Yes, even when snorkeling in warm tropical waters there are many times a snorkeling wetsuit, or even just a top, is a really nice bit of gear to wear. It will keep you warm and protect your skin from the sun, jellyfish stings, and abrasions. Neoprene wetsuits also add buoyancy, which helps you float more easily. There are also neutrally-buoyant and neoprene-free suits which make diving underwater much easier.
After trying four different wetsuits, I, Nicole, finally found a comfortable and warm wetsuit that I am happy to recommend to you. Both of my previous neoprene wetsuits were back zip suits, one inexpensive 2.2mm and one expensive 3mm. Unfortunately, they both pressed uncomfortably on my neck all the time, but severely when sitting down. This is a common problem.
Many of your questions about how to select the right snorkeling wetsuit for different water temperatures, and how much to spend, are answered further down this page, below the wetsuits.
Note: Our suggestions come from hands-on experience. We hope you find them helpful. You can help us if you purchase from the links below. We may make a small commission, as an Amazon Associate or from other companies, at no extra cost to you.
Our Favorite Snorkeling Wetsuits
Waihana
This company specializes in wetsuits designed for freediving and spearfishing. They are two piece suits, with pants and a hooded top with what is known as a beavertail that comes up between your legs and clasps to the front of the wetsuit top. We love the coverage and simplicity of a hood for a snorkeling wetsuit and were excited to find this style suit.
Waihana makes their wetsuits in Hawaii with eco-friendly neoprene made from limestone in Japan or South Korea. This neoprene is super stretchy and very comfortable. Most of Waihana’s suits, and most freediving and spearfishing wetsuits on the market, are open cell. This means that the inside surface of the suit is neoprene, not fabric.
This makes the wetsuit warmer because less water gets into your suit. But, it adds one more step for donning your suit. You need to add a lube to the inside of your suit before you slip it on. A lube can be made by mixing a little bit of shampoo or conditioner with water. Of course you want to use a reef-friendly product, so we recommend Stream2Sea Shampoo and Body Wash or Leave-in Conditioner.
I purchased a Waihana Women’s Essentials 3mm Wetsuit (also available for Men in black or green), which is a closed cell suit. This means that there is fabric on the inside of the suit. I wore this snorkeling wetsuit for two full weeks and loved it. (I am wearing it in the picture at the top of the page.) The neoprene is so flexible and comfortable and I was finally warm. I have been running cold for a while now, so this was a nice improvement.
I thought that with buying the closed cell suit I could get by without using lube. It turned out that I was struggling too much getting the suit on and when I added lube it became much easier.
For my next trip I have a Waihana Women’s Kajiki 3.5mm Wetsuit (also available for men) to try out, and I am really looking forward to comparing the open cell with the closed cell of the Essentials Suit. I will share what I discover here and in our free monthly newsletter.
If 3 or 3.5mm seems like too much warmth for you, they offer 1mm in the Essentials Suit (women and men) and 1.5mm in the Kajiki Suit (women and men).
Waihana is offering our readers 10% off your order if you use the code TROPICALSNORKELING at the links above.
In my experience the current size chart at Waihana is correct. They recently updated it due to feedback that the wetsuits were too small. Looking at the chart though, they do not offer their wetsuits for plus-size women, but they do for men.
I personally greatly prefer this style snorkeling wetsuit to a back zip one because as I mentioned above, the two I owned pressed uncomfortably on my neck. I have also tried on a chest zip wetsuit, which is a popular option in surfing wetsuits. I have good shoulder flexibility and I found the chest zip suit nearly impossible to get on.
One more benefit to this snorkeling wetsuit that surprised me was that I could hear better. The inside of the hood edge is lined with a smoothskin seal, which is designed to minimize the influx of water. So, water does not fill my ears and make it hard to hear. I can lift my head out of the water and hear what someone is saying.
Be aware that you need to be able comfortably pull the top on and off over your head. So, if that is a problem for you, go for another style snorkeling wetsuit.
Cressi
I found out about this style of suit because my guide on one of our partner’s trips wore one. He had two different Cressi spearfishing suits. He let me wear his 2mm Cressi top and it was warm and comfortable.
The freediving and spearfishing suits that Cressi offers are marketed as unisex, which offers an option for plus-size women. You can find their suits on Amazon at the links below:
- Cressi Apnea 3.5mm (open cell)
- Cressi Lampuga 3mm (open cell)
- Cressi Tokugawa 3.5mm (open cell)
- Cressi Tokugawa 2mm (closed cell)
Fourth Element
We love Fourth Element’s environmental commitment. In a world full of plastic ocean trash and companies who don’t care, Fourth Element is doing their best to make as many of their products as they can from recycled fishing nets and renewable natural rubbers. And they have nearly eliminated plastics in their packaging. Learn more about their OceanPositive endeavors here.
Thermocline is the snorkeling wetsuit we recommend by Fourth Element. These suits are neoprene-free and neutrally buoyant, so are a great choice if you like to dive down without a weight belt. They are made from recycled fishing nets in layers with the outer layer resembling gore-tex and the inner layer is fleece-like. They are intended to fit your body snugly like a neoprene wetsuit.
We both have their two piece system, with a front zippered top, and separate leggings. It makes it easier to get the suit on, easier for quick bathroom breaks, and allows us to use the top by itself. Galen also added a vest for additional warmth.
They make Thermocline in a variety of other configurations, from pull over tops, full body suits, vests, shorts, hoods, and fin socks, for men and women.
Fourth Element states that Thermocline offers an equivalent warmth as a 2mm neoprene wetsuit. The warmth of these suits is enough for many snorkelers, Galen included. In most water, Nicole was not warm enough and changed to a 3mm neoprene snorkeling wetsuit.
One big benefit of the Thermocline suits is they are machine washable. One downside of these suits is that they take a long time to dry. Another downside is they can be challenging to put on, but if you wear rash guards underneath, they’re easy to pull on.
Lavacore
Another snorkeling wetsuit option is Lavacore, which makes products similar to the Thermocline line of suits. They are neutrally buoyant and neoprene free. They apparently also have the downside of taking a long time to dry, and they cannot be washed in a machine. Check Lavacore out on Amazon.
Sharkskin
Sharkskin, a company from Australia, also makes products that are similar to Thermocline. They make two different types: Chillproof and Titanium 2, either one would work as a snorkeling wetsuit. The second one is supposed to be equivalent warmth to a 5mm neoprene. Their suits reportedly take a long time to dry too. Check Sharkskin out on Amazon.
Tuga Sunwear
Tuga Sunwear makes some of our favorite rash guards, and they have some nice 1.5mm thermal tops as well, in either a front zipper, or pull over. And they have a hybrid top that has 1.5mm neoprene on the body, and rash guard material on the sleeves. This is a nice snorkeling wetsuit option for just a little added insulation on your core.
See all of Tuga’s Men’s Thermal tops here.
See all of Tuga’s Women’s Thermal tops here.
Tips for Choosing a Snorkeling Wetsuit
Do Snorkelers Need a Wetsuit?
If you are snorkeling in tropical waters that are 80° F (26° C) or above, a snorkeling wetsuit may not be necessary, unless you run cold. When we were younger, we only needed full body rash guards, but now we usually need more warmth, especially when the water is a little colder at different destinations, or if we are getting in often, or during night snorkels. Galen is usually fine with a Thermocline jacket, but Nicole needs a 3mm snorkeling wetsuit.
It is important to note that if you are on a snorkeling intensive vacation like the ones below, where you get in the water three or four times a day, up to two hours at a time, then you should really consider wearing a snorkeling wetsuit, no matter what the water temperature is. When you get in the water that much your body temperature may start to cool down slowly, to a dangerous level, without the normal signs of hypothermia. Read more below about Warm Water Hypothermia.
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Water Temperatures for a Snorkeling Wetsuit?
Some people run hot, some cold. Some have more natural insulation, or bioprene, than others. And it depends on how long you will be in the water, and for how many consecutive days. So it is not easy to give temperatures for when to wear a wetsuit or not. Generally speaking though, if the water temperature dips down to 75° F (24° C) or less, you may want to start thinking about some extra warmth. Although, there are circumstances when folks like to wear wetsuits all the time in warmer waters.
Warm Water Hypothermia Is Important to Understand
Be aware that hypothermia can happen in very warm waters, and you may not know it is happening. This is called “Warm Water Hypothermia”. In any temperature below 98° F (36° C) you will lose heat. And water is 25 times more efficient than air at drawing away heat from your body. And in warm waters your body may not lose temperature fast enough to show normal symptoms of hypothermia like shivering.
You can reach a dangerous level of hypothermia without being aware. It has been known to happen in water temperatures as high as 81°F (27° C). Pay attention to any signs of fatigue, lack of motivation, and cognitive impairment. These symptoms may indicate hypothermia before the normal signs of violent shivering set in.
This is why wearing a wetsuit even in warm waters is a good idea when you are doing a lot of snorkeling.
How Thick of a Wetsuit for Snorkeling?
Wetsuits are labeled by their neoprene thickness. A 5mm wetsuit, is supposed to have 5mm thick neoprene. A 3/2mm suit will have a combination of thicker neoprene around the core, and thinner neoprene at the arms and legs. But there are no labeling laws, so there can be a great amount of variety in warmth and panel layout between brands that are labeled the same.
Even a 1mm snorkeling wetsuit will provide a bit of warmth compared to a rash guard. For years we wore 1mm tops when needing a little extra warmth. We find though that in tropical situations a 2-3mm suit is plenty. If you tend to run cold, and are visiting a colder water spot, or plan to spend a lot of time in the water, you may want a 4-5mm suit. But keep in mind that a thicker wetsuit will be heavier and larger in your suitcase. Thicker wetsuits also take longer to dry.
Price to Quality to Comfort Ratio
We have tried cheap 2.2mm wetsuits that only cost $100, and we hated them. They were super restrictive feeling and uncomfortable. You really get what you pay for with wetsuits, so we don’t recommend going cheap. High quality wetsuits have better neoprene, better linings, better fit, and constructed without the stitching going all the way through, preventing water intrusion.
Good wetsuits will be more comfortable in the water as they are made with more flexible neoprenes. As mentioned, there are no labeling standards for wetsuits. So it is safer to buy from a well-known brand that is accountable for its product, and cares about its long term reputation. If it is cheap, and from an unknown brand, it is likely for a reason. We suggest going with high quality, known brands for a snorkeling wetsuit.
How Tight Should It Fit?
For a wetsuit to work, it needs to be very snug, like a second skin, without bagginess or gaps. It should be tight enough to feel a little unusual. They are designed to trap a thin layer of water against your skin, without allowing more water to flow in and out. But they should not be so tight that your movement is highly restricted.
Front Zip Vs. Back Zip Snorkeling Wetsuit
Where the zipper is on the suit is mostly just a matter of personal taste. Back zip suits tend to be easier to get on, because they open up more. But they can be harder to zip up and in Nicole’s case, can press on the front of the neck. Front zip suits tend to be more difficult to get on and off, but may be more comfortable in other ways. Ideally, try the suit on before buying.
Single, Two Piece, or Shorty
One piece suits are probably a bit warmer, because they don’t have as many openings. But since we snorkel in rather warm water, we don’t mind the trade off of a slightly less warm suit for the convenience that two pieces brings. A separate top and bottom are easier to get on and off, and are more convenient for bathroom breaks as well. Plus, you can use the top by itself if the water is not that cold, which is very versatile.
A shorty is another good option in warmer water, although then you lose the sun protection factor. Without a reef friendly sunscreen or wearing full length rash guards underneath, your arms and legs will get fried in a shorty.
Wetsuit Downsides
Wetsuits are great, but they certainly have their downsides, and can cramp your style. Life is just easier without them. Here are some issues to be aware of.
Buoyancy When Diving
If you like freediving, even just doing a quick duck dive to take a picture, a neoprene wetsuit can make that very difficult because of the added buoyancy it creates. So you will need a weight belt and some lead to offset that buoyancy.
That is a big reason to choose Fourth Element’s Thermocline product. It is neutrally buoyant, making it easier to dive in without adding extra weight.
Drying and Smelliness of Snorkeling Wetsuits
Unfortunately neoprene wetsuits are stinky things. And they are challenging to clean and dry. It is just the nature of neoprene. Plus its going to get stinkier because you are going to pee in it (read below). That is another benefit of our Thermocline suits. They don’t smell of neoprene, and they are easier to clean.
Relieving Yourself
You will have to pee more often when you are snorkeling than walking about on land. It is a known thing called immersion diuresis, and it is a natural bodily response that is part of the mammalian dive reflex. Peeing in the water while snorkeling, in your swimsuit, is natural and to be expected.
But what about in a wetsuit? A wetsuit rental company understandably will tell you not to even think about it. But the truth is everyone does it, or lies about doing it, unless you enjoy the pain of holding a full bladder, which is a bad idea. You definitely do not want to try and dehydrate yourself before you go out so that you don’t have to pee. Your pee won’t damage your wetsuit. But you will need to rinse your wetsuit very thoroughly after, and maybe add some soap if it gets stinky.
Another big benefit of two piece wetsuits is that you can pull down just your pants to pee in the ocean so you are not having to pee in your snorkeling wetsuit.
A Pain to Get On and Off
If your wetsuit fits right, it is going to be a bit difficult to get on and off. It is just the price you pay for the warmth.
Luggage Size and Weight
Wetsuits are bulky, and will take up a good amount of space in your luggage. They can weigh a bit also, and you may not be able to get it dry before you return. A big plastic bag to keep it in for the return is a good idea.