The best Wetsuitsfor scuba diversin 2023

A good scuba wetsuit makes every dive more enjoyable.

It keeps you warm underwater, should be easy to put on and off, and last at least a few hundred dives.

There are lots of wetsuits to choose from, however, not all of them fulfill the criteria above.

That’s why you will find a list of the best wetsuits for scuba diving and snorkeling here.

At the end of this article, you will also find a wetsuit buyer’s guide with useful tips and tricks on how to get the right one.

Best scuba wetsuits 2023

Find the best scuba wetsuits in 2023 for every budget:

• Best warmwater shorty: Cressi Tortuga 2.5mm
• Best 3mm wetsuit: Cressi Morea 3mm
• Best 5mm wetsuit: ScubaPro Sport Steamer 5mm
• Best 7mm wetsuit: ScubaPro Everflex 7mm
• Best coldwater wetsuit: Bare Reactive 7mm

Cressi Tortuga 2.5mm

Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

The Cressi Tortuga 2.5mm is a good choice for a 2.5mm shorty for tropical warm water diving.

It looks good, is pretty comfortable to wear and the seams are great.

While I always recommend wearing a long-sleeved rashguard underneath any shorty, the Cressi Tortuga is a quality wetsuit on its own.

• Buy on Amazon (men’s)
• Buy on Amazon (women’s)

Cressi Morea 3mm

Rating: 4.6 / 5.0

The new Cressi Morea 3mm is my recommendation for an inexpensive yet quality 3mm wetsuit for both men and women.

It’s a back-zip suit that is easy to put on or off and will serve its purpose well.

If you are looking for the best bang-for-your-buck 3mm wetsuit, the Cressi Morea 3mm is a great pick.

• Buy on Amazon
• Buy on TradeInn (DiveInn)

ScubaPro Sport Steamer 5mm

Rating: 4.6 / 5.0

The ScubaPro Sport Steamer 5mm is super comfortable, has a great fit, and is among the warmest 5mm wetsuits I’ve dived in.

The Sport series comes in 3mm, and 5mm, and this one is the perfect ratio between cost, warmth, and flexibility.

• Buy on Amazon
• Buy on TradeInn (DiveInn)

ScubaPro Everflex 7mm

Rating: 4.7 / 5.0

The ScubaPro Everflex Steamer 7mm deserves the top spot for 7mm wetsuits, at a still rather affordable price.

Warmer than most other 7mm wetsuits out there, you will not feel cold again on your next dive.

• Buy on Amazon
• Buy on TradeInn (DiveInn)

Bare Reactive 7mm

Rating: 4.8 / 5.0

The Bare Reactive is the warmest and most comfortable 7mm wetsuit for coldwater diving that you can buy right now.

Bare is an absolute premium scuba brand and all their wetsuits (and drysuits) are top-notch.

There is also a 5mm version for those who don’t dive in real cold water.

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

Types of exposure suits

Underwater our body loses heat 25 times faster than on land.

Therefore, we use exposure suits to stay warm underwater and protect ourselves from the environment while scuba diving.

There are three different types of suits available that I will explain further: Wetsuits, semi-drysuits, and drysuits.

Wetsuits and semi-drysuits are usually made of neoprene. Neoprene is a synthetic rubber material that has great insulation capabilities while being very sturdy and lightweight.

Wetsuits

Against common belief, most people do get wet during a dive, even when wearing a suit.

Most scuba divers use wetsuits made of neoprene between 1 and 7mm in thickness, depending on the water temperature.

Wetsuits add extra layers of thermal insulation while trapping water inside of the suit. During the dive, the water inside heats up, basically turning it into a mini bathtub.

Still, you get wet, and eventually colder, as the water is exchanged inside of the suit, especially through the ankle and wrist openings.

Shorties

A subtype of wetsuits is the shorty. It covers your torso, however, not your arms or legs. They are often used in super warm water, or as a replacement for an ice vest.

Generally, I am not a fan of them, and instead, recommend getting a thinner full-body suit, if you feel too warm.

I’ve just seen too many people hurt themselves on rocks or corrals in a shorty, and they cannot be used in most diving environments.

Naturally, the thicker the suit, the warmer you will be. Below I added my recommendation for three different wetsuit thicknesses, depending on where you prefer to dive and how cold you get.

Semi-Dry Suits

Semi-dry suits are technically wetsuits with extra features to lower the water exchange rate. This includes extra cuffs at the feet and hands, dry zippers, and extra suit thickness.

You will still get wet though, although less than in a pure wetsuit.

Some believe this is just a little marketing gimmick of manufacturers to sell their high range wetsuits for more, however, many divers do prefer semi-drysuits over wetsuits.

Drysuits

In contrast to the above two types of exposure suits, drysuits will keep you…well…dry. Completely. There are many different types and buying a drysuit is a topic of its own.

Drysuits are much more expensive than wetsuits, and only necessary if you are a really frequent diver who likes to dive in cold water a lot.

Buying a wetsuit

The most important aspects are comfortable fit, the right thickness, as well as the quality of the material.

I am personally a big fan of the Austrian manufacturer Camaro and my first exposure suit was actually their Stingray semi-drysuit.

They have an incredible 5-year “no questions asked” repair policy and their suits fit like a charm. Oh, and they also look super mega cool.

Not affiliated with them by any means, I just really like their stuff.

The right fit

Wetsuits need to be tight without feeling uncomfortable. The tighter they are, the better they will reduce water exchange and the warmer you will feel underwater.

Pay attention to the neck area. Many wetsuit zippers are located at inconvenient places and start to rub after a while. If you can, try the suit on during a dive and see if it feels nice.

The right thickness

You will never be wrong with a 5mm wetsuit if you tend to dive in warmer waters mostly.

They are not too hot in sunny places while keeping you warm even when water temperatures drop to 20-22°C. If you get cold easily, a 7mm might be the better choice.

Semi-drysuits are always a viable option, however, they are not recommended at places with outside temperatures of above 30°C.

For anything colder than 16°C, I suggest looking for semi-drysuits or a full-blown drysuit.

1 or 3mm suits are reserved only for the warmest of dive spots and are not recommended at water temperatures below 26-28°C.

Front vs Back Zipper

When buying a wetsuit as a beginner, you have to choose between a front zip and a back zip version.

The following tips are my personal observations, and I have found some other sites which propose the total opposite. In the end, it is up to you which you prefer.

As a rule of thumb, front zippers are easy to get in, however, you will probably need help getting out. They tend to feel more comfortable during the dive, as no zipper presses against your back.

Some argue that they are more prone to flushing, as they do not seal the neck as tight as back zippers, however, I have never had this issue personally.

Back zipper suits often require someone to help you zip the suit, however, are easy to get out of. In addition, they often look a little nicer, as the zipper isn’t visible on the front.

While some argue that they prevent flushing better than front zippers, I haven’t noticed any difference, yet.

I don’t think you should worry about it too much, and instead pick the one that fits best.

Scuba wetsuits for beginners

The best wetsuits for beginners.