Waterproof W20 2.5mm full wetsuit, men's The W20 is the suit we point people at when they are diving somewhere genuinely warm and are tired of the thin, boxy rental suits that let water pour through the back. It is 2.5mm of Aquatex super-stretch neoprene cut on a 3D pattern, so it sits against the body like a second skin rather than hanging off it, and that is what keeps you warm on the third dive of the day when a looser suit has stopped doing its job. Full arms and legs at 2.5mm is the sensible choice for reefs, wrecks and any liveaboard week. You get sun and coral protection that a shorty cannot give you, and you still have a suit you can pull on in under a minute on a hot deck. Waterproof builds the W20 with features it usually keeps for its cold-water suits: a utility pocket on the hip, ToughTex knee panels, printed grip on the sleeves so a wrist computer stays put, and a YKK #10 back zip. In our experience that is what separates it from the rest of the 2 to 3mm suits in our wetsuit range, most of which are just neoprene and a zip. On this page Why divers choose it Features that matter underwater Who it is for Sizing and fit Specifications Care and use Frequently asked questions 2.5mm Aquatex super-stretch neoprene, 3D anatomical cut Flatlock seams with bonded nylon thread YKK #10 Vislon back zip with stainless slider Hip utility pocket with drain valves, fits a spool and SMB ToughTex knee pads and polyurethane grip print on shoulders and seat Computer anchor print on the sleeves Men's cut, Extra Small through to Triple Extra Large, including a Medium Large Check the Waterproof size chart before you order Waterproof cuts tighter and more precisely than most brands. Their charts work on height, weight and chest together, and the right size is often not the one you wear in another make. Measure first, then order. Why divers choose the W20 It actually stays warm on repetitive dives Cheap warm-water suits use stiff neoprene that gapes at the lower back and collar. Every kick pumps fresh water through, and by dive three you are cold in 28 degree water. The Aquatex neoprene in the W20 has high elastic recovery, so the suit stays in contact with your skin and the thin layer of water inside stays put and warms up. Less fatigue, less air A suit that resists your movement costs you gas. Waterproof pre-bends the knees and patterns the suit in three dimensions rather than as flat panels, so finning and reaching for a valve do not fight the neoprene. Over a week of diving that adds up to noticeably longer bottom times for the same cylinder. Built to survive boat diving The polyurethane print across the shoulders and seat is there because BCD straps and rough benches destroy plain neoprene. The ToughTex knees take the scuffs from kneeling on a hard boat or a shore entry. We see far fewer worn-through W20s come back than we do with plain suits at this thickness. Light enough to travel with A 2.5mm full suit packs flat and weighs very little, and Waterproof ships it in plastic-free packaging. For a liveaboard or a hand-luggage-only trip it is the easiest suit to carry that still gives you full coverage. Features that matter underwater Aquatex super-stretch neoprene Soft, highly elastic and quick to don. The stretch means you can order the snug size the chart recommends without it being a struggle to get into, and a snug fit is the whole point in a thin suit. Flatlock seams Flat stitched seams with bonded nylon thread lie flush against the skin, so there is nothing to chafe across a week of four dives a day. Flatlock is not watertight, but at 2.5mm in warm water that is the right trade: it is more flexible and more durable than glued and blind-stitched seams on a suit this thin. Hip utility pocket An expanding pocket with drain valves sized for a spool and SMB, a slate or a backup mask. It sits low on the thigh where it does not interfere with your BCD waist strap or weight pockets. Computer anchor print and grip shields Non-slip print on the forearms stops a wrist computer or gauge rotating as the neoprene compresses at depth. The same material across the shoulders and seat protects against BCD strap friction and boat decks. YKK #10 Vislon back zip A heavy-duty marine zip with a stainless slider and a long pull cord. Back zips are easier to manage single-handed than front zips on a thin suit, and this one will outlast the neoprene. Molded PU collar tab The micro-hook collar closure only grips its own landing pad, so it cannot snag and pull the suit's lining the way conventional Velcro does. This is a warm-water suit 2.5mm is for tropical diving: the Red Sea in summer, the Maldives, the Caribbean, South East Asia. It is not enough for UK diving, even in August, and it is marginal for the Mediterranean outside high summer. If you need something for temperate water, the 5mm W40 is the next step up in the same range. Who the W20 full suit is for Divers heading somewhere warm who want more than a rental suit Liveaboard divers doing three or four dives a day who get cold in thin suits Anyone who wants arm and leg coverage against sun, coral and stings Divers who carry a spool and SMB and want a pocket for them Travellers who need a suit that packs small and dries fast Who it may not be for: if you run warm and only snorkel or do single shallow dives, the W20 shorty does the same job with less to put on. If your diving is in the UK or anywhere temperate, look at the W40 instead; you will not be warm enough in this. Sizing and fit The men's cut is built on a straighter torso with longer arms and legs relative to chest size. The men's W20 runs from Extra Small through to Triple Extra Large, including a Medium Large for people who fall between the standard sizes on height and weight. A Waterproof suit should feel tight on land, with no folds at the lower back, behind the knees or under the arms, and it loosens slightly once wet. If you can pinch a fold of loose neoprene across the small of your back, it is too big. We fit these in store and will happily talk you through it before you order; the full chart is on our wetsuit size guide page. Specifications Product Waterproof W20 2.5mm full wetsuit, men's Series W20 warm-water series Neoprene 2.5mm Aquatex high-elasticity neoprene Seams Flatlock, bonded nylon thread Zip YKK #10 Vislon back zip, stainless slider Reinforcement ToughTex knee pads, polyurethane print on shoulders and seat Pocket Expanding hip utility pocket with drain valves Collar Molded PU micro-hook tab Cut Men's, 3D pre-bent anatomical pattern Sizes Extra Small through to Triple Extra Large, including a Medium Large Packaging 100% plastic-free Colour: black Matching ladies' W20 full suit available in a separate cut Care and use Thin neoprene lasts years if you treat it properly and one season if you do not. Rinse in fresh water after every dive day, inside and out, and dry it inside out first, out of direct sun Hang on a wide wetsuit hanger, never a wire one, and store it hanging rather than folded Use the pull cord to close the zip, and have a buddy check the collar tab is on its landing pad Keep sunscreen off the neoprene where you can; many formulas degrade it Get a small tear glued early rather than letting it run along a seam Not sure between sizes or thicknesses? Send us your height, weight and chest measurement and where you are diving, and we will tell you which suit and size to order. We fit wetsuits in store every week. Frequently asked questions What water temperature is the Waterproof W20 2.5mm suit for? Tropical water. It is the right suit for the Red Sea in summer, the Maldives, the Caribbean and South East Asia. It is not warm enough for UK diving at any time of year, and for the Mediterranean outside July and August most divers will want the 5mm W40 instead. Does the W20 have a pocket? Yes. There is an expanding utility pocket on the hip with drain valves, sized to take a spool and SMB, a slate or a backup mask. That is unusual on a 2.5mm suit and one of the main reasons we stock this one. Is the W20 full suit warmer than the W20 shorty? Yes, and by more than the extra neoprene suggests, because the full arms and legs stop water flushing in at the shoulders and thighs. If you feel the cold on repetitive dives, take the full suit. The shorty is for divers who run warm or do single shallow dives. Are the W20 seams waterproof? No. Flatlock seams let a small amount of water through by design. At 2.5mm in warm water that does not matter, and flatlock is more flexible and harder-wearing than the glued and blind-stitched seams used on thicker suits. Should I size up in the Waterproof W20? Not without checking the chart. Waterproof suits are cut precisely and the size you wear in another brand is often wrong here. Use height, weight and chest together, and if you fall between sizes on height and weight, the Medium Large exists for exactly that reason. Can I wear the W20 under a BCD without wearing it through? Yes. The polyurethane print across the shoulders and seat is there specifically to take BCD strap and boat bench abrasion, which is what kills plain thin suits. Prefer less coverage? The W20 shorty uses the same neoprene and seams in a short-arm, short-leg cut, and the rest of the Waterproof range covers everything from 2.5mm up to drysuits.
Extra Small, Small, Medium, Medium Large, Large, Extra Large, Double Extra Large, Triple Extra Large