Navy SEAL-Approved Wetsuits: Dive into the Best Picks for Action

Let’s talk wetsuits. In the SEAL Teams, your gear matters—especially in the water. The right wetsuit keeps you warm, lets you move fast, and won’t fall apart when things get rough.

Guys always ask: “What wetsuit did you wear in the Teams? What should I use now?”

It’s a good question. You want something tough, flexible, and ready for any environment. Just like we needed on missions.

To pick the right wetsuit, keep it simple and mission-focused:

What’s the op? Swimming, diving, or something else?
How cold’s the water? Cold water slows you down—gear up right.
Any threats? Jellyfish, coral, sharp stuff? You need armor for that.

Know the mission. Know the environment. Then choose the wetsuit that gets the job done. Past or present, same rules apply.

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NAVY SEAL DIVING WETSUITS

These wetsuits are primarily used for diving operations and are designed to keep the SEALs warm and protected from the elements while submerged in water. These suits are typically made of neoprene material and come in varying thicknesses depending on the water temperature.

#10 ONeill Reactor

The O’Neill Reactor wetsuit is made of neoprene, nylon, and spandex, designed to withstand tough conditions during surfing, diving, paddle sports, or beach activities. This wetsuit comes in a sleek black color and is crafted for adults, with sizes ranging up to 3X-Large (Chest: 47.5″-52.5″, Waist: 39″-45.5″, Height: 6’2″). Its backzip system offers easy entry and exit, featuring a water-resistant closure to keep you dry while ensuring convenience.

What makes the O’Neill Reactor stand out is its ultra-stretch neoprene material. This premium-quality fabric not only feels incredibly soft but also provides superior flexibility, enhancing your performance in the water. The seamless paddle zones with minimal seam placement offer maximum comfort and mobility, allowing unrestricted movement during activities.

I like the wetsuit’s wind-resistant smoothskin delivers extra insulation, keeping you warm and protected against the cold elements. Ideal for those starting or seeking value-driven gear, this wetsuit promises durability and functionality for various water adventures. The O’neill Mutant and Psycho Tech are also ones to take a look at.

Check price at Amazon.com

#9 AQUALUNG HYDROFLEX

You will want to check out the Aqua Lung HydroFlex 3 mm Jumpsuit—why it’s a solid pick, and why a SEAL operator might want one in his kit:

This HydroFlex suit brings real mission-ready value in the water. The super-stretch neoprene lets you move freely, pull gear, swim hard, roll, tuck and kick without feeling locked in—according to the spec it yields up to ~250% more stretch than standard neoprene.
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The flat-locked seams and well-designed collar prevent chafing and tug-back when you’re getting it on fast or coming out of the water tired. For a diver’s jumpsuit in warm-water or mid-temperature ops (think ~70 °F/21 °C and up), it’s warm enough without being restrictive.

For a Navy SEAL operator, this translates to real advantages: in insertion or recovery phases where flexibility, quickness and gear compatibility matter, this suit lets you adapt quickly—crawl in wetsuit, surface, switch to swim-gear, pack up. The rugged chest panel shields from wind or abrasion during surface swims; powertex knee patches handle contact with rough terrain.

In short: pick this suit if you value mobility over max thermal thickness, if you’re operating in temperate to warm waters, and if you need a suit that plays well with gear transitions. If you’ll be diving in cold water (50 °F/10 °C or less) or staying submerged long periods before surfacing, you’d want to layer up or go with thicker neoprene. For amphibious training, shore recon, swim-runs, this one checks a lot of boxes.

Check price at Amazon.com

#8 Cressi UltraSpan

From the gear rack perspective, the Morea brings a clean, mission-ready build: 3 mm ultra-stretch neoprene, without a hood, full long sleeves and legs for coverage, and optimised for warm-water operations above ~22 °C (≈71 °F).

The flat-sewn seams and mixed “Ultraspan” fabric on the arms/legs give good flexibility and reduce fatigue during long swims. A rubberised chest panel improves hydrodynamics and the reinforced knee patches provide abrasion protection when battling shore breaks or rocky bottoms. In short: light enough not to overheat in temperate water, yet protective, and built for movement.

For a Navy SEAL, the Morea fits a certain mission profile: shore insertions in warm seas, swim-out recon, rapid transition to dry or gear modes. The low-profile design means less bulk, easier layering, faster removal, less drag. The hydrodynamic chest panel and the stretch fabric allow efficient finning, rapid movement—critical in insertion/extraction. The reinforced knees matter when transitioning from water to land or crawling shoreline terrain. It’s not designed for extreme cold or long deep dives, but for warm-water, high-mobility ops it’s a solid choice.

Check price at Amazon.com

#7 U.S. Divers

Used by: NAVSPECWAR units

Notes: Offers both wetsuits and drysuits designed for combat diving.

1. DUI (Diving Unlimited International)
   Model: CF200X or TLS350 drysuits, occasionally wetsuit components

Notes: Specializes in drysuits, but components and custom suits for special forces are available.

1. Survival Systems International (SSI) / BCWS Tactical Gear
   Notes: Designs gear specifically for special operations combat swimmers, including wetsuits integrated with flotation and stealth systems.

Patagonia
Model: R4 Yulex, R3 Front-Zip

Notes: Used more in cold water environments; prized for eco-friendly materials and high warmth-to-flexibility ratio.

Xcel
Model: Xcel Drylock or Axis series

Notes: Known for warmth and stretch; used in colder environments.

Bare
Model: Bare Reactive or Velocity Ultra

Notes: Durable and warm, used in cold-water and training scenarios.

 

 

Other Gear Often Integrated with Wetsuits
Combat swimmer vests (from companies like Maritime Tactical Systems)

Weight belts or integrated weights

Rebreathers and stealth dive gear (e.g., Dräger LAR-V)

Hydration and comms systems can be worn over or under wetsuits

Question: What type of wetsuit did you wear in BUDS? I wore just the issued upper top in BUDS which was from a local dive shop in San Diego.

Question: What type of outfit did you wear in the Teams? I had a custom fitted full wetsuit. I used the heavier suit when I was training on the East Coast during fall, winter and spring.

I trained a lot in the Caribbean so I would mostly put on a long sleeve t-shirt to protect from jelly fish or a thin layer on just my chest.

Question: I heard that the SEAL Teams were looking for new wetsuits for the platoons? Do you have any info on that?

Answer: The main requirements for the new wetsuits are to have extra padding on the elbows and knees (where you will need it crawling around on a ship or coming up on a rocky shore). The outfit must allow them to swim freely and shoot weapons with no restrictions to their mobility. It will have to be very durable to handle adverse conditions on rocky shorelines, obtruding metal on oil rigs or ships and help to protect the diver from scrapes and rough use.

Question: What is the deal with the new artificial blubber used in hi-tech to help in frigid Arctic cold?

Answer: Check out the latest MIT technology in diving in cold water here:

SGPT is a proud supporter of the Navy SEAL Foundation.

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