How to Buy a SCUBA Diving Wetsuit

Lauren Belt   January 27th, 2016   Posted In: How-to   Tags: SCUBA

You’ve got your next dive all planned out but need to buy a SCUBA diving suit. Not sure what you need in a scuba wetsuit? No worries!

You’re probably thinking, “What wetsuit thickness do I need?” or “what type of wetsuit do I need for diving?” We’ve mapped out the basics on how to buy a SCUBA diving wetsuit to make your experience a little bit easier.

As a starter, we have this handy wetsuit water temperature guide below which can help you map out just what wetsuit you need for your dive!

Keep in mind that some factors other than water temperature could affect the wetsuit thickness or type of scuba diving wetsuit needed.

Tolerance for Cold – A thicker or thinner wetsuit may be required or desired as everyone’s tolerance for the cold varies. If you are someone that tends to feel cold, err on the side of going with a thicker wetsuit. Otherwise, using the wetsuit thickness table should be a very good place to selecting the right wetsuit style and thickness.

Image courtesy of XCEL Wetsuits

Performance Expectations – Something you will have to take into account is the demand for high performance. The less wetsuit (meaning thinner and less coverage) worn will translate to high performance.  If performance is at the top of your wetsuit requirement list, you may be inclined to buy a slightly thinner wetsuit or go with reduced coverage as applicable. Alternatively, if budget can accommodate, a higher-end wetsuit can provide you with appropriate insulation and very high performance.

This now leads us to types of wetsuit products!

Lycra Rash Guards, Poly Fleece, Baselayers, etc.:

Rashguards and baselayers are primarily worn under wetsuits or alone, as sun and/or abrasion protection. These items do not provide thermal protection when worn alone, so they are only appropriate for water that is typically 75F+.

Springsuits, Short Johns, Short Janes, Tops & Jackets, and Bottoms:

These items provide wetsuit coverage to areas of the body. When a little insulation is needed and water temps are in the high 60’s, any springsuit, short john (or jane), top or bottom would be perfect. They also work well in heated swimming pools that just aren’t quite heated enough!

Long Johns & Long Janes:

Johns (men’s) and janes (women’s) are essentially sleeveless fullsuits. This style of suit is popular in layering applications, like SCUBA and kayaking. Johns & janes are also a popular style in triathlon/swimming style wetsuits, as this cut allows for full range of motion in the arms and shoulders.

Fullsuits or Full Wetsuits:

Fullsuits come in a variety of thicknesses for all water temperature conditions. In most cases, the thickness will be described with two numbers, such as 3/2mm. This means the majority of the suit is made of 3mm neoprene (wetsuit material) and the flex points 2mm. Manufacturers do this to enhance the comfort and flexibility of the suit.

We also offer SCUBA Combos so you can mix and match your scuba diving wetsuit!

From here you should be well on your way to choosing the right scuba diving wetsuit for your next dive. If you need some more help, we’ve got you covered! Give us a call, email ([email protected]), or live chat!

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Lauren Belt

Merchandiser at Wetsuit Wearhouse

When Lauren's (LoLo) not picking out the latest and greatest wetsuits or being the social media queen for Wetsuit Wearhouse, you can find her outdoors running, hiking, or reading a good book. She also spends her time practicing yoga and scouring the web for travel deals.

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