Buying guide: wetsuit, gloves and boots

In short

Your suit protects you from the cold, the sun and scrapes. The right choice depends on the water temperature, the length of your dives and how sensitive you are to the cold, but above all on fit: a suit that is too loose lets water circulate and no longer protects you. Boots, gloves and a hood complete the protection, especially where the body loses the most heat.

Why it matters

Water cools the body much faster than air. Cold tires you, makes your movements less precise and can push you to cut a dive short. An unsuitable suit also means reviewing your weighting: changing the thickness or type of suit changes the amount of weight you need.

Types of suits

Type	Principle	Pros	Cons
Shorty, 2 to 3 mm	Short arms and legs	Light, practical in warm water	Limited protection
Full wetsuit, 3 to 7 mm	A thin layer of water warms up against the skin	Simple, affordable, no special training	Neoprene compresses at depth and protects less
Two-piece (jacket + long john)	Double thickness on the torso	Very warm, modular	More weight, longer to put on
Semi-dry, 5 to 8 mm	Seals and zip that limit water entry	Warmer than a wetsuit, no specific training	More expensive, fit is crucial
Drysuit	The diver stays dry, with an insulating undergarment	Protection for cold water and long dives	Specific training required, high cost and maintenance

A drysuit contains a volume of air that changes with depth and is managed as a second buoyancy volume. Only use one after dedicated training.

Thickness by temperature (indicative)

Water temperature	Common protection
Above 26 °C	Shorty or 3 mm full suit
22 to 26 °C	3 to 5 mm full suit
16 to 22 °C	5 to 7 mm full suit, with hood
10 to 16 °C	7 mm or semi-dry, hood, thick gloves and boots
Below 10 °C	Drysuit

These figures vary from person to person, with the duration and with the number of dives in the day. The temperature recorded by your dive computer or watch during previous sessions helps you choose for a site you know.

Materials and finish

• Neoprene: the softer it is, the more comfortable, but it compresses faster over time. A thermal inner lining adds warmth.
• Seams glued then blind-stitched to limit water entry.
• Zip at the back (easier to put on) or at the front (more watertight, you can put it on alone).
• Reinforcements at the knees and shoulders, useful on the boat and for carrying the cylinder.
• Drysuit: membrane (trilaminate, light, dries quickly, insulation from the undergarment) or neoprene (more insulating, heavier). Latex or silicone seals, integrated socks or boots.

Choosing the size

• The suit must be close to the body without restricting your breathing or your arm movements.
• No air pockets in the small of the back, under the armpits or behind the knees.
• Try it on in a diving position: arms stretched forward, crouching.
• Sizes differ from one manufacturer to another; several offer women's, long or short sizes, or even made-to-measure.

Boots, gloves and hood

Accessory	Selection tips
Boots	3 to 7 mm; stiff sole for walking on rocks, soft for wide full-foot fins; with or without a zip
Gloves	1.5 to 3 mm in temperate water, 5 mm or more in cold water; three-finger or mittens for very cold water; check whether they are allowed at protected sites
Hood	Essential below about 18 to 20 °C; with a bib to tuck under the suit; a hood that is too tight restricts breathing
Neoprene vest or top	Extra layer under the suit for more warmth on the torso

A few manufacturers

Non-exhaustive list, in alphabetical order, with no ranking and no sponsored link. Generalist manufacturers offer wetsuits and accessories; thermal protection specialists also offer drysuits and undergarments. Check their current range on their website.

Manufacturer	Official website	Range
Aqualung	aqualung.com	Generalist
Bare	baresports.com	Specialist (wetsuits and drysuits)
Beuchat	beuchat.fr	Generalist
Cressi	cressi.com	Generalist
Fourth Element	fourthelement.com	Specialist (wetsuits, drysuits, undergarments)
Mares	mares.com	Generalist
Santi	santidiving.com	Specialist (drysuits, undergarments)
Scubapro	scubapro.com	Generalist
Seac	seacsub.com	Generalist
Waterproof	waterproof.eu	Specialist (wetsuits and drysuits)

Key takeaways

• Choose according to the water temperature, the length of your dives and how sensitive you are to the cold.
• Fit comes first: a suit that is too loose does not protect you.
• Hood, gloves and boots greatly reduce heat loss.
• Changing suits means redoing your weight check.
• A drysuit requires specific training.

Further reading

The thermal protection guide explains heat loss and what to do when you feel cold; the weighting guide helps you adjust your weights after changing suits. The diving clothing guide presents undergarments and surface wear.