Dry Suit

Divers lose body heat 60 times faster underwater than on land, because water conducts heat much more efficiently than air does. To stay warm, scuba divers wear either a wet suit or a dry suit, depending on water temperature. Wet suits are usually worn in warm-water climates. A wet suit is made of neoprene rubber and absorbs and traps a thin layer of water, which the diver's body quickly heats. In areas such as the North Atlantic or Pacific oceans, where water temperature drops below 10° C (50° F), divers wear dry suits to keep from freezing. A dry suit is made of waterproof materials that keep a diver completely dry. If water temperatures are extremely low, divers wear extra clothing underneath the suit.