Diving, although beautiful and exhilarating, can also be dangerous, if you don’t have the correct scuba diving equipment. Sure, it’s important to choose the right types of wetsuit, BCD, and mask, but you need to also consider suitable protection for your extremities, with boots gloves and diving shoes, but, in particular, your fingers and hands with the best gloves.
We’ve already covered why you should wear dive gloves and we suggest you check out that post if you need further encouragement. The basics are that gloves provide both thermal protection against cold water temperature and physical protection against the various sharp items you can come across whether you are a recreational diver or experienced and love diving caves.
Whether its coral reefs, fish gills, lobster claws, shipwrecks or just random rocks and debris. There is a lot that you can hurt yourself on under the water and given the importance of having fully functioning and healthy hands while diving, it’s important that you look after them. After all, you do need them for using your scuba hand signals!
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Best 10 Scuba Diving Gloves
In order to look after your hands, you will need to invest in a good pair of scuba divers gloves. How do you choose from the wide variety there is out there though? Some of the best ways to warm up after a cold dive start with wearing gloves.
As with most scuba accessories, there are tonnes to choose from. But don’t worry, we are here to help. In the following post, we’ve collected together our list of what we feel are the 10 best dive gloves available right now.
1. Neo Sport Premium Neoprene Five Finger Wetsuit Glove
To start of our guide, we have this awesome pair from Neo Sport. Available in two different thicknesses and a variety of sizes, they are made from incredibly pliable and soft neoprene.
As well as providing the necessary insulation for cold water and abrasion protection, they are suitably flexible giving you the dexterity you need for an enjoyable and safe dive.
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The seams have been sewn and glued for strength and to ensure they are watertight. A high-quality gator-elastic wrist closure helps them to fit over the sleeves of most wetsuits to give you a very streamlined and secure fit and seal. Their best feature is undoubtedly the textured palm and cyclone design that provides a superior grip for various surfaces.
These gloves are not just suitable for diving, they can be used for all water sports for both warmth against the chill of the water and grip and ease of wear that they offer.
2. Tilos 1.5mm Tropical Dive Glove
Next, we have the Tilos 1.5mm thickness warm water dive gloves. These have curved fingers to stop your hands feeling strained and have an adjustable band on the wrist made hook and eye material to give you the best seal and fit possible.
Another of their features is the reinforced finger tips, thumbs and palm sections to increase their durability.
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These neoprene diving gloves are constructed from X-Form fabric, a special limestone Neoprene that does not contain any petroleum and is fully compliant with the rules laid out by PAH and the best for anyone that has sensitive skin.
While the lycra paneling provides you with that much-needed bit of additional stretch, the mesh backing ensures water flows through to stop your hands from overheating if you’re in tropical environments.
3. Cressi High-Stretch Premium Neoprene Diving Gloves
Cressi is one of the incredibly popular Italian brands that specialize in all things swimming, snorkeling and diving and has done since 1946. We’ve featured Cressi numerous times before and with good reason – they design and create high-quality products – it’s as simple as that.
The high-stretch neoprene diving gloves we have here are similar to many of the others in our guide in that they have the full five fingers. Cressi has just used a single layer lining of the comfortably soft and flexible material.
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On the interior though, Metalite is used to great effect to ensure they are easy to put on and take off. The best feature has to be that on the exterior, the surface is an all-over finish that ensures you get a firm and stable grip of things while underwater.
Curiously, the preformed shape this has might be off-putting to look at, at first, until you realize that it’s a natural resting position for your hands, with your fingers bent slightly so there is no resistance.
4. Bare Unisex Sealtek 5mm Scuba Diving Glove
Another popular dive accessories brand that we’ve featured before here on Ocean Scuba Dive is Bare. Here we have the thickness of the Sealtek scuba diving gloves for cold water, marketed as a wetsuit glove, which is a great investment.
It promises high-end comfort and unrivaled sealing. It features Glideskin-in wrists design that provides extra protection against water entry and as the name suggests, makes it easy to take them off and put them on.
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They are made from a 4-panel structure that increases the amount of flexibility they give by reducing the number of stitches and seams and like the glove above, they feature that performed curved finger design that lowers the chances of fatigue, while also helping with their dexterity.
On the palms, they have a special 3D print that provides additional grip while providing protection against abrasion. All in all, they are a great pair and one of the best diving gloves for cold water dives, and with the grip would even be good as spearfishing gloves, if that is your thing.
5. XS Scuba Dry Five Pyrostretch Dry Glove
Now we have a diving glove from XS Scuba. This range is marketed as a high-end scuba diving glove, with strength and durability these are specially designed for swimming and exploring in cold waters.
One of the best features is the blind-stitched and glued seams that ensure they provide an excellent seal against water. The whole of the palm area is textured for grip to pick things up and use your gear with confidence.
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They have been constructed with the best PyroStretch neoprene with an ideal thickness of 5mm. The double cut-off wrist design also reduces the amount of water transference too.
As well as the XXL, XL, Large, Medium and small sizes you’d expect there’s also an extra-small size made for ladies.
6. Fourth Element Neoprene Scuba Diving Glove 5mm
Fourth Element is the next reputable brand that we wanted to highlight. Whether you are in cold or tropical waters or exploring shipwrecks, as they have a range of different thicknesses.
But, like most that we have featured these gloves have been made from neoprene material, giving you the confidence to deal with cold climates but the dexterity to still use your camera or equipment. It’s flexible and has an extremely high-quality Thermoflex liner which means that each hand, down to the tips of your fingers, has the insulation for warmth and is kept dry.
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In addition to the gluing and stitching that’s used in the construction of this scuba diving gloves seams, they are also welded with a nice watertight fit. The fewer seams a pair has, the better.
In addition to all that’s going on the inside of the glove, they also benefit from a carbon-style grip to increase their durability and lifespan, while giving that extra bit of grip you need when you’re underwater and trying to grapple things.
7. Mares Pure Instinct Amara Five Finger 2mm Scuba Glove
Mares are another great brand that we’ve featured extensively on our site, due to their experience and skills in the industry.
The 2mm thickness of these, which are admittedly thinner than a lot of the other choices, is double-lined neoprene to provide you with a great mixture of dexterity and warmth for warmer water and features stitched seams for strength.
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The Amara material used on the fingers, tips and the palm is like suede or similar synthetic leather that provides the much-needed comfort, while the neoprene ensures they are flexible for motion in the water.
A different design to many of the others, these also benefit from Velcro wrist strapping to secure them snugly. These have style and comfort that you will love, along with a thickness for more temperate water dives and with the strength to protect your hands.
8. Mares Classic Flexa Five Finger 5mm Dive Glove
Here we have another pair of scuba glove to talk about from Mares. This time, it’s the Mares Classic Flexa Five Finger glove. These are suitably thick to help provide you with the protection you need against the harsher elements when you’re underwater, particularly in colder climates
These diving gloves features a preformed wrist shape to prevent water getting in, while still providing the flexibility and dexterity that allows you to handle and use your equipment and move around naturally and smoothly.
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The neoprene makes this possible, while the blind-stitching and double-gluing of seams, that Mares are known for, ensure they will last a long time so that buying this is a smart investment.
You also avoid the problems associated with thicker seams and bunching. As there are a total of 6 sizes available, so you are bound to find the right glove for you.
9. Scubapro Seamless 1.5mm Dive Glove
Again, Scubapro is another accessory manufacturer who has a great reputation for making user-friendly and affordable products that use the best and most cutting-edge techniques and technology.
Heat taping is used rather than the traditional stitching that’s normally used. This makes them extremely lightweight and especially tactile, flexible and soft to hug your skin. Perfect for when you are maneuvering around when your dives are in more temperate waters.
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The lack of traditional stitching that some of the other styles have also means you have improved dexterity around the fingers and wrist.
So, you never have to worry about being able to use your dive computer and other scuba gear. It’s also got a printed palm that’s soft without losing its gripping capabilities.
10. Aqua Lung Cora Warm Water Diving Glove
Aqua Lung is another with a sterling reputation in the industry. These Cora warm water scuba gloves stand out in particular though, as being designed by women for women.
They have narrower and longer fingers and palms to give a better fit for female hands. As is the case with most, they are made of high-stretch fabrics that provide dexterity and a more comfortable and snug fit.
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The material used also dries quickly while the holes provide perfect ventilation. The integrated entry design also ensures that you have a much easier time putting them on and off and with a velcro adjustable wrist strap.
This style of glove is one of the types used for the warmer temperature dives as it purely provides a layer of warmth and protection for your hands.
For a quick recap of our article, Here are our top 3 best selling dive glove picks;
- 5 Size Options
- 3 Color Choices
- Snorkeling/Diving Gloves
- Comfortable Fit
- 3 Thickness Options
- Non-Slip Finish
- High Stretch Gloves
- Natural Hand Position
- Very Comfortable
- Seamless Gloves
- Great for Using Cameras
- Thinnest Glove Around
Diving Glove Buying Guide
If you are looking to buy scuba dive gloves, we hope the above reviews help you. If it still doesn’t seem like enough though, we have put together a guide that will help you understand what you need to consider when buying them.
The Material of Scuba Dive Glove
The majority of scuba dive gloves are made from a neoprene rubber material, the reason being is that it is a high-end, high-quality and high-performance fabric that is known for its durability that stays flexible and remains in good condition in even the harshest environments.
A feature you need to look out for, that’s common in many, is that they are able to bend without any problem in fingers, palm or grip area. Neoprene diving gloves are also known for their waterproofing properties and when it is combined with a suitable liner it keeps your hands snug and warm in cold water, allowing you to still touch and have the grip to pick up and use any dive gear you might need.
The Thickness of the Dive Glove
Just as with diving boots, the range of thicknesses vary and the gloves you need depends on what the water temperature is where you will be diving. We have provided some examples below.
Below 52-Degrees 
If you are diving in water of a temperature that is below 52-degrees, the types of gloves with a thickness of 5mm are required. If you need to dive in colder waters, you may need to invest in a glove that has a liner as a feature also.
55 Degrees
If the water you are in is warmer than 55-degrees then you will only need gloves that are in the range of 2.5mm to 5mm thickness.
Warm Waters
If the waters you dive in are much warmer and more tropical than those mentioned above, you can use a glove that has a thickness of between 1 to 2.5mm.
The Size of Scuba Glove
As is the case with any clothing, you need to ensure that you have a good fit. Choosing a pair that are smaller than needed will make them uncomfortable and restrict a divers movement. It is just as, important, if not more than, to get the correct size glove for your hands as it is the correct size dive boot. Without full use of your fingers, how will you turn valves and use your equipment safely?
However, if they are bigger than you require, the interior will cool down as the water will be able to get inside. Larger gloves are also more likely to come off and this would be extremely dangerous during a dive.
Dive gloves that are loose-fitting are a safety concern just like gloves that are too small as they will make it more difficult to work with your dive equipment during your dive.
The ideal fit, therefore, is a glove that fits snugly without being too constrictive.
The Style of Glove
The most common style of dive gloves that you are likely to come across, and that is featured heavily in our guide is the five finger design with grips. This is the same style of glove that you wear in the winter months but just made from a different kind of material to deal with the water temperature as they are waterproof diving gloves.
This type is the one that will give you the most freedom to move around underwater and use your gear more easily. They act just like a normal glove but are designed to be submerged. The alternative is the mitten-style glove which has a larger section that fits all four fingers and a separate section for your thumb.
Although many people favor them, these do not provide quite as much motion as the finger-style gloves. The reason they are so popular is that they provide excellent thermal insulation for warmth. So, if you are heading to waters with cold temperatures, but don’t intend on using a lot of equipment, the mitten-style is an excellent choice for divers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, having read our reviews and tips on scuba diving gloves, you are now ready to go and purchase the best for you to go and enjoy your next dive vacation and experience the great underwater world that little bit warmer and safer.
But just in case we have not covered something that you would like to know we have answered some frequently asked questions about scuba diving gloves.
Why do I need to wear dive gloves?
There are three very good reasons that you need to wear dive gloves, even in warmer tropical waters.
Firstly, no matter what the temperature of the water is you will still need the protection of dive gloves against sharp objects such as reefs and creatures with spines, these can be accidentally touched and without some protection could cause injury very easily. Remember Body heat is transferred at approximately 100 to 200 times faster in water.
Secondly, even when you are in warmer water you will need insulation against the cold water, no matter how warm the water when you start, as you dive deeper you will feel the cold and you must protect not just your body but especially your hands as they do a lot of the work.
Lastly, sea creatures can sting or try to nip and although diving gloves might not a lot of protection they do offer more than your skin and definitely would save you the pain of being stung by the smaller jellyfish for an example.
Can I wear wet gloves with a drysuit?
You can wear wet gloves with a dry suit but you must remember to take into consideration the fit as the cuffs on the drysuit might cause a problem when you are trying to put the wet dive gloves on. This is open for debate and comes down to personal preference.
How do I choose diving gloves?
When you are deciding which diving gloves to choose there are various factors that you need to think about. Where will most of your diving be done, are you a shore diver, drift diver or deep diver and what will the temperatures of the waters be.
You need to choose the correct thickness of diving glove to suit the temperature of the water and with enough protection for your hands. But most importantly you must ensure a snug comfortable fit that gives you full movement of your hands to ensure you can use your scuba gear correctly.
