Drysuit — What It Is and Why It Matters

A drysuit is a sealed diving garment that keeps the diver completely dry by using waterproof seals at the wrists, neck, and zipper. Unlike a wetsuit, which relies on a thin water layer for insulation, a drysuit uses trapped air and undergarments for warmth. The diver adds air through an inflator valve and vents it through a dump valve to manage buoyancy and prevent squeeze.

Drysuits are essential for cold-water diving where wetsuits cannot provide adequate thermal protection. They are more expensive, require additional training, and add complexity to buoyancy management (two inflation systems — BCD and drysuit). Materials include neoprene (warmer, more buoyancy change with depth) and trilaminate (lighter, less buoyancy change, more durable).