When planning a dive, it only makes sense that the colder the water is going to be, the thicker the wetsuit you’re going to need. But how cold, and how thick? These aren’t easy questions because there are many factors that enter into the equation.

First, there’s the personal. Everybody has a different internal body thermometer, based on gender, age, health, amount of body fat, metabolism and individual comfort level.

Then there’s the diving itself. How many dives you make, how deep you go, how long you stay, not to mention the topside conditions — it all makes a difference.

That said, you’ve got to start somewhere. Since this is so subjective, we reached out to a collection of wetsuit manufacturers, neoprene companies and diver forums to create the following reference chart for matching wetsuit to water temperature.

Note: these are all based on wearing a standard wetsuit; by adding hoods, vests and gloves, etc., you can experiment in finding that sweet spot in your personal comfort zone.

Want to dive anywhere, anytime, no matter the water temp? Start your adventure today with PADI's Drysuit Diver course.

FIND YOUR COMFORT ZONE

|||| |---|---|---| |WATER TEMPERATURE| FOR HOT-BLOODED DIVERS| FOR DIVERS PRONE TO COLD| |85 Degrees & Above | Aw heck, dive in your swim trunks or bathing suit| 2 mm to 1 mm shorty| |80 to 85 Degrees | 2 mm shorty to dive skin| 2 mm to 1 mm fullsuit| |73 to 79 Degrees | 3 mm fullsuit to 2 mm shorty| 5 mm to 3 mm fullsuit| |66 to 72 Degrees | 5 mm to 3 mm fullsuit| 7 mm to 5 mm fullsuit| |50-65 Degrees | 8/7 mm semi-dry to 7 mm wetsuit| Drysuit| |50 Degrees and Below| 8/7 mm semi-dry or drysuit| Enjoy the view of the water from the nearest coffee shop |