Scuba Wetsuit Buyers Guide

[@NormaTLeon]

Great video! I Dive in the NE from May to October and the Caribbean. Btwn my 5MM & 3MM wetsuits, 4MM Sharkskin Jacket & 2MM Lavacore full suit, and two skins, (+5/3MM hood), they cover all my temperature needs from 45°F +, but I can’t dive colder than 55°F as my exposed skin can’t handle the frigid temps. Then again I was raised in the NE ocean as a kid and went in with just my bathing suit every Memorial Day until I turned 40..

[@rymikai]

no wetsuit fits me :( i'm bottom heavy (and even then not that much) with a small torso, and in general a small frame; and no wetsuit fits that.. either i get one where my thighs fit, and then all the limbs are all way too long, and i have way too much give in the torso; or i take,my torso's measurement and then my legs just can't get through the suit... 😭😭😭

[@argonk]

Would you ever consider smooth neoprene on the outside? Or it would get quickly damaged due to friction with scuba gear?

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

I wouldn't use it for scuba diving. It's relatively fragile and, as you say, you'll damage it very easily with your gear. Smooth-skin outer wetsuits are best for freediving to reduce drag

[@argonk]

@@ScubaDiverMagazine Thanks for the answer. I'd be into smooth neoprene for preventing heat loss during boat transport in between dives, but there is indeed no advantage in having a prematurely worn-out wetsuit. On the boat I could just put a windproof layer on top of the wetsuit jacket or simply take the jacket off. That's most likely what I'll do (I'm gonna buy a new wetsuit soon), but since I like to investigate things: what about using a rash guard on top of a smooth neoprene wetsuit to protect it from friction with scuba gear? There probably is a reason why I never saw anyone doing it, and I'm not gonna try with my nice freediving wetsuit, but am still wondering if it would make sense.

[@hocksee]

Mark You're my favorite channel . Love all your tips ❤️ Thank you for all your videos.

[@TheRedbaron11]

Can you please make a more elaborate video about the alternative materials? And also if they are worth checking out for people who don't have neoprene allergies

[@vukmajstorovic7033]

I have a Cressi Apnea 5mm ... is it ok for scuba diving...it is for spearfishing

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

Sure, it's going to keep you warm in the water. It will just take longer than a normal scuba wetsuit to don and doff.

[@CopyRightJT]

What a great video. Thank you so much for your tips. Is there a similar video on your channel about drysuits?

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

Not yet, I'm working my way through the range of scuba gear. I did make a Top10 Drysuit video not that long ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWPcg4qAfd-aY6M

[@CopyRightJT]

@@ScubaDiverMagazine thank you very much. I will check that out!🙏🏾

[@originalkk882]

After training in the UK in a 6.5mm semi-dry, most of my diving has been in warm waters. In the Caribbean in the winter (79-82F) I ended up with a nice quality 5/3mm O'Neill diving full suit, and still felt a chill after 2 boat dives. I ended up wearing a 1.5 jacket underneath. This was mainly taking photos, so not a vast amount of swimming around especially on the 2nd dive. A single shore dive was fine in a 1.5mm jacket and board shorts. In the summer, no neoprene needed.

[@souswes]

Great tips mark! I keep a dry suit, a semi-dry, and a hodge podge of 3 mm shorty/ 5 mm surface rescue/ 1 mm pants and rash guards to cover the rest in layers. Just did 2 dives today in 16 C water assisting with an OW student….wearing my 8/7 semi dry because I’m a baby.😂

[@stolfygaming]

Great stuff! Personally I actually use a 5mm semidry here in the Sydney region of Australia and a standard 3mm in warmer waters

[@AY-xb8wh]

I have a good quality surf wetsuit, can I use it for scuba diving?

[@hocksee]

I dive in my skinsuit Rash guard in Philippines all the time. Temp is between 23 to 26 now , after many diving days it gets to you and you feel cold on the boat. So yes we need 3mm even in tropical waters .My master diver is always cold he wears a 5mm because he dives too much, while we dive recreational, so it depends on you and the conditions.

[@jaynovorolsky1027]

I plan on only diving in the Philippines. I'm looking at the Water Proof W30 2.5 mm suit. I did my first dives in Davao. I will be going to Bohol and Cebu next. I'm taking the deep dive certification of 30 meters. Is 2.5 mm sufficient?

[@xineissm]

Wow, I must feel colder than most then! There is no way I could use a 5 mm wetsuit in 15 ºC waters... 2 x 40 min dives on 21 ºC and I'm freeezing. So now I'm about to migrate into drysuits!

[@MiladCerkic]

Totally feel you, @xineis! 😄 Can't imagine 5mm in 15ºC either! 🥶 I'm all about 3mm or shorty above 25ºC, 5mm for 20-25ºC, and semi-dry below 19ºC. Excited to switch to drysuit soon - except when teaching! 🌊👌

[@peterpanci78]

Thank you again for a very good video.

[@Captainwill55]

I dive in quebec canada , so 14mm two piece wet suit and 3 fingers mits day in day out

[@aliasincognito0]

Absurd. That's a dry suit for me.

[@Captainwill55]

@@aliasincognito0 what is absurd in my opinion is the cost of the whole drysuit system (undergarment glove system and the suit itself) wich cost several thousands of dollars and requires maintenance and repairs that are also another expense (cuff seals, neck dam , boots etc) i dont have the buget for running a drysuit so i have a tick wet suit , ive been using it for a decade and im perfectly fine with it

[@xineissm]

@@Captainwill55 You could buy a neoprene drysuit. There is less need for thick/expensive undergarments and repairs should be similar to neoprene wetsuits (that will eventually need repairs anyway).

[@TheAMGReviewers]

​@@xineissm repairs to the inflation valve are not cheap, plus it's another failure point