These additional functions are inherently available from the atmospheric diving suit. This type of suit relies on full watertight coverage for effective protection. In some environments containing hazardous materials or microorganisms, the dry suit has the primary function of isolating the diver from the hazardous materials or microorganisms.

Ī common secondary purpose of dive skins, wetsuits and dry suits is protection from abrasion, stings from sea animals and minor cuts and impact injury. Thermal protection can also influence decompression. This has several aspects, the importance of which may vary depending on the specific environment of the dive.Ītmospheric diving suits primarily isolate the diver from the ambient pressure, and all the complications it brings as consequences of breathing gas under pressure.Īmbient pressure suits – dive skins, wetsuits and dry suits – have no pressure isolation effect, and are usually primarily worn for thermal protection. The diving suit is worn as protection from the diving environment. It is generally referred to as diving equipment or dive gear along with any other equipment necessary for the dive.ĭiving suits can be divided into two classes: 'soft' or ambient pressure diving suits – examples are wetsuits, dry suits, semi-dry suits and dive skins – and 'hard' or atmospheric pressure diving suits, armored suits that keep the diver at atmospheric pressure at any depth within the operating range of the suit. There is no generic term for the combination of suit and breathing apparatus alone. The breathing gas supply is usually referred to separately. A diving suit may also incorporate a breathing gas supply (such as for a standard diving dress or atmospheric diving suit), but in most cases the term applies only to the environmental protective covering worn by the diver. Protection of the diver from the environmentĪtmospheric diving suit, dry suit, hot water suit, rash guard, wetsuitĪ diving suit is a garment or device designed to protect a diver from the underwater environment. Two divers, one wearing a 1 atmosphere diving suit and the other standard diving dress, preparing to explore the wreck of the RMS Lusitania, 1935

A navy suit for war