Shorty | Vests | Other

Vest vs. core warmer — the distinction
A neoprene vest covers the torso from shoulders to hips but leaves the arms and legs bare — worn over a swimsuit or rashguard in warm water for light thermal and sting protection, or layered with a wetsuit for added core warmth. A core warmer (also called a tunic) is similar but may include a higher collar, additional coverage at the neck, and attachment points that keep it in place under a wetsuit. Both serve the same purpose: adding a layer of neoprene specifically at the torso, where the vital organs are most sensitive to cold. Either worn with a full wetsuit creates a 2-piece effect at the core without the cost of buying a full 2-piece system.

Layering — the most versatile approach
The most thermally flexible approach to cold water diving is a modular layering system. A full wetsuit provides baseline coverage. A vest or core warmer with the wetsuit adds targeted torso warmth on colder days or for longer dives. A hood, gloves, and boots complete the system. Each element can be added or removed independently based on conditions. This approach lets you adapt the same core wetsuit to a wider range of temperatures — a 5mm wetsuit with a vest can handle temperatures that would require a 7mm suit alone, with the added advantage that the vest can be removed for warmer conditions without replacing the entire suit.

Shorty suits — warm water simplicity
A shorty wetsuit provides coverage to the upper arms and mid-thigh, leaving the lower arms and lower legs uncovered. In water above 22°C where a full suit is uncomfortably warm but some protection from sun, stings, and abrasion is still wanted, a shorty is the practical choice. Short sleeve and short leg designs allow significantly more freedom of movement than a full suit, which suits activities like snorkeling, kayaking, and paddling where arm mobility matters. A shorty is not appropriate for water below 18°C — the uncovered limbs rapidly become the primary heat loss point in cooler conditions.

Pocket Shorts
The Scubapro pocket shorts can be worn on their own over your swim suit or over your wetsuit to provide extra storage for things like your spare mask, dive reel, surface marker buoy, cutting device, spare dive light, and other accessories. The pockets are located on the thigh which is easier to access, especially with gloved hands, compared to the pocket that is normally on a jacket-style BCD.