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In warmer waters a simple wetsuit is all you will need for your dive. Most of your heat is lost through your head so when diving in cooler waters it is recommended that you wear the best dive hood as well. This will do a lot to ensure that your dive is more comfortable.
We have compiled a list of our ten favorites to help you find the best scuba diving hood for you.
OUR TOP PICK
NeoSport Wetsuits Premium Neoprene Vented Bib Hood
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Form fitting
- Air venting
- Stitched and glued seams
Thickness: 5/3 mm
Materials: Neoprene
EDITORS CHOICE
Ardent 3mm Adjustable Beanie Snorkel Dive Hood
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Flat seam
- Velcro adjustable chin strap
- High-vis colors
Thickness: 3 mm
Materials: Neoprene
BEST VALUE
Storm Accessories Lycra for Warm Water Hood
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- One year warranty UV 50+
- Ultra lightweight
Thickness: N/A
Materials: 100% lycra spandex
Wetsuits Premium Snorkeling 3mm Surfing Dive Hood
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
Thickness: 3, 1 mm
Materials: Neoprene
O’Neill Wetsuits Men’s Hyperfreak Coldwater Hood
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Glued & blindstitched Seams
- Adjustable drawstring
- Wind resistant
Thickness: 3 mm
Materials: Technobutter Neoprene
O’Neill Wetsuits Mens Thinskins Hood
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- UV protection
- Chin strap
- 12 month warranty
Thickness: 1.5 mm
Materials: Neoprene
A Point Wetsuits Premium Neoprene Sport Cap Hot Skins Dive Hood
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Flatlock seams
- Velcro chin strap
Thickness: 1 mm
Materials: Neoprene, composite material
IST Proline HDN0250 Super Stretch Neoprene Dive Hood
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Durable with top vents
- Zipped back
Thickness: 5 mm
Materials: Neoprene
Lavacore Polytherm Multi-Sport Scuba Dive Hood
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- SPF 30+
- Fast drying
Thickness: N/A
Materials: Polytherm
XS Scuba 2mm Neoprene Non-Choking Beanie Hood
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Adjustable chin strap
- Flatlock seams
Thickness: 2 mm
Materials: Neoprene
How To Choose The Best Dive Hood – Buying Guide
Fit
Whenever you are wearing any type of clothing, you want it to fit well. The same is true with a diving hood, but you should also keep in mind that a hood is supposed to fit tightly. You want to trap the water in the hood, and the best way to do this is with a tight hood. If a hood is too loose, then more heat is going to be lost. A loose hood will also feel unnatural if it is moving about when you are in the water.
Temperature of Dive
The temperature of the dive will dictate the type of hood you need. If you are diving in cold water, then you are going to want a cold-water suit. If you are diving in warm water, then you are going to want a warm-water hood. Within that, you will want to select a thickness of hood. The thicker the hood, the more insulation it will provide.
Hood Thickness
The temperature of the water will dictate the thickness of the hood which you should wear. If you are diving in temperatures of 70 F and above, then choose a hood which is 1-3mm thick (or a beanie for extremely warm water). For temperatures between 60-70 F, you will need a hood 4-5mm thick. For temperatures dropping as low as 50 F, you will need a hood 6-7mm thick.
You might also like: Scuba Masks
Warm Water Hood
Warm-water hoods are generally thinner than cold-water hoods. They do not usually have a large bib which can be tucked into your wetsuit as they do not need to limit the heat loss as much. Warm-water hoods are made from neoprene or nylon. Nylon is thinner and does not provide as much insulation as neoprene. Warm-water hoods do not cover as much of a diver’s face as a cold-water hood.
Cold-Water Hood
Cold-water hoods are usually made from neoprene, and they cover your entire head and neck. They help to ensure that your body temperature does not drop quickly in the cold water. Cold water hoods also generally have a large bib which can be tucked into your wetsuit where the neck opening is. This helps to reduce the transfer of water in the suit and helps to keep the heat in. Cold-water hoods also cover more of the diver’s head. They usually cover a lot of the forehead, jaws, and cheeks.
Do you own a wet suit or dry suit?
If you own a wetsuit and are diving in cold waters, then you will want to choose a hood with a bib which can be tucked into your wetsuit. You will want to do the same with a dry suit, unless the dry suit has an insulated neck. In that case, you want a hood without a bib.
FAQs
Q: Why Do I Need A Dive Hood?
It does not matter if you are diving in a cold climate or a warm climate, your temperature will still drop in the water. A drop in body temperature of a few degrees can be critical and can lead to complications such as hypothermia. When divers are diving, they almost always wear a wetsuit. This stops the heat escaping from the body. It is the extremities with are often forgotten about. It is important to cover all of your body, especially when it is cold, or the heat will escape. The hands and the head are often forgotten about.
By wearing a diving hood, your head is insulated, and your body temperature does not drop as quickly as it would without one. This ensures that you remain safe in the water. Your body will stay warmer for longer, and you will have more energy and less fatigue. The other advantage is that a hood provides a small barrier against impacts and abrasions.
Q: How To Maintain My Dive Hood?
When you are done diving, you want to take care of your hood to ensure that it lasts for a long time, especially if you have been diving in salt water. If you leave the salt in the dive hood, then not only can it degrade the hood, but it can also irritate your head. After your dive, you should rinse the hood off with some fresh water. This will remove any dirt and salt from the hood. You should also make sure to rinse inside and outside of the hood.
When the hood is rinsed, you should let the hood dry before placing it into storage. If you are putting your dive hood into storage for a long time, then make sure that it is dry before doing so. Store it out of direct sunlight, and make sure not to store it under a lot of weight.
Globo Surf Overview
Dive hood reviews agree that having even when diving in warm water wearing a cap on your head will ensure you are safe from UV, jellyfish and other underwater irritants. The thickness you choose to get should depend on the temperature of water you are diving in. Having the best dive hood will make your experience underwater much more enjoyable.