Which Wetsuit for What Temperature – A Complete Guide • 50ft Below Guest Post
Choosing the right wetsuit for your upcoming dive trip is never easy. To get it right every time, it typically requires years of experience across numerous continents. But fear not anymore! We are available to assist you! From 50ft Below, a guest post, comes this one. Please click here to access the original story on their website.
Below, we've included a range of temperatures along with the suit we believe would be appropriate. People who are typically cold and those who are typically warm can be distinguished. You already know which one you are after reading these descriptions, I'm sure!
78 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit /25 to 30 degrees Celsius (Warm Waters)

This water is typically thought of as warm. Tropical areas including the Caribbean, sections of Oceania, and Asia are where they are most commonly found. Thermoclines are uncommon, and when they do exist, the temperature difference between them is typically not great.
Warm individuals
When the water is running in the 80's F (28 C), you can get away with 3mm thick shorts or even a rash guard with swimming trunks. Consider wearing a skin-suit that completely encloses your body if you want additional defense against marine stingers.
Summary:
- 85 (30 C) – 82 (27 C) Degrees: Skin-suit
- 82 (27 C) – 78 (25 C) Degrees: 3mm shorty
Cold individuals
You must strengthen your defenses. When the water is 80 degrees F (28 C), a 3mm complete suit is the absolute minimum. When the water temperature is approaching near to 78 degrees F (25 degrees Celsius), you might even think about wearing a neoprene vest underneath.
Summary:
- 85 (30 C) – 82 (27 C) Degrees: 3mm full suit
- 82 (27 C) – 78 (25 C) Degrees: 3mm full suit + neoprene vest
60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit / 15 to 25 degrees Celsius (Temperate Waters)
The Pacific, Egypt, and the Mediterranean are typical locations with these temperatures, which are referred to as temperate waters. The water will become colder the deeper you travel in these waters. You should take this into account while selecting a suit. Your suit will need to be thicker the deeper you intend to dive!
Warm individuals
In a 3mm complete suit, you might be able to survive when the water temperature is in the high 70s F (24 C). You might want to put on a 5mm complete suit when the temperature falls below 72 degrees F (23 C). When the temperature falls into the mid-sixties, adding a hood helps you stay warm. Get a 7mm complete suit so you can stay warm as the weather dips even further to the lower 60s F.
Summary:
- 75 (25 C) – 72 (22 C) Degrees: 3mm full suit
- 72 (21 C) – 65 (18 C) Degrees: 5mm full suit
- 65 (18 C) – 60 (15 C) Degrees: 7mm full suit
Cold individuals
When the temperature is at its highest in these waters, at the absolute least purchase a 5mm full suit. You may wish to think about a 7mm full suit if you intend to take longer dives. You will undoubtedly require an over suit, preferably a 7mm one, as soon as the temperature falls to the lower 60s F.
Summary:
- 75 (25 C) – 70 (21 C) Degrees: 5mm full suit
- 70 (21 C) – 65 (18 C) Degrees: 7mm full suit + hood
- 65 (18 C) – 60 (15 C) Degrees: 7mm full suit + over-suit + hood + gloves
45 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit / 8 to 15 degrees Celsius (Cold waters)
These chilly seas can be found near the great lakes, in northern Europe, and in the vicinity of Japan. You will find several thermoclines with significant temperature fluctuations, particularly while diving in lakes with these temperatures.
Warm individuals
When the temperature falls to 50 degrees F or lower, you should also add an over suit to your 7mm full suit. Remember to bring your hood and gloves. You might want to think about wearing a dry suit while the temperature is getting close to 45 F.
Summary:
- 60 (15 C) Degrees: 7mm full suit + neoprene vest + gloves + hood
- 60 (15 C) – 55 (10 C) Degrees: 7mm full suit + over-suit + gloves + hood
- 55 (10 C) – 45 (8 C) Degrees: Dry-suit + gloves + hood
Cold individuals
Get a dry suit without a doubt. I never step foot in water this cold without my dry suit since I am a person who is constantly cold (and these temperatures are my home territory).
Summary:
- 45 (8 C) – 60 (15 C) degrees = Dry-suit + gloves + hood