Best Scuba Wetsuits for 2020
- Scubapro Everflex Steamer.
- Henderson Greenprene Men's Jumpsuit.
- Henderson Thermoprene.
- Mares Graph-Flex.
- Bare Velocity Men Full Suit.
- Henderson Thermoprene Pro Hooded Semi-Dry Jumpsuit.
- Cressi Playa Flex 2.5mm Women's Shorty.
- Fourth Element Proteus.
A good wetsuit will be tight enough to maintain a warm layer of water between you and your suit, but not so tight that you can't comfortably move your arms and legs. It should feel snug around your body and neck.
Types of Wetsuits
- Spring suit. A spring suit wetsuit is named as such because it's typically used in transitional seasons, such as spring and autumn.
- Long john wetsuit.
- Short john wetsuits.
- Shorty wetsuit.
- Wetsuit top.
- Wetsuit vest.
- Rashguard.
- Steamer.
The buoyancy of your wetsuit won't change noticeably from one dive to the next, but over time it does lose buoyancy because the thousands of tiny bubbles in the neoprene lose their resiliency and collapse or fill with water. At that point, the wetsuit has less buoyancy and less insulation than when new.
Wetsuit Thickness & Temperature Guide
| Water Temperature Range (°F) | Wetsuit Thickness | Recommended Wetsuit Type |
|---|
| 65°- 75° | 0.5 mm - 2/1 mm | Top / Shorty |
| 62°- 68° | 2 mm - 3/2 mm | Springsuit / Full Suit |
| 58°- 63° | 3/2 mm - 4/3 mm | Full Suit + Boots |
| 52°- 58° | 4/3 mm - 5/4/3 mm | Full Suit + Boots + Gloves + Hood |
A properly fitting wetsuit should be very snug against your entire body with no bagginess or gaps. The wetsuit should feel like a second skin with little to no wrinkles across the major areas of the suit (torso, length of arms, thighs) and little to no gathers in the underarms or crotch areas.
Wetsuits are usually worn by swimmers, divers, or surfers who swim in cold water. Wetsuits insulate the swimmers, or help them retain body heat. This, in turn, helps the swimmers avoid hypothermia, a dangerously low body temperature. Wetsuits are made of a kind of rubber called neoprene.
Rash GuardYou'll need to keep your upper body warm and cozy as well. You can choose from a wide variety of undershirts, but a rash guard or compression shirt makes for a good first layer in colder waters. Like diving shorts, they provide an extra layer of warmth and protection from wetsuit chafing.
The range of 50 to 78 degrees is therefore the ideal range for using a wetsuit. Just for some perspective, in our opinion, water (without a wetsuit) feels quite cold under 65 degrees. Comfortable around 70-75. Too warm as you approach 80.
But before you start thinking about the price, you need to know how thick your wetsuit should be, which can be determined by looking at how cold (or warm) the sea temperature is where you'll be surfing/swimming. 4–7°C | 4mm / 5mm / 6mm – the bitterly cold brave. 8-11°C | 3mm / 4mm – crisp water comrades.
Yes. A woman can, in theory, wear a man's wetsuit. The material is the same, but the major difference comes in the shape. But, if you're serious about surf and looking to get out on the water more often, it's worth it to invest in a women's wetsuit that may be better designed for your shape.
Can I use my Surfing wetsuit for Scuba diving? Yes for sure! A few leading surf brands make scuba suits too but bear in mind that surfing suits are best suited for the surface and lose efficacy with depth, but they'll feel great!
Semi-Dry Suits – Semi dry suits are a wetsuit with seals and features similar to a drysuit but they are made to allow some water in. These suits have ankle, wrist and neck areas made of a special material to reduce the flushing effect of warm water being washed out of the suit by cold water entering.
Most people don't wear anything under their wetsuits, except if you're a male diver you can wear either board-shorts or speedos. But if the water is cold either put on a thicker wetsuit or use a thermal lycra or neoprene shorts under your wetsuit. That way you'll get some extra insulation and will stay warmer.
Note: The thicker the neoprene, the warmer and less flexible the wetsuit is. The wetsuit thickness is always given in millimetres (mm). 3/2 mm means, for example, that the neoprene has a thickness of 3 mm on the torso and 2 mm on the legs and arms.
Moderate mid-season warmthA 3/2 wetsuit combines two different neoprene thicknesses: 3mm torso - 2mm arms and legs. 6/5/4 mm.
A: It can feel very different swimming without a wetsuit, especially if you are used to using one in open water. A wetsuit will always keep you in the right position but without one you'll need better core stability and a smooth and consistent leg kick.
The Best Wetsuit Brands in the Market Today
- O'Neill Wetsuits.
- Rip Curl Surf Wetsuits.
- Hurley Wetsuits.
- Patagonia Wetsuits.
- Xcel Wetsuits.
- Billabong Wetsuits.
- Matuse Wetsuits.
- Peak Wetsuits.
According to the World Health Organization, water temperatures ranging from 78 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit are generally comfortable and safe for those engaging in moderate physical activity in a pool. Conversely, swimming in temperatures below 70 degrees Fahrenheit can lead to increased heart rate and blood pressure.
77-82F(25-28C) Swimming pool temperature range for Olympic competition. 70F(21C) Water feels quite cold to most people. Treat any water temperature below 70F (21C) with caution. 40F(4.4C) or lower Water is painfully cold.
How long can a person survive in cold water?
| Water Temperature | Expected Time Before Exhaustion or Unconsciousness |
|---|
| 50–60° | 10–15.6° | 1 – 2 hours |
| 60–70° | 15.6–21.1° | 2 – 7 hours |
| 70–80° | 21.1–26.7° | 3 – 12 hours |
| > 80° | > 26.7° | Indefinite |
Anything between 65 and 100 F will not do harm (except particular cases). However, with temperature of the water at 65–70 F or 85–100 F swimming is not comfortable and can be even dangerous. The temperature when water freezes is 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Men's O'Neill Wetsuit & Rashguard Size Chart
| Sizes | Height | Weight (lbs) |
|---|
| XS | 5'7" - 5'9" | 125 - 140 |
| S | 5'8" - 5'10" | 135 - 155 |
| ST | 6' - 6'2" | 145 - 165 |
| M | 5'9" - 5'11" | 155 - 170 |
Wetsuit thickness is usually given with two numbers like 3/2, 4/3, 5/3, or three numbers like 5/4/3. The numbers mean that the thickness of the neoprene is 3 millimetres (or 4 or 5) on the body (and legs with winter suits) and 2 millimetres on arms (and legs with spring suits).
Wetsuit Water Temperature Guide
| Water Temperature (Fahrenheit / Celsius) | Wetsuit Type* | Extras |
|---|
| 48°F / 9°C | 5/4/3 Sealed | Rashguard, booties, wetsuit hood, wetsuit gloves |
| 52°F / 11.5°C | 4/3 Sealed & Taped | Warm Rashguard, booties, wetsuit gloves |
| 56°F / 13.5°C | 4/3 Sealed | Neoprene Top |
| 60°F / 15°C | 3/2 Sealed | Neoprene Top |
Wetsuits can vary in price based on a number of factors. In general, the low end is typically around $50 for shorty springsuits, while fullsuits typically start around the $75 range. On the high end, prices typically top out around $500.
