Why Our Dive Instructors Wear BARE ExoWear Year-Round (And You Should Too)
Royse Jackson Sep 12, 2026
If you’ve spent any time at the pool or on the water with our team at International Diving Centre, you’ve probably noticed our instructors wearing something a little different than traditional neoprene wetsuits. Teaching dive classes in the pool all day can sneak up on you—even in heated water, standing still while working with students eventually brings on a chill. That is exactly why our instructors rely on BARE ExoWear year-round. It is lightweight, effortless to layer, and provides the equivalent warmth of a 2mm neoprene wetsuit to keep you comfortable through long pool sessions, ocean dives, and coastal surface sports. BARE ExoWear is available in men’s and women’s jackets, long sleeve tops, short sleeve tops, vests, pants, shorts, hoods, gloves, and socks. Because every piece is engineered to fit seamlessly together, you can easily mix and match individual garments to build a custom thermal barrier for any water adventure. Have a 3mm or 5mm wetsuit that isn't quite cutting it when water temperatures drop? Rather than buying an entirely new suit, ExoWear gives you an effortless thermal boost! Just like wearing breathable layers when hiking in the mountains beats carrying one heavy jacket, layering an ExoWear top, vest, or pants beneath your 3mm or 5mm wetsuit instantly adds 2mm of thermal insulation value to your setup. Slipping on an ExoWear Hood under your wetsuit collar or pairing ExoWear Socks inside your dive boots seals off cold water flushing and keeps you warmer for much longer dives. Cold hands can ruin a dive faster than almost anything else. We've had incredible feedback from local commercial divers who swear by BARE ExoWear Gloves as their primary drysuit glove liner. Because ExoWear is thin, high-stretch, and non-compressible, these gloves slide smoothly inside dry gloves without sacrificing finger dexterity or adding bulk. The far-infrared lining keeps blood circulating to fingertips even during hours of working underwater in freezing Pacific Northwest conditions. Unlike standard fleece tops that simply trap still air, ExoWear’s interior lining features OMNIRED™ Technology—scientifically proven to deliver superior thermal protection compared to similar technical fabrics. Thermo-reactive minerals woven directly into the fabric absorb your body's natural outbound heat radiation and convert it into far-infrared thermal energy. This energy is reflected back into your tissue, boosting circulation, accelerating muscle stamina, and actively recycling body heat throughout your dive. Nobody likes pulling on a cold, soggy wetsuit for a second dive. One of ExoWear’s greatest advantages over traditional neoprene is its far superior drying ability. The hydrophobic 3-layer outer membrane sheds water rapidly, drying in a fraction of the time between surface intervals or pool sessions. Best of all, because ExoWear is neutrally buoyant, you get all the thermal benefits of a 2mm wetsuit without needing to add a single extra pound of lead to your weight belt! Full front zip for easy donning and windproof surface protection. Full-arm 2mm equivalent thermal protection with neoprene wrist seals. High-rise waist coverage with integrated foot stirrups for layering. Core lower-body insulation with anti-chafing thigh seals. Sleeveless core insulation or full head-and-torso warmth. Because ExoWear uses 4-way stretch material, it fits much more comfortably and forgivingly than stiff neoprene. To ensure maximum thermal performance, your garment should fit snug against the skin to eliminate cold water circulation. Before ordering online, check your measurements against our dedicated sizing guides:Lightweight & Layerable Exposure System
1. Instantly Upgrade Your Wetsuit: Add 2mm of Thermal Insulation
2. Commercial Diver Approved: The Ultimate Drysuit Glove Liner
3. Scientifically-Proven OMNIRED™ Infrared Technology
4. Superior Fast-Drying Ability & Zero Added Weight
Explore the BARE ExoWear Product Lineup
ExoWear Front Zip Jackets
ExoWear Long Sleeve Tops
ExoWear Thermal Pants
ExoWear Thermal Shorts
ExoWear Vests & Hooded Vests
Thermal Accessories & Drysuit Liners
Dialing In Your Perfect Fit
