Scuba Vs Surfing Wetsuits; Is There Really Any Difference?

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Want to stay warm when you hit the water? Then a wetsuits are the way to go.

When I first started investing in my scuba gear I was so excited to purchase my first wetsuit. For years I had seen surfers strutting around on the beaches with badass, figure-hugging suits in colourful prints and couldn’t wait to join their ranks. Little did I know that surf wetsuits and scuba wetsuits are not the same thing.

To my disappointment the wardrobe of a scuba diver is a far less exciting place. Surfers were fun and sexy, scuba divers it seemed, not so much.

So naturally I started wondering could I scuba dive in a surfing wetsuit. Is there really any difference?

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What Is The Difference Between Scuba and Surf Wetsuits?

Wetsuits are made from something called closed-cell neoprene. A synthetic rubber which is both flexible and insulating thanks to nitrogen bubbles formed within the fabric.

The more bubbles in the neoprene, the more insulating and flexible it is. However air also compresses under pressure which means it looses those insulating qualities at depth.

Scuba wetsuits are designed using higher density neoprene with less bubbles. This makes it sturdier, denser and better at providing thermal insulation under pressure. At the same time it also makes it stiffer. But to divers with whom minimal movement is ideal, this Is not an issue.

Surfing wetsuits on the other hand are designed to provide thermal insulation whilst jumping about on the waves. So neoprene with lots of bubbles is ideal. Some even incorporate extra panels to provide greater range of movement and grips on the chest area. Thicker neoprene in a surf wetsuit would not only make movement more difficult but could also lead to overheating due to heat created by physical exertion and exposure to the sun.

So Can I Wear A Surf Wetsuits To Scuba And Vice Versa?

Absolutely! At the end of the day there is nothing stopping you from wearing whatever kind of wetsuit you want. Except maybe temperature (check our guide to exposure protection to be safe). Both will protect you from cuts, abrasions and the sun whilst keeping you warm. But is it the best idea? Not really.

If you use surfing wetsuits for scuba diving the extreme pressure will quickly wear out the neoprene and loose efficiency with depth, causing you to get cold. Also destroying it’s insulating abilities once topside again. On the other hand if you use scuba wetsuits to go surfing you might just end up feeling as stiff as the board you’re riding on.

In short picking the wrong wetsuit for the wrong sport only serves to reduce its lifespan and cost you not only in money but in comfort too. My advice? Invest in the specifics.

Luckily the growing customer base and desire for better designs in scuba wetsuits means that there are more options on the market for fashion conscious divers. Just take a look Aurora, Aqualung or Xcel if you need inspiration!

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Katie Braunstein

I have been a traveler my whole life, having been born in Zimbabwe but growing up mostly in the UK. I first got into diving three years ago when I met my partner and fell in love. Since then it has been my passion to share this love of our underwater world with others.