You should also wear a life jacket when playing water sports or performing any other water activity, including swimming. In any of these circumstances, a life jacket will help you stay afloat and can help prevent drowning. When shopping for life jackets you’ll come across different types suitable for different water-related activities, so understanding each type’s intended use is extremely important.

Class I: Bigger and More Buoyant

Also called offshore life vest, these personal flotation devices are designed to keep an individual afloat and face up for long periods. Class I PFDs provide 10 kilos of buoyancy, which is the most of any PDF, and are designed to be used in deep, open waters where a person may be in the water for quite a long time before help arrives. While these life jackets are bulkier than other types, they are most likely to keep an unconscious person face-up in water for the longest period of time.

Class II: The Standard in the Industry

Also known as near-shore buoyant vests, these are the most common life jackets. They provide 7 kilos of buoyancy and can turn an unconscious person face-up. They are suggested for use in calm inland water where any rescue would be relatively swift. These life jackets come in a variety of shapes and sizes designed for both adults and children.

Class III: Floatation Aids

These floatation devices come in different sizes and shapes and are designed for use in calm, inland waters where rescue will be swift. Although these life jackets also provide 7 kilos of buoyancy, they are not very likely to turn an unconscious person over.

Class IV: Throwable Aids

These flotation devices don’t replace wearable PFDs – they are designed to be used only for extra support or to help someone who was not wearing their life jacket. Common types of throwable aids include ring buoys, horseshoe buoys, boat cushions, and others. Note that these devices are only useful if they are kept readily accessible to be thrown quickly in the event of an emergency. They are not suitable for children, non-swimmers or anyone unconscious.

Inflatable Life Jackets

These floating devices are designed to take up less space. They rely on internal chambers that when inflated, provide buoyancy. If you decide to use an inflatable life jacket, it is extremely important that you become familiar with the manufacturer’s instructions and that you choose a device that is the appropriate size.

Many people are wondering are inflatable life jackets safe. The safety of these PFDs will depend on periodic maintenance. When an inflatable life jacket fails to inflate properly, the results can be life-threatening. Fabric degradation, bladder leaks or improperly installed CO2 cylinder is all it takes to render an inflatable life jacket ineffective by preventing its inflation or ability to stay inflated.

Different manufacturers will have different maintenance instructions for their products and directions for the users to service and inspect the devices. Proper maintenance service and inspection will ensure all parts of the device are checked and in good working order. When it comes to how long do inflatable life jackets last, they are limited to ten years. The service life of a life jacket is limited due to the fact that materials degrade.

Finding the Right PFD Size

Life jackets come in all shapes and sizes. Make sure you read the PFD manufacturer’s recommendation on sizing, which is based on a person’s weight, to determine if the PFD is appropriate. PFDs are available in child and adult sizes. Never allow an adult to wear a child-size FPD and vice versa. Make sure that everyone tries their lifejacket to ensure it is the proper fit. A good fit means the vest should be snug but not overly tight, and all fasteners should close completely.

How to Test Personal Floatation Device?

Over time, the foam of personal flotation devices will shrink and lose some of its buoyancy. So, every couple of years, you should consider checking how much float yours has left. One easy and quick way to do that is by wading into chest-deep water, bending your knees and floating on your back. Your life jacket should be able to keep your chin above the water and you should be able to breathe easily.

Make sure that children wear their lifejackets at all times. Also, test the units before each use and make sure your children know how to use them as some kids may panic when wearing them.

Do dogs have to wear life jackets on boats? Yes, they do. All dogs, whether they love water or not, can easily panic due to an unexpected fall or leap into the water. This is quite true when boating with your dog. Dog life jackets come with safety grab handles that help if there is ever a dog overboard situation.

If you too are addicted to the mesmerising underwater beauty of Australia, you might want to start considering buying your very own gear. Of course, it’s better to start with the little things like the mask and fins. However waiting too long or even refusing to buy your own wetsuit makes no sense since there are many reasons an individual one is better than a rental.

More Hygienic

I don’t want to sound disgusting, but it’s a well known fact that divers tend to relieve themselves in their wetsuits. And don’t act naïve like you don’t too. When you are dozens of meters below the surface of the water, the whole sea is your toilet bowl. But even if a wetsuit somehow managed to remain unsoiled, it still has touched the bodies of dozens and dozens of strangers. If you would never wear underwear that was used by another person, why should a wetsuit be any different? And while dive centres clean the rentals after every use, they do so by soaking all of them in one big basin for about an hour and then let them dry. Obviously, this doesn’t kill all the bacteria and you still risk catching a nasty fungal infection from a badly washed suit.

Better Fit

By having the option to choose the material, size and thickness of the wetsuit, you ensure that your diving experience will be as comfortable as possible. A good fitting wetsuit can mould around your body and glue to your skin which is important for preventing water from leaking in. And if a lot of water leaks in, it doesn’t matter how thermo-insulated the suit is, you still have the risk of suffering from hypothermia. The usual areas that let water in are the neck openings. Luckily, wetsuit Australia makers have gotten better at detecting flaws, and have adjusted their designs to be more secure around the openings. And there are also models which entirely eliminate the collar opening by attaching the hood directly on to it. Moreover, rental suits are usually universal for both genders. But if you buy your very own suit you can choose a female or male one. Having a suit that perfectly fits your anatomy can prevent feelings of discomfort around certain areas.

Peace of Mind

Down there, you never know what you may encounter. The sea can be full of sharp objects such as bits of broken shells, shipwreck remains, barnacle-encrusted rocks and all kinds of dinghies people throw in it. Diving with a low-quality wetsuit can make you susceptible to cuts, injuries and stings from the various poisonous aquatic creatures. Because rental centres usually purchase the cheapest types of suits, chances are you won’t get a proper layer of protection.

But by choosing your own wetsuit, on the other hand, you have the ability to pick out a model with greater protection levels. This means you should suit up with the thickest model available that’s also laminated with a protection layer such as Kevlar if you’re planing to swim in potentially dangerous waters. With a thick and secure wetsuit Australia reefs will no longer be a cause of fear. Moreover, by having your own suit, you know for certain whether there are any cuts and tears in it that will expose you to the chilling waters.