The Scuba Gear Lab

How to Choose a Wetsuit for Scuba Diving

Listen Later

That borrowed wetsuit that leaked constantly and left you shivering through your dive? Marcus Okafor has been there, and it taught him that choosing the right wetsuit is one of the most critical skills for comfortable, safe diving. This episode breaks down the entire wetsuit selection process—from matching thickness to water temperature, to understanding why that suit feels different at 100 feet than it did at the surface. Whether you're buying your first suit or finally upgrading from rental gear, this beginner-friendly guide gives you the knowledge to find a wetsuit that practically disappears during your dives.

  • Water temperature charts are starting points, not rules—if you're always the one shivering on the boat while others seem fine, add one thickness level to whatever the standard recommendation suggests.
    • Neoprene compresses at depth, meaning your 7mm suit provides closer to 5mm of insulation at 100 feet, which matters significantly for deep or extended cold water dives.
      • Dive duration changes everything: a thickness that keeps you comfortable on a 30-minute reef tour might leave you hypothermic during a 90-minute underwater photography session.
        • Two-piece suits (farmer john/jane with jacket) provide double coverage over your core, making them excellent for cold water environments like California kelp forests where that extra torso insulation is crucial.
          • Semi-dry suits with enhanced seals at wrists, ankles, and neck occupy a useful middle ground for divers in 55–65°F water who aren't ready to commit to a full drysuit.
            • Before shopping, gather your typical dive site water temperatures, accurate body measurements, personal cold tolerance assessment, and plan to try multiple brands—this process requires patience and ideally a buddy to check seal points you can't see yourself.

              • Read the full article: https://thescubagearlab.com/how-to-choose-a-wetsuit-for-scuba-diving

              ...more
              View all episodesView all episodes
              Download on the App Store
              The Scuba Gear LabBy The Scuba Gear Lab