What Is the Best Wetsuit for SCUBA Diving?
Lauren Collison December 18th, 2017 Posted In: Articles Tags: SCUBA
What Is the Best Wetsuit for SCUBA Diving?
Not all wetsuits are created equal. The SCUBA diving experience can be significantly impacted by the equipment used on an underwater adventure. The best wetsuit for SCUBA diving is called a “SCUBA wetsuit” or a “dive wetsuit.” I find that many divers don’t realize that they have multiple types of wetsuits to choose from, so this article acts as a useful reference for people in the process of making their purchases.
Wetsuits like this one are great for cold water diving!
Why SCUBA Wetsuits Stand Out
The biggest difference between a SCUBA wetsuit and a surfing wetsuit is that the one designed for diving uses compression-resistant neoprene that doesn’t compress underwater.
This feature is important, because a wetsuit provides thermal insulation through its thickness, measured in millimeters. When someone dives in 50-degree water, you need a 7mm or thicker wetsuit. If they try to dive with a non-SCUBA wetsuit, it ends up compressing down to 3mm. That thickness is only sufficient for water in the mid-60s. Ten degrees might not sound like a big difference, but trust me, when you’re under the water and have to cut a dive short because you’re too cold, it becomes a big problem.
The bottom line is that SCUBA divers need the right suit for the job, and getting one doesn’t have to break the bank.
SCUBA Wetsuit Brands
So, what is the best wetsuit for SCUBA diving? A few great SCUBA wetsuit brands to choose from include the following:
- Pinnacle: This company is a great all-around choice that’s affordable and covers the features that SCUBA divers look for most often. When you’re looking for your first SCUBA wetsuit, start with Pinnacle as the best entry-level option.
- XS Scuba: XS Scuba has been around for over 20 years. Their name says it all. They’ve worked hard over the years to come out with a full line of great, but affordable, diving and snorkeling products and equipment.
- AKONA: AKONA products are built for any adventure in any climate, any environment, and are uniquely designed for activities both below water and above. Engineered to be rugged, versatile and feature rich, all AKONA products are constructed for a lifetime of exploration. SCUBA divers love their products.
- Bare: This high-end wetsuit company offers high-quality, beautifully made SCUBA wetsuits that are built to last. When you hear Bare, you know you’re getting a great wetsuit.
Hopefully this discussion on how to choose a wetsuit has helped you understand the difference between a standard wetsuit and a wetsuit for SCUBA diving. If you need any additional help, feel free to contact us either via live chat, phone (866-906-7848) or email (service@wetsuitwearhouse.com)!
