Gloves — What It Is and Why It Matters

Diving gloves are neoprene or textile hand coverings that provide thermal protection, abrasion resistance, and grip enhancement for scuba divers. They range from thin 1 to 2mm tropical gloves to thick 5 to 7mm cold-water mitts. Some dive sites prohibit gloves to discourage divers from touching coral and marine life.

The trade-off with gloves is dexterity — thicker gloves provide more warmth but make it harder to operate clips, buckles, camera controls, and dive computer buttons. Dry gloves with wrist seals that mate to a drysuit provide the warmest option for extreme cold-water diving.