Unless you’re jetting off on a last-minute diving holiday somewhere exotic, we’ve reached the time of year when cold water diving is the reality. Okay, it’s not for everyone, but we’re firm believers that diving throughout the off-season is just as addictive as exploring tropical settings in full summer visibility. The key is having the right equipment that will keep you warm, safe, and able to both tough it out and genuinely enjoy it.
Your summer kit isn’t going to cut it when the temperatures drop, so swap your wetsuit for a drysuit, pack the right clothes to change into afterwards, and you’ll soon be onto a winner. Here’s exactly what cold water diving gear you need for this winter, and beyond…
Drysuit
The first switch you’ll need to make as you swap to cold water diving gear is from wetsuit to drysuit. Whereas a wetsuit relies on water trapped between a neoprene layer and your body for insulation, a drysuit keeps you completely dry and allows you to add extra layers underneath (we’ll come to this shortly). Drysuits therefore offer significantly better protection in cold conditions and will keep you warmer for longer.
If you don’t know which drysuit to pick, we’d suggest either the Scubapro Everdry 4 (men's/women's) or the Scubapro Evertec (men's/women's). Both offer supreme levels of thermal protection, with the former akin, comfort-wise, to a wetsuit, the latter designed for the very coldest conditions with durable seals and great thermal retention.
Undersuit
The ability to layer underneath your drysuit is one of its biggest merits, and a bit of a cheat code when it comes to cold water diving gear. We’d always recommend that you wear an undersuit designed for cold water diving, as this will trap heat close to your body and provide much-needed additional insulation.
Our favourites are the Fourth Element HALO AR and the Scubapro K2 Extreme, both of which offer exceptional insulation and warmth. The HALO AR is particularly advanced, thanks to its construction from extreme insulation ARGON aerogel, which delivers lightweight and compression-resistant warmth. Plus, it can be layered over additional base layers for optimal comfort and total toastiness.
Hood, Gloves & Boots
It might surprise you to learn that your extremities lose heat much faster than your torso. This naturally means that a hood, gloves, and boots are all essential components of cold water diving gear. A well-fitted hood will reduce heat loss from your head, while gloves and boots (go for a minimum of 5mm thickness in cold water) provide added insulation while still allowing for movement and easy grip.
We’d also suggest going for gloves with reinforced and abrasion-resistant palms. These kinds of clever design features will ensure you can grip and hold your tank, regulator and other accessories properly, even in the coldest temperatures and complex scenarios.
Cold Water Diving Regulator
Your regulator is one of the most important pieces of dive gear all year round, but cold water brings extra considerations. Extra risks, namely regulator freeze, could lead your normal regulator to complete failure. For this reason, your cold water diving kit must include a regulator designed specifically for sub-10°C conditions with sealed first stages, optimised exchangers, and freeze-resistant materials.
Fortunately, lots of the top regulators are cold water certified. Our pick is the Scubapro MK17 EVO2/S620 Ti Regulator, which is CE certified to EN250A European standards for all diving conditions, including the extreme cold. Its air-balanced diaphragm delivers smooth, effortless airflow regardless of depth, tank pressure, or breathing rate. It’s also compact, lightweight, and corrosion-resistant, providing dependable performance in winter conditions.
Dive Torch
With cold water comes a range of other conditions you have to take into consideration when packing your dive bag. The most obvious of these is reduced visibility and low-light levels, making the right dive torch and critical companion. Your dive torch improves your safety, aids communication, and ensures you can actually see beneath the surface. For your primary torch, pick one that is bright and powerful, like the lightweight but reliable OrcaTorch D710.
Surface Marker Buoy
Visibility at the surface can be just as challenging as underwater, especially in wintry seas where choppy conditions may obscure you as a diver. A small but important addition to your cold water diving equipment list is therefore a Surface Marker Buoy (SMB), as this bright bit of kit ensures that boats and other water users can spot your whereabouts quickly and safely. Go for the Scubapro 210D Nylon SMB for a durable but compact option, or the XDeep Closed SMB for dependable surface signalling without any snagging.
Cold Water Kit At Aquanauts
We hope that this list has proven that, with the right cold water diving gear, you can keep exploring beneath the surface no matter the season. If you’d like any further kit recommendations or have any questions about the items we’ve discussed in this guide, please get in touch with our expert team who will be happy to help.