RETAILING To Pee or Not to Pee: “Urine” Good Company – by Gil Zeimer, ScubaStoryteller.com and Zeimer.com, San Rafael, CA
Gil has authored more than 300 scuba articles that have appeared in over 25 magazines and websites, look for his first book “Scuba Storyteller: Mostly Humorous Diving Tales by an Addicted AquaNut”, available in December, 2025.
Repeated exposure can degrade neoprene and seals, ▪ shortening suit life. Consistent rinsing, disinfecting, and drying suits pre- ▪ vents odor, irritation, and microbial buildup. Rental operations should have clear cleaning protocols ▪ to prevent cross-contamination. What O’Neill Wetsuits Advises: To optimize the life of a wetsuit, especially when dealing with unique situations like peeing in it, we recommend the following: 1. Rinse Thoroughly: After each use, rinse the wetsuit with fresh water to remove salt, sand, and any other residues. 2. Use Wetsuit Shampoo: Clean the wetsuit with a special- ized wetsuit shampoo every 3-5 uses to maintain its flexibility and longevity. 3. Dry Properly: Hang the wetsuit in a shaded area to dry, avoiding direct sunlight, which can degrade the neo- prene. These steps will help maintain the wetsuit's con- dition and extend its lifespan. What Dive Shop Owners Say Jon Edens, Owner, Marin Diving Center, San Rafael, CA: “I would say the majority of people do. We have every- one wash their rental equipment before returning it. Then, it all gets washed again in a solution of anti-microbial sham- poo. BTW, I have, but I try not to.” Jeff Cinciripino, Former Owner, Scuba Shack, New- ington, CT (and writer): “At our dive shop, we had stu-
I’ve always heard that there are two types of divers: those who pee in their wetsuits and those who lie about doing a number (or two) underwater. If so, is peeing in your wetsuit the “#1” issue in the industry? Have you ever done it? If you’re a dive shop or
liveaboard operator, what’s your policy with divers who uri- nate indiscriminately in their rented wetsuits or drysuits? In this article, I’ve polled DAN, a wetsuit manufacturer, shop owners, our various writers, and dive buddies about how they’re dealing with a problem every diver has faced at one time or another, some of the health implications, and the best practices for cleaning rental suits. My First Time Was Just This Year. After 40 years of div- ing, I finally became a member of the “P Club” during eight days of two-tank dives in Palau earlier this year. Embarrass- ingly, I have to admit that I felt so relieved and warmed af- terward on multiple occasions, even in 85º water. There were two reasons why this finally happened to me. First, the dive boats in Palau for our five-hour daily excur- sions did not have heads. Second, I was taking Sudafed to combat nasal congestion, and a side effect causes increased and more frequent urine production, so I had to pee virtu- ally every hour or two during my entire trip. What Leandra Lynn, AEMT at DAN Recommends: Urination during immersion is ▪ common and not harmful with lim- ited exposure. Holding urine can cause bladder ▪ discomfort or increase UTI risk. Urine trapped in neoprene or liners ▪ If the wetsuit is too tight, leaving little space for urine ▪ to be held, starting urination could be challenging and might stop before emptying the bladder completely, even with the urethra still open. This can lead to reflux, which increases the risk of urinary tract infections. Small stinging organisms (like hydroids, larvae, or jel- ▪ lyfish remnants) may be activated by urine, causing welts or stings. can lead to skin irritation, rashes, or bacterial/fungal growth if suits aren’t properly cleaned and dried.
dents and customers turn their wetsuits right-side-out because we knew what they did in them despite our suggestion not to. Then each suit was washed in a cleaning solution. Often, we needed to change the rinse tank because of the smell. Many times, it took several wash- ings to get rid of the stench. We were
fastidious in our effort to ensure that all traces of urine were removed. I DO NOT pee in my wetsuit and have always discouraged students and customers from doing so. It is un- sanitary and inconsiderate, especially when people use the rinse bin to wash out their pee, making it disgusting for oth- ers – that’s why I don’t use the rinse tanks but rather rinse my wetsuit under a shower or someplace where there isn’t someone else’s urine. Peeing in your wetsuit – personally a
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