Is a drysuit worth it?
For warmth and comfort during your dive, it’s hard to beat a drysuit. As all divers know, water is a heat-stealer. Unless you’re diving in water warmer than 98. F, your body starts losing heat as soon as you hit the water. But in a drysuit, water never touches your body, only air does. This is a practice known as going commando. Because of the wetsuit’s tight fit, wearing anything under it can feel unpleasant at times. Wearing nothing between your wetsuit and your skin reduces the quantity of water that can enter. You’ll be warmer if you decide to go nude beneath your wetsuit.Yes, it is. Many people choose to wear nothing under their wetsuit. Wetsuits are designed to fit snugly against your body, and the fewer layers underneath, the better the insulating effect. For some, this is the most comfortable option, especially during short sessions or in warm conditions.A dry suit keeps you warm by keeping you dry. They keep out moisture, which helps them feel warmer than a wetsuit. Because of this protection from the water, you can actually wear normal clothes underneath them. This lets you layer up well in colder weather.Even though dry suits seal out water, it is possible to get wet from your perspiration or a leak; so as with other outdoor sports, the best types of clothing to wear under a dry suit are clothes made from materials that insulate even when wet. This includes polypropylene, pile fleece, wool, etc.
What temperature is a dry suit good for?
The first choice when deciding on which exposure protection best fits your needs is to determine what water temperatures you plan to dive in. If they will be below 16 degrees centigrade (60°f) a drysuit will almost certainly be best choice. Above that temperature a wetsuit would normally provide the best solution. Unlike wetsuits, which trap a thin layer of water and preserve body heat, dry suits are waterproof. When considering wetsuit vs drysuit, it’s important to note that dry suits offer significantly better waterproofing and thermal protection, making them ideal for colder conditions or extended use.Below 50°F (10°C) and Lower: Drysuits are highly recommended for prolonged exposure to water temperatures in this range. These are considered very cold conditions, and without proper insulation, the risk of hypothermia increases significantly.