If you are wondering about what to wear under your wetsuit, you can find many options, from board shorts to tiny swim briefs, such as Speedos. But, keep in mind that each type has its advantages and disadvantages. 

In this article, we will suggest to you about 10 choices about what to wear under your wetsuit. If you are interested in the subject, keep reading.

Should I wear anything under a wetsuit?

It is highly recommended to wear something under your wetsuit, whether it is a bikini or a traditional swimsuit, or you will have to be stuffed in your wetsuit the whole day. The boat or shore is very dry, especially under the tropical sun and the non-breathable material of the wetsuit can cause skin eczema.

Wearing complicated styles like skirts under your wetsuit isn’t recommended. The tight fit can cause skin irritation, leading to redness and swelling. This advice comes from other female scuba divers.

In case of renting a wetsuit from a dive shop, hygiene becomes an issue, as the suit has likely been used before. Therefore, it is advisable to wear an extra layer between the swimsuit and the wetsuit, such as jellyfish clothing.

The importance of the jellyfish clothing lies in two reasons. The first is protecting you from the sun, and the second is that the jellyfish clothing causes less friction than skin, making it easier to put on and take off a wetsuit. If you don’t have one, you can use a plastic bag over your hands and feet to reduce friction when wearing your wetsuit.

10 Things to Wear Under Your Wetsuit

It is important to wear something under your wetsuit for many reasons we have mentioned above. So here are 10 things you can wear under your wetsuit:

• Board Shorts.
• Women’s Swimsuits.
• Men’s Briefs.
• Bicycle-Style Shorts.
• Neoprene Shorts and Pants.
• Neoprene Vests and Shirts.
• Dive Skins and Rash Guards.
• Underwear.
• Pantyhose.
• Board Shorts.
• Nothing At All.

In North America, board shorts are the most popular men’s swimsuit, and most men wear these loose-fitting, quick-drying shorts in their open water courses.

The downside of board shorts is that they usually wrinkle and bunch up under wetsuits, forcing the diver to straighten them out after putting on the wetsuit. This can be challenging if the wetsuit has a tight fit and most professional divers who wear a wetsuit frequently throughout the day seek for an alternative.

Board shorts that bunch up under a wetsuit can restrict blood flow to your legs, causing a potential danger.

Women’s Swimsuits 

Women have an advantage from having tighter-fitting swimsuits, as they stay in place under wetsuits. However, a wetsuit can uncomfortably press some decorative features like beads, metal, knots, and wood against the diver’s skin.

Simple string bikinis as well as athletic-style swimsuits are generally considered a better choice than fanciet suits. Tying string bikini tops on the side prevents the strings from getting caught in the wetsuit’s zipper. Strapless swimsuit tops are usually a bad option, as they may be pulled off when removing the wetsuit.

Men’s Briefs

This snug men’s swimsuit is an ideal option to wear under your wetsuit. Men’s briefs, such as Speedo briefs, remain in place and do not bunch up or shift when putting on or taking off a wetsuit. That’s why many dive instructors prefer briefs.

The disadvantage of men’s briefs lies in that many men feel hesitant or embarrassed to wear them on a dive boat or at a dive shop, despite their practical benefits.

Bicycle-Style Shorts

Tight-fitting bicycle shorts are the perfect choice to wear under your wetsuit. They offer more coverage than men’s briefs or women’s bikini bottoms in addition to making it easier for the wetsuit to slide over the thigh of the diver.

Some divers prefer bicycle shorts which are commercially available, but tight-fitting swim shorts are considered an option as well. Women who choose bicycle-style shorts often wear them with sports bra tops or tankinis.

Neoprene Shorts and Pants

Many wetsuit manufacturers offer neoprene shorts and pants. These pieces are designed for you -as a scuba diver- to wear under your wetsuit if you are looking for something to hug your body without shifting or bunching. Neoprene shorts are much similar to bicycle shorts, as they enable a wetsuit to slide easily over the diver’s thighs.

Neoprene shorts offer extra thermal protection but you should keep in mind that they are buoyant. That means a diver may have to use slightly more weight to compensate for the increased buoyancy.

Neoprene Vests and Shirts

Neoprene vests are considered a great choice if you get cold easily. Wearing a neoprene vest, especially a hooded one, under your wetsuit helps your body to conserve warmth without increasing the thickness of the wetsuit.

Neoprene vests enable the wetsuit to glide easily over the diver’s chest and also offer coverage for those who seek modesty. Some divers wear them only, while others wear a swimsuit underneath.

Dive Skins and Rash Guards

Warm-water divers usually dive while wearing just a dive skin or rash guard, although they can also be worn under a wetsuit. Dive skins and rash guards come in various materials, such as spandex and neoprene, and you can also find them in different styles including short and long pants, short-sleeved and long-sleeved shirts, or even full-body jumpsuits.

These pieces enable divers to put on and take off their wetsuits easily, and offer sun protection at dive sites. Many of them even provide UV protection.

Thin neoprene dive skins and rash guards offer added thermal protection when you wear them under your wetsuit. Some manufacturers have designed dive skins using innovative materials like spandex, fleece, and other fabrics to provide additional warmth.

Underwear

While some types of underwear are not suitable for scuba diving, you can still wear it under your wetsuit. However, be ready for potential uncool looks if your underwear appears, well, like underwear. Cotton underwear tends to wear out quickly under a wetsuit, but other materials hold up better.

Spandex pants and tops, particularly athletic garments like sports bras, can be worn with swimsuits. Athletic undergarments are considered cheaper but with the same efficacy.

Pantyhose

Experienced scuba divers remember when they wore pantyhose under a wetsuit, it was standard practice. Before wetsuits had linings, it was nearly impossible to put them on without something to help it to slide smoothly over the diver’s skin.

Clever male divers borrow the pantyhose of their wives to help them in putting on their wetsuits, and it was usual to see groups of tough scuba divers wearing stockings before scuba diving.

Nowadays, most divers choose dive skins to help them put on difficult wetsuits, but You may see an occasional diver wearing pantyhose. If you do, it’s likely that they’ve been diving for a long time and have some fantastic scuba stories to tell.

Nothing At All

Do you have to wear anything under your wetsuit? As long as a diver has a place to change, there’s no issue with that. Wetsuits have evolved, and there are many styles with inner linings that make them easy to put on and take off without anything to wear underneath.

Some divers choose to go commando under their wetsuits to avoid packing a swimsuit or simply because they prefer the feeling. In case of diving commando for the first time, keep in mint not to take off your wetsuit too hastily after a dive.