Full Wetsuit vs Shorty: Which Is Better for Diving?
Choosing the wrong wetsuit can turn a dream dive into a shivering nightmare—or leave you overheating in tropical waters. In this episode, Ray Hollister draws on over 8,000 dives in Florida to break down exactly when you need a full wetsuit versus when a shorty makes more sense. Whether you're planning cold-water wreck dives or shallow reef explorations, this guide helps you match your wetsuit to your actual diving conditions instead of just grabbing whatever's on the rack.
Key Takeaways
- Water steals your body heat way faster than air. Water pulls heat from your body 25 times faster than air does, which means you can get dangerously cold underwater long before you actually feel chilly—like jumping into a pool that feels fine at first but leaves you shaking after 20 minutes.
- Full wetsuits are the clear winner below 78 degrees. When water drops below 78 degrees or you're diving longer than an hour, a full wetsuit keeps your whole body protected—shorties leave your arms and legs exposed, which is where you start losing heat first.
- Shorties trade warmth for freedom of movement. A shorty lets your arms and legs move easily, like wearing a t-shirt instead of a winter coat—perfect for underwater photography or quick tropical dives where you need to maneuver precisely.
- Wetsuit thickness changes everything about your dive setup. Thicker wetsuits make you float more, so you need extra weights to sink—a full 5mm suit might require 12-18 pounds of lead, while a thin shorty only needs 2-6 pounds, which also affects how much gear you're lugging around.
- Your personal body temperature matters more than generic guidelines. Some people run cold and some run warm, just like on land—if you're always the one grabbing a sweater, add a few degrees to any wetsuit temperature recommendation and choose thicker neoprene than the charts suggest.
Show Links
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Related Articles
DIN vs Yoke Regulators: Pressure Ratings, Safety Differences, and Compatibility Guide
Best Dive Regulators: Complete Buyer's Guide with Performance Testing and Expert Recommendations
Best Underwater Scooters: Lab-Tested Performance Analysis
Best Dive Computers for Extended Liveaboard Trips
How Scuba Regulators Work: First Stage, Second Stage, and Pressure Mechanics Explained