Wetsuits And Drysuits : Which One To Choose?

The ocean is a strange and fascinating place. Not only does it get darker as you go down, but it is also very cold. From a comfortable 30 °C (86 °F) on the surface to a near-fatal -1 °C (30.2 °F) on the bottom, the temperature range is almost insane.

Unless you are a professional explorer and scuba diver with specialist equipment, it is safe to assume that you will not be swimming at a depth of -1 °C (30.2 °F). However, you can swim past the 200 m submerged mark where the average temperature is around 4 °C (39 °F), which is comfortable at all times.

This means that if you are going to dive into the ocean, you will need a protective suit to protect you from this intense heat loss. There are two types of wetsuits: dry suits and wetsuits. Although they do almost the same thing - helping your body to retain a degree of warmth underwater - they are not the same thing.

Let's indulge in the wetsuit vs drysuit debate and see which one you need in which situation.

What's the difference between a wetsuit and a drysuit?

The main difference is in the material and function.

Wetsuits are made from rubber neoprene and are designed to keep you warm when wet, but unlike dry suits, they are not waterproof. So if you have a loose-fitting wetsuit you will catch a cold. Tight-fitting wetsuits are ideal for cold water surfing as they allow you to move around better than dry suits.  

Drysuits, on the other hand, are completely waterproof but are not designed to keep you warm if used on their own. The dry suit completely blocks all water like a shell and is as loose as a big ski jacket. Drysuits were mainly used by kayakers and divers, but are now used for stand-up paddling and even wake surfing.

In most cold water conditions, wetsuits perform more favourably in the water, while drysuits perform more favourably out of the water. Why? Because of the restrictions. For water activities, consider wetsuits as they are designed to fit close to the skin. Think about swimming in a drysuit or a wetsuit - which is faster and has better manoeuvrability?  

For those who don't want any cold water on their skin and don't necessarily care about restrictions, a drysuit is a good choice because of its waterproof properties. In extremely cold conditions, when normal wetsuit movement is limited by temperature, a dry suit would be more appropriate.  

Consider a wetsuit when the weather is cold: surfing, waterskiing surfing, waterskiing (water activities)

Consider a drysuit when the weather is extremely cold: kayaking, paddle boarding, taking action photos in the water (for out-of-water activities or in extremely cold conditions)

For extreme winter stand-up paddleboarding conditions, a dry suit is a good option as you can add extra layers of warmth underneath the wetsuit.  

For wake surfers, water skiers, paddle boarders and all those who love water sports, a quality wetsuit or dry suit (depending on your needs) is well worth taking the time to decide which one is best for you. If you are in doubt about which wetsuit or drysuit to buy, Wetop Sports have a large selection and our staff are very knowledgeable in this area and can help you make your decision. 

Wetop Sports has been specializing in supplying custom water sports equipment for several years, such as wetsuits, drysuits, diving masks, fins, flippers, life vests, life jackets, buoyancy aid, surfboard, and other relevant accessories. For more information and consultation, contact us here!