Neoprene hood

In this category you will find our neoprene hoods. Neoprene hoods are great to have if you're going diving in Ireland. The water can be cold here, and at low temperatures it's essential to keep your head warm and protected. However, they're also useful even if you're diving in warmer countries.

If you're on holiday and plan to go underwater several times during the day, your head can easily get chilled even if the water temperatures are relatively high. In these cases, a thin neoprene hood is a good idea to throw in your bag to be on the safe side. If you're looking for a hooded wetsuit that's a smart all-in-one solution, you'll also find it on this page.

Why a neoprene swim cap is a good idea

It's very important to keep your head warm when diving or swimming in open water. As humans, we lose 20 to 40 % of our body heat through our head, so even if the rest of your body is well covered, a cold head can be critical.

Your nervous system, heart, and other vital organs lose their ability to function normally when your body temperature drops. This condition is called hypothermia, and it often occurs when the body comes into contact with water that is too cold. If you stay in the water, it can end up being really dangerous.

Some symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, slowed breathing, clumsiness and lack of coordination, low energy levels and confusion. All of these things can be very dangerous if you're diving. It requires a high level of concentration, focus on the task at hand and the ability to co-ordinate, so it's terrible if you suddenly find yourself without these attributes.

Symptoms start slowly and increase as the body gets colder. Therefore, it can be difficult to recognise if you're getting hypothermia, and unfortunately, sometimes people reach a critical level where others have to intervene and help them.

That's why it's incredibly smart to use a neoprene hood because it can save you a lot of worry, dangerous injuries and serious situations while diving around at the bottom of the sea.

How a neoprene hood keeps you warm

Neoprene is a really smart material that retains heat well. It is used to make wetsuits and consists of a type of imitation rubber that contains a lot of small bubbles. The bubbles create the insulating effect, while also providing good buoyancy when you move in the water. The neoprene doesn't keep you dry, but works by trapping a thin layer of water between your body and the water outside the hood.

Your body heats the water, and in this way your own body heat helps to create the insulating and warming effect of the neoprene.

For the hood to work optimally, it needs to fit snugly around your neck and head. Otherwise, water will slip in through these openings, causing the neoprene to lose its ability to work as it should. It's therefore important to choose a hood in the right size, so it's a good idea to measure around your face and neck to be sure. If you are unfortunate enough to order the wrong one, it can of course be returned for an exchange.

Once you've got your hood in place, consider whether you also need neoprene shoes, swimming trunks, suit and perhaps neoprene gloves - or alternatively a wetsuit. When it comes to swimming, it's really critical to be on the safe side because, as you probably know, the water is a companion that demands a lot of respect.

If you think the water is too warm, you can always take off your protective layers - but if you suddenly find yourself without them, it's good to have them in your bag.

Buy your new neoprene hood at Watery.ie

Buying a neoprene swim cap is a worthwhile investment. Not only is it comfortable because it keeps you warm while diving, but it can actually save your life. All our hoods are of the highest quality, so you can be sure they'll work as they should and last a long time. In addition to an indispensable piece of swimming equipment, you also get a number of other benefits when you buy your neoprene hood here at Watery.ie.

• Free shipping on orders over €79
• 3-5 days delivery
• Our customer service is ready all weekdays from 8 AM to 10 PM

Make sure you order your neoprene swim cap so you're organised. Then you can dive in and explore all the exciting things the sea has to offer.