Scuba diving wetsuits are an optional piece of scuba gear, that help you stay warm on your dives.
The reason I say optional, is that the choice of wearing wetsuits comes down to the water temperature and your comfort with cold exposure.
For example, I only wear a wetsuit in Florida during winter.
That being said, if you’re diving constantly, it makes a lot of sense to get a wetsuit of your own, eventually paying for itself.
Not to mention your wetsuits won’t have other peoples pee in them!
There are countless wetsuits to pick from, and besides picking one that looks good on you, it’s hard to know which wetsuit to buy.
As a PADI Divemaster working on dive boats, I’ve compiled a list of the best wetsuits to buy based on my experience. Our team member and dive instructor Alexa has also written a guide specific to the best woman’s wetsuits if you’d like to learn about that.
Throughout the selection process, I took into account the following key factors:
- Wetsuit material and thickness for various water temperatures
- Comfort, fit, and freedom of movement
- Design, patterns, and color options
- Brand reputation and quality
- Special features catering to women’s specific body shape and needs
- Pricing options to suit different budgets
- And much more!
I’ll first jump into reviews of all of my wetsuit recommendations, followed by a wetsuit buying guide and FAQ section to address any questions you may have.
Let’s dive right in!
Table of Contents
Best Scuba Diving Wetsuits
- Best Scuba Diving Wetsuit: ScubaPro Everflex
- Best for Warm Water: Tilos 1mm Proto-Skin
- Best Budget Wetsuit: Henderson 3mm
- Best Wetsuit for Women: Bare Evoke 5mm
- Best for Flexibility: Bare Revel
- Best for Warmth: Hollis NeoTek Semidry
- Best for Comfort: Cressi Castoro
Best Overall Scuba Wetsuit: ScubaPro Everflex
Material: Neoprene | Thickness: 2mm/3mm | Sleeves: Long sleeve | Seams: Double stiched | Zipper: Diagonol on back | Sizes: S-T | Warranty: 1 Year | Made For: Men & Women
ScubaPro is known for creating high-quality products designed specifically with scuba divers’ comfort and safety in mind and this suit certainly doesn’t disappoint.
Super stretchy and built to last, the ScupoPro Everflex wetsuit is designed to move naturally with your body offering superior comfort, flexibility, and value for money.
The outside has double stitching for durability and to keep you dry and the inside is single-stitched for comfort on your skin. This is able to be done as they use as few pieces of material as possible to make it more watertight and have fewer points of failure.
A great feature of this wetsuit is the diagonal back zipper, from your left hip up to your right shoulder, making the suit easier to put on and take off. Plus it’s much more comfortable than a traditional zip straight up the spine.
Lastly, the glue is environmentally friendly and they are working toward making more eco-friendly wetsuits in the future.
Pros:
- Super flexible & long-lasting
- Available in 5/4mm & 7mm
- Women’s fit available
- Stylish & flattering
- Quick-drying
Cons:
- No ankle zips on 3/2mm suits
- Rubber wrists can be difficult to get on and off
Best for Warm Water: Tilos 1MM Protoskin
Material: Neoprene & Metalite | Thickness: 1mm | Sleeves: Long | Seams: Flat-stiched | Zipper: Back-zip | Sizes: S-3X | Warranty: 1 Year | Made For: Men & Women
The Tilos 1mm Proto-Skin takes the spot on our list as the best wetsuit for warm waters due to it being thin, lightweight, and extremely comfortable.
It’s the wetsuit that I use while diving in Florida, where the water is warm all year round (80-86F). I’ve dove shirtless or with a rash guard, but it’s nice to have a layer of protection on your body while diving.
The suit is made from a high-quality neoprene material that is both durable and comfortable to wear and provides a balance between insulation and flexibility, allowing for a wide range of motion and maximum dexterity.
The Proto-Skin material used in the suit is designed to provide a second-skin feel, making it comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. The suit also includes a back zipper closure, which makes it easy to put on and take off, and ensures a secure fit.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Dries faster than standard neoprene as the
- MetaLite lining naturally sheds water
- PVC knee protector and ankle stirrups
Cons:
- Thin
- Only 2 colors
Henderson 3MM
- Great value
- Women’s fit available
- Super stretchy
- Spinal pad
- 5mm option available
- Can feel a little bulky on the surface
- Flap needs to sit perfectly over the zip to prevent water leaking
Henderson Thermoprene is a very popular scuba diving wetsuit if not the most popular one on the market. This wetsuit is ready for all conditions and able to withstand them. It has large panels and double glued and double stitched inside and outside, and DuraTex on the kneepads to give you that extra flexibility.
This wetsuit is made from a patented neoprene that is seventy-five percent stretchier than a normal neoprene wetsuit. This material also keeps you warmer than standard neoprene whilst providing top-quality flexibility/ movement. The collar adjusts as well and the cuffs are trimmed with lycra to add more comfort. The touch is the spine pad so you are able to be comfortable in and out of the water.
If you’re on a budget (as most of us are) but don’t want to give up a quality design on a wetsuit. This material and construction on the Henderson Thermoprene is the way to go and the prime scuba diving wetsuit for you.
- Material: Neoprene
- Thickness: 3mm
- Style/Design: Long Sleeve
- Made For: Mens
- Seams: Glued and blindstitched
- Zipper: Anti-Flush back zipper with integrated spine pad
- Sizes: S-2X
Bare Mens Revel Wetsuit
- Super flexible for easy movement
- Strong, durable seams
- Women’s fit: Bare Elat
- Stylish & sleek design
- Great value for money
- So stretchy that you may need a size smaller
- No colour options
- Only 1 thickness available
With a low-profile collar, a wide range of sizes and an anatomical cut, the Bare Revel provides a surprisingly perfect fit for everyone while still being comfortable and affordable. The cuffs fit snugly against the skin to keep you warm and prevent water from flushing in.
The armor-flex knee bands give extra support in the area that needs it the most and will extend the life of your suit because of this. The flexibility allows you to get into and out of the suit easily without the fear of damaging it. It also comes in all sizes including tall for those that have long limbs and cannot find a wetsuit that fits them well.
Moving in and on the water is super easy in this highly flexible and stylish wetsuit. This suit is not only a superb choice for warm water diving but also for surfing, swimming, and other water sports.
Product Specs:
- Material: High stretch neoprene
- Thickness: 2&3mm
- Style/Design: Long sleeve
- Made For: Mens
- Seams: Glued and blindstitched
- Zipper: Back zip
- Sizes: S-2X
Hollis Neo Tek Semidry
- Internal neck, arm & leg dams prevent any leaks
- Horizontal front zipper
- Generous pockets & integrated hood
- Variety of sizes available
- No women’s fit available
- Only suitable for cold water
- Heavy
The NeoTek semi-dry suit is made from super stretchy and compression-resistant 8/7/6mm neoprene, providing serious warmth and ultimate comfort in cold water settings. If you live in the US or Canada this is the suit for you if you do not want to spend thousands on a drysuit or just don’t like to dive in a drysuit. Though if you are diving in the winter months I would still wear skin underneath.
With Hollis’ exclusive ThermaSkin inner layer, double taped and blindstitched seams as well as an integrated hood there’s no way you’ll feel any chill when diving in cold waters. The suit does have sizes from small to 3-XL so there is a size for everyone to make sure you are warm.
The suit also has pockets that are really nice and have strong velcro closures which expand with big D rings inside to clip things so you don’t lose them. If you’re looking for a durable and dependable suit for colder water diving or you just get cold easy as a lot of thinner people do, look no further than the Hollis NeoTek.
Product Specs:
- Material: Neoprene
- Thickness: 6/7/8mm
- Style/Design: Long sleeve
- Made For: Unisex
- Seams: Double glued and butt joined with a blind stitch
- Zipper: G-lock horizontal front zipper with internal bib
- Sizes: LS- 3XL
Cressi Castoro
- Perfectly snug fit
- Women’s fit available
- Excellent heat retention
- Preshaped legs
- Reinforced knees, shins & shoulders
- Plastic zippers
- Only 1 thickness
Known for combining high levels of comfort and efficiency with elegant designs you can’t go wrong with a Cressi wetsuit. This one has preshaped legs so that it is also good for other water sports and swimming as well.
The seals on it really work wonderfully and hold the water in and control flushing. The suit is also stylish and with its high-tech design and abrasion protection on the knees and shoulders, you need not worry about damaging it. It comes in XS to multiple XLs in men’s and women’s sizes as well.
The Cressi Castoro is made from soft and durable neoprene with pre-shaped legs that ensure a perfectly snug fit. It’s a great suit for the money and built by a company that’s been in the diving business for a long, long time and there’s a reason why. Most divers own a lot of Cressi products and trust them to give high performance and be very reliable gear.
- Material: Neoprene
- Thickness: 5mm
- Style/Design: Full wetsuit
- Made For: Unisex
- Seams: Double glued
- Zipper: Back-zip
- Sizes: XS-XL
Best Scuba Diving Wetsuit for Women: Bare Evoke 5mm
Material: Neoprene | Thickness: 5mm | Sleeves: Long | Seams: Sealed | Zipper: Skin-skin doubl | Sizes: 2-12 | Warranty: 2 Years | Made For: Women
This is one of our favorite scuba diving wetsuits for women. Created by an all-women design team, this innovative wetsuit offers the best and most flattering fit for women of all shapes and sizes. Not only does it look great, but it performs incredibly as well.
The Evoke features scientifically proven Celliant Infrared Technology to increase circulation and body warmth, making it the warmest women’s dive wetsuit on the market.
If you’re after the ultimate scuba diving wetsuit for women then look no further than the Bare Evoke.
Pros:
- Perfect fit from petite to plus size
- Keeps you super warm + toasty
- Super flexible with a great range of movement
- Flattering designs
- Variety of colors available
- Long-lasting + durable construction
Cons:
- A little more expensive (but we think it’s worth it!)
- Quite buoyant when new so may require extra weight
What Is A Wetsuit And How Does It Work?
A wetsuit is an exposure suit, often made from neoprene, that divers wear to keep themselves warm and protect their body against scrapes and abrasions.
Wetsuits work by trapping a thin layer of water between your body and the wetsuit. Your body heats up this layer of water which keeps you warm and prevents you from losing too much heat to the colder water surrounding you. Further insulation is also provided by the tiny air bubbles that are trapped within the material of a wetsuit.
For a wetsuit to function effectively it needs to fit you properly. If it’s too loose then water will keep flushing through and quickly take heat away from your body.
Why Should You Get Your Own Wetsuit For Scuba Diving?
In addition to being safe, it is extremely important to feel comfortable when you are scuba diving. And having your own scuba diving wetsuit is one of the easiest ways to ensure you are comfortable throughout your dive.
You might be thinking ‘Can’t I just rent a wetsuit? and yes, you can normally rent a wetsuit when you go scuba diving. It’s common knowledge amongst divers that rental wetsuits aren’t always the best.
And here’s why…
Very few dive shops will have a variety of styles and thicknesses to suit your personal needs. Everyone’s body is unique and it’s very rare that a rental wetsuit will fit your body perfectly. And you already know that a wetsuit only works if it fits you properly.
Even if you’re lucky and it does fit you well, the rental wetsuit might not be the right thickness for you personally to stay warm enough throughout the dive. Or maybe it’s too thick and you feel uncomfortably hot during the dive.
Lastly, rental wetsuits are subject to a lot of wear and tear. Used all day every day, they become thin and therefore much less effective at keeping you warm. Not to mention all the holes and dodgy zips. And let’s be honest they’ve definitely been peed in many times!
So investing in your own wetsuit for scuba diving, or multiple depending on the dive conditions is the best solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do I Need A Wetsuit For Scuba Diving?
As much as we love it, being a human and not a fish means that biologically we just can’t spend extended periods of time in water without getting cold, even warm water, it is just science.
We don’t have that thick layer of fat that other marine mammals, like whales, dolphins, and even otters, have to keep themselves insulated. A wetsuit is our layer of insulation.
Water conducts heat away from your body 20 times faster than air. Without a wetsuit, you’ll get cold pretty quickly, even in tropical waters. And in some environments, you can easily end up with hypothermia.
Even if you never feel the cold when you’re diving, a thin wetsuit is perfect for avoiding accidental cuts, scrapes or jellyfish stings.
Why Do I Need A Wetsuit For Scuba Diving?
As much as we love it, we humans simply aren’t biologically equipped for spending long periods of time underwater.
We don’t have that thick layer of fat that other marine mammals, like whales, dolphins, and even otters, have to keep themselves insulated. A wetsuit is our layer of insulation.
Water conducts heat away from your body 20 times faster than air. Without a wetsuit, you’ll get cold pretty quickly, even in tropical waters. And in some environments, you can easily end up with hypothermia.
Even if you never feel the cold when you’re diving, a thin wetsuit is perfect for avoiding accidental cuts, scrapes or jellyfish stings.
What Thickness Of Wetsuit Do I Need For Scuba Diving?
Scuba diving wetsuits come in different thicknesses depending on the temperature of water you’ll be diving in. Most wetsuits are available in 3mm, 5mm and 7mm options but you’ll also find some 1mm and 2mm wetsuits from tropical waters.
Below are the general recommendations for wetsuit thickness for scuba diving:
2mm: Tropical waters above 85 F / 29 C
3mm: Warm waters between 70-85 F / 21-29 C
5mm: Temperate waters between 60-70 F / 15-21 C
7mm: Colder waters between 50-60 F / 10-15 C
A wetsuit with a thickness represented by 2 numbers, for example, 5/3mm, then the first number is the thickness of the torso and the second is the thickness on the arms and legs.
How Do I Get The Right Fit For A Scuba Diving Wetsuit?
As we mentioned above, a scuba diving wetsuit needs to fit snugly against your body for it to function effectively.
You should have to struggle a little to get the wetsuit on, but it shouldn’t be so tight that you have trouble zipping it up.
The Best Scuba Diving Wetsuit For You
Ultimately, the best scuba diving wetsuit for you is the one that you feel most comfortable in. And is suitable for the location you’re visiting and the type of diving you are planning. We’d also recommend checking out our drysuit guide for more info on those.
There’s a huge difference between the wetsuit you’ll need for a dive liveaboard in the Maldives and shore diving in Sardinia, for example.
Having the wrong wetsuit can easily ruin your whole dive, and in some situations even become dangerous, so it’s important to take some time to find the right wetsuit for you.
What wetsuit did you choose?
Let us know in the comments.
Looking for other scuba diving products to keep you warm?
