7 Best Wetsuits for diving at your dream location
Neoprene is an excellent material for making wetsuits because it has good elastic properties. However, even if they aren’t completely waterproof, they help prevent the human skin from losing heat when exposed to cold water.
Apart from keeping you warm under water, the scuba wetsuits also provide you with extra comfort and safety when diving. They can protect you from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, scratches, scrapes, and sting from jellyfish and other sea creatures.
To live a better scuba diving experience you will be needing a diving mask to see clearly the fascinating underwater world and also a diving camera to take beautiful pictures.
If you’re interested in buying a good diving suit, here are some of the best ones available.
best wetsuits for diving
Scubapro Everflex Steamer
The Scubapros Everflex Steamer is an ergonomically designed wetsuite that comes from the company’s EverFlex line of new wetsuites. This full wetsuite has a pre-formed dimensional form for a better and more comforable fit. It’ s made of a Scubabro exclusive X-foam nylonshape that complies with Pah tests requirements.
The Everflex Steamer is easy to use and feel comfortable once you’re inside. Its torso area also has an additional heliospan lining for better insulatiion and protection.
This scuba diving suit is designed to be long lasting. It features PowerTex abrasion resistant shoulder and seat panels, while its TATEK KneepadTM knees are made from durable thermoplastic rubbers. The Scubaport Everflex Steamer is available in various sizes for both men and woman, and comes in either Black or Gray.
Key Specifications:
- Type: Full Wetsuit for Men & Women
- Thickness: 3/2mm
- Material: X-Foam Nylon 2 Neoprene
- Seams: Glued, Single-Blind (inner) & Double-Blind (outer) Stitched
- Closure: Self Donning & Doffing Back Zipper, Pull Tab Leash, Nylon Webbing Thumb Loop at Base of Zipper
Buy here the Scubapro Everflex Steamer
Henderson Greenprene Men’s Jumpsuit
The Henderson Greenpreene Wetsuit is a highly sustainable suit insulated with recycled materials. The interior Bio-Span material laminates and the outer Aqua-Silk material laminates are both made from 88 percent recycled polyester and 12 percent nylon.
Both insulating materials are made from recycled plastic bottles and are completely neoprene free.
The insulating foam used in the Greenprene wetsuits is soft, ultra stretchy, abrassive resistant, and provides extra UV protection. It’s also much more durable and lighter than conventional neoprene materials
With its recycled plastic material, the Henderson Greenprene jumpsuit helps keep you warm while also reducing waste.
Key Specifications:
- Type: Full Wetsuit for Men & Women
- Thickness: 3/5/7mm
- Material: Recycled Aqua-silk interior & Bio-Span exterior fabric laminate
- Seams: Glued & Sewn
- Closure: Back-zipper entry with pull tab leash
Buy here the Henderson Greenprene Men’s Jumpsuit
Henderson Thermoprene
The Henderson Thermoprenne is unquestionably one of the most popular wetsuits on the marketplace today. Like most high quality Henderson wetsuits, its made of Nylon 2/Neoprene to offer up to 75% more flexibility than standard neoprene garments.
With its 7 millimeter thickness, this dive suit is sure to keep your skin extra warm and comfortable while helping to prevent heat losses through the fabric. It also features glued and blind-sewn seams to help maintain a comfortable internal environment for your skin.
If you’re looking for a good-looking suit that’s thick enough for cold water diving but don’t mind paying less than $100, the Henderson Thermoprenes 7/8th Full Suit is a great option.
Key Specifications:
- Type: Full Wetsuit for Men
- Thickness: 7mm
- Material: Nylon 2 Neoprene
- Seams: Glued and Blind-Stitched
- Closure: #10 YKK Back Zipper with Pull Tab Leash
Buy here the Henderson Thermoprene
Mares Graph-Flex
If you’re more into cold-weather diving, then the revolutionary insulating material of the Mares Graphflex is perfect for you. It’s part of Mares’ M-Flex range and has infused graphite fibers incorporated into its inner layer, making it one of their most warmest diving suits.
Infused fabrics keep warm by trapping and reflecting heat, ensuring a warmer overall temperature.
The Mares Graph Flex jumpsuit is designed to keep you warm during cold weather activities. It features a self-donning/doffing system, so you don’t need help from anyone else when putting it on or taking it off.
This jumpsuit comes both in black and in different thickness and size options for men and women.
Key Specifications:
- Type: Men’s Jumpsuit
- Thickness: 7mm
- Material: Nylon-2 Neoprene Rubber with Infused Graphene Fibers
- Seams: Sewn & Sealed
- Closure: Back-Zipper Entry with Pull-Tab Leash
Buy here the Mares Graph-Flex
Bare Velocity Men Full Suit
The Bare Velocity men’s full suits utilize PFS technology for added strength and comfort while keeping the wetsuits warm and comfy.
This wetsuit is part of Bare’s Velocity Series of wetsuits. It has a PFS (Performance Flexible Seam) constructioin which highlights key parts of the suit by using full stretch material in these sections that need extra flexibility.
Besides its ergonomic design, this full suit also features forearm and leg flips for reducing flushes. It has a 2 mm Glide Skin collar with 360 degree seal that minimises water entering through the collar and zips.
To prevent abrasive injuries, the wetsuits use ProtekT knee pads. These wetsuits come in different sizes and thicknesses depending upon one’s diving requirements.
Key Specifications:
- Type: Full Wetsuit for Men
- Thickness: 3/5/7mm
- Material: Full Stretch Nylon 2 Neoprene
- Seams: Double-Glued with Secure-Lock Construction
- Closure: Heavy-Duty Back Zipper with skin-to-skin internal sealing flap
Buy here the Bare Velocity Men Full Suit
Henderson Thermoprene Pro Hooded Semi-Dry Jumpsuit
The Henderson Thermoprenes Pro Hooded Semi Dry Jumpsuit is a noteworthy improvement to the previous jumpsuit of the Thermoprene line. It now features a full 250% elasticity and an aqua silky lining.
It is made of two layers of neoprene (Nylon 2) and an outer layer of thermoplastic polyurethane (Thermoprene).
This Thermoprene jumpsuit has double sewed seams for eliminating cold weather entry. Its hood has AquaLock flow vents that keep out trapped air or regulators. It also has double sealing, self-sealing wrists and ankles for preventing moisture exchange and making donnings and doffings easier.
The suit uses larger Duratex knee pad material for added abrasion and water resistance. It’s available in black and in multiple sizes.
Key Specifications:
- Type: Full Semi-Dry Wetsuit for Men
- Thickness: 8mm body/7mm hood
- Material: 250% stretch Nylon 2 Neoprene
- Seams: Double Glued and Sewn Inside & Out
- Closure: PK S-Lock Shoulder-to-Shoulder Front Zipper Entry
Buy here the Henderson Thermoprene Pro Hooded Semi-Dry Jumpsuit
Cressi Playa Flex 2.5mm Women’s Shorty
The Cressi playa 2.5 mm flex is cressi’s updated version of the playa shorty wetsuits. This new womens’ wetsuits prioritises comfort and mobility. It features an ergonomic design and an anatomically correct fit. The redesigned wetsuit is ideal for any water sports, from jetskiing to snorkelling and freediving.
This shorty wetsuite boast a durable YKK front zip for easy donning and doffing. It has a high quality double-layered neoprene which keeps its shape well while also offering much needed under water insulation.
Both the arms and the leg of the wetsuit has neoprene ultraspan braided seal for added elasticity and minimized water ingress. Available in multiple sizes the new cressi playa 2.5 mm flex is the next best thing.
Key Specifications:
- Type: Shorty Wetsuit for Men &Women
- Thickness: 2.5mm
- Material: Double-lined Neoprene
- Seams: Braided Seal
- Closure: Metal YKK Front Zipper
Buy here the Cressi Playa Flex 2.5mm Women’s Shorty
FAQ
Do I Need a Wetsuit Designed For Scuba Diving?
You technically don’t need a special wetsuit for scuba diving. But most divers prefer to wear one anyway because they were designed especially for this activity.
Manufactures of diving equipment have considered how humans swim in the water and the best ways to keep them warm. Since there are no other activities in which humans stay underwater for so long, they design special wetsuits for scuba diving.
What Suits You
There were several things that really impressed us in this year’s suit collection. Here are some of them.
Warm Fuzzies
Neoprene doesn’t provide enough insulation for cold weather activities. To compensate for this, some of the suits in this season’s testing use special inner linings to retain body heat. These include infrared fabrics, which reflect and retain body heat, reusing thermal energy that would otherwise go unused.
The Pinnacle Tembo XT is lined with merinowool, making it as warm as a soft blanket on an icy winter’s eve.
Flexibility
Whether suits were made from super-stretching neoprene, such a suit using AquaLung HydroFLEX technology, or had strategically placed high-stretching panels, test-diver preferred suits that allowed for a natural, unrestricted range-of-motion.
Stowage
The W5 has a few extra features not found on most other dive computers. One of them is a small Velcro-attached cargo pouch. It was designed so that if you don’t need the cargo pouch, you could just leave it off.
The Scubaport Sport’s thigh mount has an additional mounting option for weightless attachments.
In and Out
Sometimes, when wearing a wetsuit, there may be times where the seal is so tight that it requires extra effort to get into and out of the suit. This can be frustrating and uncomfortable for both the wearer and the person helping them put on their wetsuit. It can also put added stress on the suit itself.
We found that several suits alleviate this problem by using zippers at the cuff, which can be opened to allow easy insertion of the arms and legs while suitably protecting them from water entry.
It may be effective, but it can be bulky, and there could be some issues if a diver forgets not to zip up the cuffs before donning them again.
The Bare Reactive has a unique solution for diving suits: Buttery smooth panels inside the wrist and ankle joints that allow swimmers to easily slip their arms and legs through the elastic seal without any undue pressure.
What is the most important quality in a wetsuit?
Fit is the most important aspect when choosing a wetsuits. Wetsuits’ sealings are designed to trap water inside the suits, where they can warm up and stay there.
If water flows into and out of the jacket, it carries heat with itself and the jacket cannot keep you warm. A relatively thick jacket that’s too big or doesn’t effectively seal off water will likely be cooler than a thin jacket that’s just right and has effective seals.
