How to Choose Your Diving Wetsuit

After the mask, the wetsuit is probably the second most important piece of equipment for a diver. Too thin, you're cold. Too thick, you feel like a sausage and you burn through air faster. Poor fit, and water floods in everywhere. Here's how to make the right choice.

What wetsuit thickness do you need for different water temperatures?

This is the number one criterion. The thickness of the neoprene determines how much thermal insulation your suit provides. Here's a general guide:

• 3 mm: warm waters (25°C and above). Tropics, Mediterranean summer. Minimal cold protection, but enough to guard against stings and scrapes.
• 5 mm: temperate waters (18-25°C). The all-round choice. This is the most popular suit for diving in Tenerife, Greece, or the Mediterranean outside of summer.
• 7 mm: cold waters (10-18°C). Essential for Belgian quarries like Vodelee or Barrage de l'Eau d'Heure. Often paired with a hood, gloves and boots.

If you only dive on holiday in warm to temperate waters, a 5 mm will be your best friend. If Belgian waters are part of your plans, you'll need at least a 7 mm, or even a semi-dry.

Should you choose a shorty or a full wetsuit?

A shorty (short suit, bare arms and legs) is tempting when it's warm, but it offers limited protection. While diving, even in warm water, your body cools down quickly at depth. At 15-20 metres, you'll appreciate having your arms and legs covered, even if the surface was 28°C.

My advice: go for a full suit. You can always roll up or wear a rashguard underneath if you're too warm on the surface, but you can't add neoprene underwater when you start feeling cold.

What is the difference between a wetsuit, semi-dry and drysuit?

The wetsuit is the standard in recreational diving. Water enters, warms up against your body, and forms an insulating layer. Simple, comfortable, and sufficient for the vast majority of dives.

The semi-dry is a wetsuit with improved seals at the wrists, ankles and neck, limiting water circulation. Ideal for cold waters without committing to a drysuit. It's an excellent compromise for Belgium and winter Mediterranean diving.

The drysuit keeps you completely dry. You fill it with air for insulation. It's the go-to choice for water below 10°C or for divers doing multiple dives per day in cold water. It requires specific training, but once you try it, it's hard to go back in winter.

How should a diving wetsuit fit?

A wetsuit should fit snugly. Not so tight it cuts off circulation, but close enough to your body to minimize water pockets. If you have large empty spaces around the back, armpits or crotch, water flows freely and cools you down.

Always try a suit before buying. Move your arms, squat, simulate your swimming motions. You should be able to move freely without the suit riding up or pulling. Every brand has its own cut, and what works for one diver might not work for another.

How do you take care of a diving wetsuit?

Neoprene hates three things: direct sunlight, heat and salt. After every dive, rinse your suit with fresh water (inside too). Dry it in the shade, never in direct sun. And store it on a wide hanger, not folded, which would create permanent creases in the neoprene.

With proper care, a quality suit lasts easily 4 to 6 years, sometimes more. It's an investment that pays for itself quickly when you dive regularly.

What budget to expect?

Expect between 100 and 250 euros for a good entry-level wetsuit, and between 250 and 500 euros for a quality semi-dry. Drysuits are a different budget (800 to 2000 euros), but they're an investment for regular cold-water divers.

If you're looking for the right suit for your needs, Lau can advise you and help you find the perfect model through DiveWithLau.

The bottom line

Choosing the right suit depends on where you dive (water temperature), how often, and your personal tolerance to cold. Start with a 5 mm full suit if you mostly dive on holiday, invest in a 7 mm or semi-dry if Belgium is in the picture. And above all: try before you buy.

Need personalized advice? Drop me a line, and I'll help you find the perfect suit for your profile.