There are a couple of things to look for when purchasing or renting a drysuit — read our drysuit buying guide to find the best one for you. Firstly, there are two main types of drysuits: membrane and neoprene. A membrane drysuit has a three-layered design that’s lightweight and flexible, but it doesn’t provide additional warmth. Meaning, you’ll likely have to purchase extra undergarments to wear under the drysuit. A neoprene drysuit is essentially a super thick wetsuit that’s waterproof. These are heavier but keep you warm without additional undergarments.

Before trying on drysuits, you’ll need to get measured first to figure out what size you’ll need. The fit of your drysuit is incredibly important for safety. It’s critical that you wear a suit that seals properly and does not restrict your range of motion.

Drysuit seals that are the wrong size will result in water getting into your drysuit. This is not exactly something you want when diving in Arctic conditions! As a general rule of thumb, if you can put your fingers too easily between your skin and the seal, it’s too big.

You also want to make sure that you have a good range of motion in the suit so that you can comfortably navigate underwater. A suit that restricts your movement could potentially put you in a dangerous situation on your dive. Be sure to get properly measured for a drysuit and check your seals thoroughly before each dive to ensure a proper fit.

Drysuit styles

All dry suits are full length and cover the entire body unlike wetsuits which come in options of shorties and full length wetsuits. However, drysuits are available in different materials. Neoprene drysuits are made of the same material as wet suits, except they exclude water. Shell dry suits are the more popular versions that consist of two pieces. They are loose fitting suits that provide ‘double protection’ with an insulating layer of air between the two materials. The outer part of a drysuit is a waterproof shell made from materials like neoprene, foam rubber, or a hybrid of both while the second layer is an undergarment, also made of several materials including bunting, open foam Thinsulate that provides insulation.

Tips for buying a drysuit

• Unlike a wetsuit, a drysuit should be a little loose fitting on the body so you can wear clothing in it comfortably or undergarments for extra insulation, but not too loose so the air bubble inside plays havoc with your trim and buoyancy. The wrist and neck seals however, have to be snug and tight enough to keep water out without cutting off blood flow.
• Choose your undergarment when choosing your dry suit. That way you can try them both on.
• Look for drysuits with thigh pockets. These are a good thing and provide the best place to store those needed small things that you want with you on your dive. Much easier to reach than the pockets of your BC.
• Some suits feature suspenders which make it much easier to don and wear since they help keep the waist up where it needs to be rather than “baggy-ing” downwards.
• Lastly, make sure the exhaust valve of the suit is in the proper place which is usually between the shoulder and elbow, pointing straight up when you hold your arm level with your shoulder. If it’s not in the right spot, then the air won’t escape adequately as it expands, which could prove dangerous during ascents.