Page 265 - Anthropometry, Apparel Sizing and Design

260 Anthropometry, Apparel Sizing and Design

if the shape compresses ears on a high level. Particular suit areas are additionally sup-
ported by double neoprene layer, while soft endings on trousers and sleeves enable
normal circulation to the extremities.
Neoprene density is also one of the important parameters that affects diving suit
functionality (The Guide to Spearfishing in New South Wales, 2008). Divers who dive
intensively at depths higher than 20m will certainly choose suit of neoprene with
higher density, considering it provides a lower compression during a dive in greater
depth and does not allow big changes in lift force. If the suit compresses during
increased pressure, lift force will be lower, and there is a chance for lead that divers
carry around their belts to enter the zone of negative flow; in other words, the diver
will begin to sink. As an additional quality, the characteristic of this kind of suits is a
design of knitted material that is laminated outside of neoprene. Spearfishers believe
that suit with camouflage colors and pattern is less visible to the fish. However, the
professionals in the field have a strong and opposite opinion about this issue. That’s
why there is no standardized coloring that will be best for protection and reduction of
visibility of a diver in the sea depth. Because of the reduction of sunlight under the sea
surface, visibility of color quickly disappears. For example, red colors become invis-
ible at approximately 5m under the sea. Selection of diving suit design is most
dependable on the diver’s choice of colors and patterns.

10.3.3 Free diving suits—Diving on breath in depth or distance

This type of diving suits is most complicated for realization, considering the high
demands on pattern construction and production technology. This type of activity
requires with a perfect fit on human body. The suits must provide a feeling of soft
compression on the body, without unwanted wrinkling in the joint areas and with a
low friction coefficient and a whole other list of demands referring to lots of details
in order to become high-quality diving suits. Divers in this discipline are exhausted to
the limits, and the quality of diving suit, even in small detailed modifications, can have
a big role on a diver sport score. Professional suits are usually very thin, made out of
1.5-mm or 3-mm neoprene (Naebe et al., 2013). Rarely, neoprene of 5-mm thickness
is used. Dive lasts for a few minutes, and it is important that suit ensures minimal lift
force, which is in this case an advantage considering preservation of body heat. In that
sense, outer side of the suit should have minimal friction coefficient, which can be
achieved with an overlay of titanium foil. Since the position of a diver in motion is
with arms spread above the head, construction of diving suit is a little bit different
comparing with suits for spearfishing, which is why this type of suit is selected
and developed in the research project presented in this chapter.

10.4 Modern anthropometry approach

The application of the 3D body scanners has an increasing implementation in the field
of body measurement for garment construction in the last two decades (Fan et al.,
2004; D’Apuzzo, 2009; Chun and Oh, 2004). In addition, to determine the linear body