The purpose of an exposure suit is twofold - firstly to ensure that the diver remains warm, and secondly to protect from minor scrapes and sunburn. While most people are aware of the wetsuit, this in fact is just one of three options that a scuba diver may wear, depending on the water temperature.

Wetsuit

Made from neoprene, a wetsuit keeps the diver insulated by trapping a layer of water between the suit and the skin. Once the water layer is heated to body temperature it acts as an insulator. Wetsuits are available in various styles, depending on the climate. In warmer waters a "shorty" is common, a 2 or 3mm suit with short arms and legs. In colder waters full length wet suits are required. These can be one or two piece suits and are often worn with a hood, gloves and boots.
View Simply Scuba's selection of wetsuits

 

 

Dry suit

Designed for colder waters, a dry suit keeps the diver completely dry and provides a layer of insulating air as well as insulating layers. A dry suit is usually worn with gloves and a wetsuit hood. Although a thick wetsuit can be used in the winter months in the Costa Brava, many divers opt for the comfort that a dry suit brings.
View Simply Scuba's selection of dry suits

 

Body suit

Made from Lycra or similar materials, a body suit offers little insulation but is designed solely to protect from sunburn and scrapes. They can be full length, shorty, or provide protection for top only. Although the water temperature in the Costa Brava is too cold for a body suit even in August, a body suit can be worn under a wet suit to aid putting it on and off, and offers protection against the sun when on a dive boat.

 

Review

The ScubaPro Scotia semi dry suit (see photo at top of page) a 6.5 mm wet suit ideal for year round diving in the Costa Brava and summer diving in the UK. In a range of sizes from small upwards, the suit features a tightly fitting neck, wrist and ankle seals to lock water out, a semi waterproof zip running across the shoulders and a separate hood.

On testing in the Costa Brava the suit has been more than adequate on more than fifty dives since mid April 2003, but water temperatures have been in the range 12 - 17 degrees C. Its weakness is the zip, which is almost impossible for the wearer to operate, and even when it has been opened, it is difficult for the wearer to get his or her arms free enough to remove the suit. However, despite this it is a good all rounder, although it may require additional layers in the winter months.