The best Dive Bootsin 2023

Dive boots are essential for every scuba diver.

They keep your feet warm underwater, make walking on rocks and sand much more pleasant, and protect your feet-.

In addition, they make putting on open-heel fins much more enjoyable.

Finding good dive boots is a lot like finding good dress shoes…There are plenty to choose from but there are a few things to consider.

Here you will find all the best scuba diving boots in 2023 that I have tested and recommend. After the recommendations, you will also find a dive boots buyer’s guide with tips and tricks for picking the right diving boots for your style of diving.

The best dive boots in 2023

These are my recommendations for the best dive boots in 2023 for every budget.

Best dive boots: SEAC Pro HD 6mm
Cheapest dive boots: Mares Classic NG 5mm
Dive boots for big feet: Aqua Lung 7mm Echozip Boots

SEAC Pro HD 6mm

Rating: 4.8 / 5.0

If you want a dive boot that feels like wearing shoes on your way to the dive spot, get the SEAC super-stretch Pro HD boots.

They look nice, feel good on land and in the water, and will protect your feet better than any other wetsuit boot.

• Buy on Amazon
• Buy on TradeInn (DiveInn)

Mares Classic Dive Boot 5mm

Rating: 4.7 / 5.0

Classic and timeless, the Mares Ng 5mm Classic Dive Boot is super affordable, convenient to put on and I cannot find anything to complain about.

It offers great value for a very affordable price, a time-tested design, and everything you could possibly want in a dive boot.

• Buy on Amazon
• Buy on Dive Right in Scuba
• Buy on TradeInn (DiveInn)

AquaLung 7mm Echozip Dive Boots

Rating: 4.3 / 5.0

Get the Aqualung 7mm Echozip boots if you want super flexible dive boots without the large price tag.

I love my Aqualung 7mm Echozip boots for their great fit, affordable price tag, and the fact that they come in size 13+ (yes, I got big feet).

• Buy on Amazon
• Buy on Dive Right in Scuba
• Buy on TradeInn (DiveInn)

Buying dive boots

There are four different kinds of boots available to scuba divers.

Slip-In neoprene boots

Covering only your feet and without zippers or any other distracting features, slip-in boots are a valid type of scuba boot that’s most common in warmer waters.

They don’t quite offer the ease of use as the zipper boots below, however, can be found for under 20€ online.

Most slip-in boots feature a neoprene thickness of 3mm.

Zipper neoprene boots

A step up from the basic slip-in boots are the heavier zipper boots.

They come in 3-7mm versions, and I recommend going for at least 5mm to get the most out of it.

The zipper makes it much easier to get into the boots, especially when wearing them over the actual wetsuit.

On the other hand, zippers like to rip off in very inconvenient moments so pick one that’s sturdy.

Boots with extra thick soles

Some boots look more like hiking shoes and feature extra thick and sturdy soles that make walking much easier.

They are especially common when diving in cold water or from rocky shores, but tend to be a little heavier.

I own a pair of them and find the extra cushion worth it when walking on rocks, but it isn’t a must.

Boots for drysuits

Drysuit boots are worn over trilaminate and other suits when the water is especially cold, like under ice or in mountain lakes.

They are not as tight as the others above but come in thicker configurations up to 10mm.

Most beginners don’t need to worry about them unless you want to use a drysuit right away.

How thick should your diving boots be?

Your body loses heat about 25 times faster in the water and your feet even faster as they are farther away from your core. Therefore, you should at least get 5mm scuba diving boots for any kind of diving and environment you encounter.

You can never be too warm in the water, and if you ever feel like it’s too much, just let in some water during the dive.

On the other hand, once you hit colder water temperatures, you will be thankful for any extra millimeters you have to keep you warm.

I myself own 5mm, 7mm, and even thicker ones for any drysuit diving activities.
Keep in mind though that thicker boots might require you to buy bigger fins, as well.

Dive Boots for beginners

Beginners should definitely buy their own pair of dive boots. You can find my recommendations in my guide on the best scuba dive boots for beginners.