6 Best Drysuits for Scuba Diving

Simply put, a drysuit is a full length, waterproof exposure suit that keeps you dry when scuba diving in cold waters.

Made from neoprene, nylon, and rubber, a drysuit uses a combination of watertight seals and zippers to trap a layer of air between the diver and the water.

A scuba diving drysuit features an inflator valve, similar to the one on your BCD, which allows you to equalize the air inside the suit and finetune your buoyancy. Drysuits also utilize exhaust valves to release the expanding air as you ascend.

A drysuit works by preventing water from coming into contact with the diver’s skin. Because water conducts heat away from the body 20 times faster than air, a diver who stays dry underwater will lose body heat much slower than when diving in a wetsuit.

Contrary to popular belief, a drysuit alone doesn’t actually keep you very warm. Air by itself isn’t particularly insulating. Therefore drysuits have a loose fit which allows you to wear clothes or other insulating layers underneath.

It’s not always easy to access all those tropical diving destinations that we dream about. This means that sometimes we have to dive locally in order to satisfy our underwater cravings. And for most of us, diving local means cold water!

What’s more, there are some seriously spectacular cold water dives around the world that can only be reached in a dry suit. A drysuit opens up scuba diving all year round and anywhere in the world.

If you’re frequently diving in water temperatures below 60° F (15° C) then it’s definitely worth buying your own drysuit. Drysuits are well worth the investment and the little time needed to learn how to use one properly.

Drysuits are usually used for scuba diving in waters below 60° F (15° C) or if planning to dive for extended periods of time.

Remember water conducts heat away from your body 25 times faster than air. So even if the water isn’t below the typical threshold for drysuit diving, many divers will opt for a drysuit to make sure they’re comfortable.

What temperature you need for diving in a drysuit will completely depend on your personal tolerance for the cold. Some divers are happy diving in a thick wetsuit in water temperatures as low as 50° F (10° C). While others will reach for a drysuit as soon as the water drops below 75° F (24° C).

So it really depends on how much you feel the cold and how long you’ll be in the water.

The seals of a drysuit should be a snug fit but not uncomfortable. If you’re new to diving in a drysuit, a snug neck seal might feel a little uncomfortable out of the water. But once you’re submerged, a properly fitting neck seal is comfortable.

The main body of a drysuit should not be tight. A drysuit needs to be loose enough to allow you to wear enough insulating layers and move freely. If the drysuit becomes tight when adding undergarments or moving around then you should go up a size.

A drysuit will keep you dry but not warm. It’s waterproof and windproof but doesn’t provide any insulation. If you don’t wear anything under your drysuit you’ll probably get rather cold! So you should wear additional layers underneath your drysuit to keep you warm.

Although a drysuit seals the water out, it’s still likely you’ll get a little damp from perspiration or if there’s a tiny leak.

Therefore the best type of clothing to wear under a drysuit is made from materials that still insulate when wet.

Anything made of fleece, wool, or polypropylene is great. But not cotton. Take a look at some of the available types of drysuit undergarments.

For diving in extremely cold water, it’s recommended you wear a one-piece undersuit. This is basically a sleeping bag with arms and legs that you wear underneath your drysuit. With varying thicknesses available you’ll be nice and toasty throughout your dive.

Yes, you definitely need to wear a BCD with a drysuit. When scuba diving with a drysuit you still use your BCD to control your buoyancy.

The only reason you add air to your drysuit to equalize the pressure inside the drysuit at depth and help keep you warm.

You want to have the minimum amount of air inside your drysuit, just enough to be comfortable and prevent a drysuit squeeze.

If you treat it right, a good quality drysuit can last you 10 years or even longer. Taking proper care of your drysuit, before, during and, after diving, is essential if you want your drysuit to last you a long time.

Just like your BCD and regulators, a drysuit also requires regular servicing to keep it in top working condition.

This mostly depends on the temperature of the water you’ll be scuba diving in. And a little of how much you struggle with the cold and your experience level.

A drysuit will keep you much warmer than a wetsuit.

However, because of their tight fit, wetsuits are more comfortable and offer significantly better flexibility and mobility than a drysuit.

What’s more, drysuits are a little trickier to use, especially for beginners.

Simply put, a drysuit keeps you dry and a semi-drysuit let’s water in.

A semi-drysuit is more similar to a traditional wetsuit. Made from neoprene, a semi-drysuit features seals that are designed to minimize the amount of water exchanged in the suit. Whereas a drysuit is made of heavier duty materials and has better, tighter seals that keep the water out completely.

Semi-drysuits are designed for diving in cold water. Drysuits are for diving in even colder water. A drysuit will keep you much warmer out of the water and in between dives than a semi-dry or wetsuit.

Scuba diving in a drysuit requires you to learn a few techniques. To begin with, drysuits can be a little tricky to use, from putting it on to controlling your buoyancy and getting the weights right. But once you’ve got the hang on diving in a drysuit it’s pretty much the same as diving without one.

The main difference when scuba diving with a drysuit vs a wetsuit is that you’ve now got another airspace to consider. Not only will you need to equalize this airspace, but it will also have an impact on your buoyancy.

There are also a few potential problems that can occur when diving in a drysuit that you need to be familiar with. As a result of these additional skills, it’s recommended you complete a drysuit certification before diving in a drysuit

Although it’s not strictly mandatory to get a drysuit certification to go diving in a drysuit, most dive centers will ask you for proof of certification before doing a drysuit dive or renting one.

What’s more, getting properly trained on how to dive in a drysuit will save you a lot of frustration. Not to mention that the incorrect use of a drysuit can seriously jeopardize your safety underwater.