Wetsuit vs Drysuit: Which Is Right for Your Water?
Europe offers everything from warm Mediterranean summers to cold North Sea and lake diving. Staying comfortable is not just about enjoyment: a cold diver breathes more air, concentrates less, and ends dives early. The choice between wetsuit and drysuit is the biggest decision you will make about thermal protection.
How a wetsuit works
A wetsuit traps a thin layer of water between neoprene and skin. Your body warms that layer, and the neoprene slows heat loss. Thickness is measured in millimetres, and thicker neoprene is warmer but stiffer and more buoyant.
- 3 mm suits tropical and warm summer water.
- 5 mm covers temperate water for much of the year.
- 7 mm and semi-dry designs push comfort into colder water by reducing flushing at the wrists, ankles and neck.
How a drysuit works
A drysuit keeps water out entirely. You wear insulating undergarments underneath and trap air inside the suit for warmth. Because the insulation is dry, you stay warmer for longer, and the same suit works across a wide range of temperatures by changing what you wear underneath.
The trade-offs
- Cost: a drysuit costs more up front and needs undergarments.
- Training: drysuits change your buoyancy control. A specialty course is strongly recommended before diving one.
- Maintenance: seals and zips need regular care, which we cover in our guide to caring for your gear.
- Simplicity: wetsuits have fewer failure points and are easier to travel with.
So which one?
If you mostly dive warm water or a few weeks a year, a good-fitting 5 mm or 7 mm wetsuit is plenty. If you dive year-round in northern Europe, in lakes and quarries, or on long dives, a drysuit is usually worth the investment.
Whichever you pick, fit matters more than thickness. Use our size guide, and browse Wetsuits & Drysuits when you are ready.