You can put on a Blueseventy wetsuit for a casual snorkel, but it is not made for that job. A swim wetsuit is built around a horizontal body position and free shoulder rotation. Snorkeling asks the suit to survive kneeling on sand, climbing boat ladders, prolonged sun exposure, and long periods floating upright. Those stresses land on places a swim wetsuit does not reinforce.
Why a swim wetsuit isn't built for snorkeling
Blueseventy suits use Yamamoto neoprene in 38, 39, and 40 cell. Higher cell means more flexibility. The arms and shoulders are cut for rotation through the stroke, so the upper body stays free while you swim. That same thin, flexible neoprene is more delicate than material designed for abrasion on the knees, seat, and lower legs.
Blueseventy also distributes buoyancy differently. A swim wetsuit is shaped to lift your hips and legs into a streamlined horizontal line. That is what buoyancy equals speed means in swimming. During snorkeling, you spend more time upright or floating face-down with fins. The suit will float you, but the fit and panel placement were not designed for that position.
What snorkeling does to a swim wetsuit
- Sitting or kneeling on sand, rocks, or a boat floor abrades the knees and seat.
- Climbing a boat ladder can catch the neoprene and tear it.
- Sunscreen and prolonged sun exposure break down neoprene and fade the outer jersey.
- Sand and grit work into the zipper and seams.
- Fins and mask straps create extra contact points that rub.
None of that is a manufacturing defect. It is wear from an activity the suit was not designed for.
Warranty and non-swimming use
Blueseventy covers manufacturing and material defects for the original owner for one year. The warranty does not cover fingernail punctures, heel tears, zipper damage from force, heat or chlorine damage, or normal wear and tear. Blueseventy excludes non-swimming use. Snorkeling falls into that category. If you snorkel in a Blueseventy suit and tear it, that tear is your repair, not a warranty claim.
The Alliance SwimRun is the only Blueseventy suit warrantied for swimrun use. Every other suit is intended for swimming and triathlon. Different activities put stress in different places.
How to protect the suit if you snorkel anyway
If you are traveling and want to spend 20 minutes looking at a reef in a Fusion or Sprint, you can. Be careful with the suit.
- Stay off the bottom. Float instead of kneeling or standing.
- Enter and exit from sand, not rocks or barnacle-covered ladders.
- Rinse the suit in fresh water inside and out immediately after.
- Dry it in the shade, not direct sun.
- Check the knees, seat, elbows, and zipper for nicks before packing it.
You can repair a small nick with Aquaseal neoprene cement if you catch it early. Let it cure fully before you swim again.
If snorkeling is the main event
If you snorkel more than once in a while, keep your Blueseventy suit for swimming and triathlon. Snorkeling demands different reinforcement. Use dedicated snorkeling gear for the reef and save the swim wetsuit for what it is designed to do.
A note on buoyancy
Blueseventy wetsuits add buoyancy and improve body position while swimming. They are not Coast Guard-certified personal flotation devices. For snorkeling, use whatever flotation the conditions and your ability require. Snorkel with a buddy, watch currents, and stay within your comfort zone in open water.
If open water swimming or triathlon is the reason you need the suit, start with the Blueseventy size tool or take a Test Swim. You can swim in it and still return it if it is not right. Happy swimming.
