can never fully rinse out. And UV light slowly bakes the neoprene until it gets stiff and starts to split at the seams. The good news is that drying a freediving wetsuit correctly takes about ten extra minutes and a shady spot. Do it after every session and your suit stays soft, warm, and ready when you are.

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Freediving wetsuit hanging on a wide hanger to dry in the shade

A wide hanger and a shady, breezy spot do most of the work.

How to Dry a Freediving Wetsuit Step by Step

Rinse in cool fresh water first. Salt is the enemy of open-cell neoprene, so flush both the inside and outside before you dry anything. Skip hot water, it breaks down the foam.

Turn the suit inside out to start. The open-cell lining holds the most water, so dry that side first. Once it feels dry to the touch, flip it back to dry the smooth outer skin.

Hang it over a wide hanger or a folded towel on a rail. Thin wire hangers leave a dent and stress the shoulders. Spread the weight across something broad so the neoprene keeps its shape.

Keep it in the shade with airflow. A breezy carport, a covered porch, or an open room all beat direct sun. Never dry a freediving wetsuit in full sunlight.

Let it dry fully before storage. Pack a damp suit and you invite mildew and odor. When both sides feel dry, store it flat or on a wide hanger, never folded tight in a hot car.

Common Mistakes That Ruin a Freediving Wetsuit

The fastest way to age a freediving wetsuit is to dry it in the sun. UV light is brutal on neoprene, and a few sunny afternoons can turn a soft suit brittle. The second mistake is heat. Radiators, hair dryers, hot car trunks, and tumble dryers all melt the cell structure and shrink the foam. If it feels warm to your hand, it is too warm for your suit. Folding a wet suit into a tight ball is another quiet killer, because creases trap moisture and become permanent weak lines that crack over time. And rushing the job matters too. A suit that feels dry on the outside is often still wet in the lining, so give it the extra hour. One more tip for travel and dive trips: do not leave a soaked suit balled up in a sealed bag overnight. That is how a good suit picks up a smell you cannot rinse out. A breathable bag that lets the suit air out on the drive home solves most of this for you.

Common Questions

How long does a freediving wetsuit take to dry?

In a shady, breezy spot it usually takes a few hours per side, so plan on most of a day for a full dry. Open-cell neoprene holds more water than lined suits, so the inside always takes longer than the outside.

Can I dry my freediving wetsuit in the sun?

No. Direct sun and UV light dry out the neoprene and make it stiff and crack-prone. Always dry it in the shade with good airflow instead.

Should I dry it inside out or right side out?

Start inside out so the open-cell lining dries first, since that side holds the most water. Once the lining is dry, flip it to finish the smooth outer skin.

How do I stop my wetsuit from smelling?

Rinse out the salt with fresh water, dry the suit fully before storing it, and never leave it wet in a sealed bag. Most odor comes from moisture trapped during transport or storage.

Get Your Suit Home Dry, Not Funky

The Dry Bag is built for the drive home from the water. It airs out your gear instead of trapping it, so your freediving wetsuit shows up ready to hang and dry instead of soaked in a sealed ball. Simple, roomy, and made for wet kit.

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