Hood

A neoprene head covering that dramatically reduces heat loss in cold water, worn with wetsuits and drysuits.

A dive hood is a snug neoprene cap that covers your head and neck, and it punches far above its weight for warmth. The head is richly supplied with blood and cannot constrict its vessels the way limbs do, so an uncovered head bleeds heat continuously in cold water. Adding a 3 to 7 mm hood is often the single biggest comfort upgrade a cold water diver can make.

Hoods come as separate pieces with a bib that tucks under the suit collar, as hooded vests worn under a wetsuit, or built into many drysuits and semi-dry suits. A good fit seals around the face without pressing on the throat, and small vent holes or a loose moment during descent let trapped air escape so the hood does not balloon.

With a hood on, equalizing your ears can feel different because the hood seals over them. Breaking the seal briefly with a finger, or choosing a hood with ear vents, lets pressure reach the ear canal and keeps equalization easy.