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Skins and Rash Guards

Skins and Rash Guards are designed to protect your skin from harmful UV rays and irritation you may get from your gear. Whether you are swimming, surfing, snorkeling, or scuba diving, Rash Guards will help you feel more comfortable and secure. Rash guards come in various styles, thicknesses, and fabrics depending on their purpose. Most are made of spandex, nylon or polyester. Both skins and rash guards can be worn either by themselves or under a wetsuit.

A rash guard, worn by itself, is used only in warm tropical waters. Its purpose is to provide slight coverage against jellyfish stings and protection from the sun (measured by its Ultraviolet Protection Factor). While not as thick and strong as a wetsuit, a rash guard can also help to avoid irritation caused by rapid impact with surface water or waves.

Some divers prefer to wear a rash guard under a wetsuit to prevent chafing or add some extra insulation. A major benefit of wearing skins and rash guards under your wetsuit is that neoprene will slide better against lycra than against your skin, thus it will be easier to get in and out of your suit.

Clearly, skins and rash guards can’t provide the same level of thermal protection as wetsuits, but there are models that can give you some extra warmth in cold water. Thermal rash guards are usually made of thicker insulating fabric and are a perfect solution if you need to stay in chilly water for an extended period of time.

Other important features to pay attention to when choosing a rash guard include flatlock stitching and six-panel construction.

Here, at Dip ‘N Dive you can choose from Long Sleeve or Short Sleeve Rash Guards. We also carry Dive Skins - one-piece bodysuits with the same type of protection.