Wetsuit Gear: Layering for the Tropics
Carrie GarciaA plush lining and smooth-skin neck seal trap water movement to keep SubGear’s 2.5 mm shorty warm. New graphics add useful nonslip patches at the shoulders — and look cool too.
CONTACT: subgear.com
MSRP: $105
Carrie GarciaAkona’s four-way-stretch nylon laminate creates a second-skin fit that helps hold in your body heat. Durable but flexible laminated kneepads protect a vulnerable wear spot.
CONTACT: akona.com
MSRP: $235 for standard sizes
Carrie GarciaThe S-Flex has 3 mm neoprene in the torso, where insulation is needed most, and 2 mm in the arms and legs for flexibility. The collar seal is smooth-skin, and abrasion- resistant patches shield the knees.
CONTACT: baresports.com
MSRP: $179.95
Carrie GarciaA soft lining, smooth-skin neck and glued seams keep water movement to a minimum in the AquaFlex.The tightly woven outer fabric and stretchy kneepads help prevent damage and wear.
CONTACT: aqualung.com
MSRP: $329
Carrie GarciaWear it alone for a warm, sunny day or combine it with a vest or fullsuit when things cool off. Either way, the Med helps keep your core warm with its smooth-skin seals at the neck, sleeves and legs.
CONTACT: cressi.com
MSRP: $99.95
Carrie GarciaThe adjustable sleeve closures on IST’s shorty are especially handy if you’re layering over a fullsuit. Smooth-skin O-rings at the legs and neck help keep the cold stuff out.
CONTACT: istsports.com
MSRP: $70
Carrie GarciaGreat when you need just a little more warmth — or when you want to keep the sun from scorching your hide when you’re snorkeling. This new rashy’s high-tech hollow-fiber fabric dries quickly, making for a comfy coverup topside.
CONTACT: subgear.com
MSRP: $52
Carrie GarciaThe Trilaminate man-made material in this suit is neu- trally buoyant, so you can add it as a layer without adding weight. It’s windproof to block the chill on surface intervals, and a new rear zip makes for easy on and off.
CONTACT: lavacoreinternational.com
MSRP: $229.95
Carrie GarciaFull 3 mm neoprene and a smooth lining that reflects body heat help keep your torso warm. The low-cut neck makes it comfortable to layer the vest under a fullsuit or shorty.
CONTACT: tilos.com
MSRP:$67.99
Even in the tropics, water that feels bathtub warm on your first dive can seem cool after a breezy surface interval — and downright chilly when you’re about to tap into your third tank of the day. So we’ve rounded up a range of new fullsuits, shorties and accessories you can wear alone or layered to help keep you toasty through a full day of diving in paradise.
