How to Check Your Drysuit Seals Before Cold-Water Season

Rick Harkins   Nov 02, 2026

drysuit dry suit coldwater diving

Water is getting colder, and drysuit season is here. Before your first dive of the year, take ten minutes to look at the part of the suit most likely to let you down: the seals.

Why seals matter most

Your neck and wrist seals are what keep water out. Divers Alert Network (DAN) calls them the usual culprits when a diver ends up wet, because latex and neoprene seals wear out and lose their stretch over time.

When to check

One drysuit maker's care manual (CMC) tells owners to inspect the suit before and after each use. It also recommends a closer inspection every 30 days. That's a good habit to borrow, whatever suit you own.

What to look for

• Cracks, tears, or nicks, especially along the edges
• Seals that feel sticky, stiff, or thin
• Seals that have lost their stretch
• Any spot where the seal meets the suit and looks like it's pulling away

Small problems get bigger in the water. If something looks off, bring it in and let us take a look.

Fit matters as much as condition

Seals should be snug and watertight, but they shouldn't cut off blood flow. DAN warns that wrist seals that are too tight can cause numbness, tingling, and loss of dexterity in your hands.

Neck seals that are too tight can make you dizzy or lightheaded. DAN explains that this can happen when a tight seal affects your heart rate and blood flow to the brain.

If your seals are tight, trimming and stretching them the right way helps. Don't rush it. Mustang Survival's guidance is to wear new latex seals a time or two first, since they loosen up on their own. They also say to trim with care, because a nick can turn into a tear.

PADI also points out that temperature, body position, and stress can cause slight swelling. So it's worth rechecking your seals at the dive site.

Take care of them

• Wash latex seals with detergent, then apply a protectant (DAN).
• Use wax on brass zippers and silicone grease on plastic zippers (DAN).
• If latex bothers your skin, ask about silicone or neoprene seals. DAN notes that silicone resists sun and chemical damage and is easier to use, but it can tear more easily and costs more.

Bring your drysuit to the clinic

Our free Gear Maintenance Clinic is Saturday, November 21 from 10:00am to 2:00pm, and dry suits are on the list. Space is limited to 24 guests, so reserve your spot early.

Want it checked sooner? Call us at (833) PA Diver or see our service department.

Sources: Divers Alert Network, "Tools for a Healthy Drysuit"; Scuba Diving magazine, "Ask DAN: What Should I Know Before I Dive with a Drysuit?"; PADI Pros blog, dry suit safety concerns (written by DAN staff); CMC ProSeries Drysuit Use and Care Manual; Mustang Survival, "How to trim neck and wrist seals"