Rashguards

Rashguards and skin layers for divers, snorkellers and anyone spending a day in and out of the water. Worn on their own in warm water they give you cover against abrasion, stings and the sun without the bulk of neoprene; worn under a wetsuit they cut chafe and make the suit far easier to get into. Short and long sleeve, men's and women's, from Fourth Element, Waterproof, DynamicNord and Apeks.

Expert advice
Talk to divers who use the kit we sell.
Servicing and repairs
Regulators, cylinders, drysuits, BCDs and computer batteries.
Rutland dive centre
A real shop in Oakham, with training and pool sessions.
UK delivery
Posted across the UK. Ask about lead times on special orders.

What a skin layer does

A rashguard is the thinnest thing in your exposure kit. Under a wetsuit it reduces chafe at the neck, shoulders and arms, and it makes a snug suit noticeably easier to get into and out of. On its own in genuinely warm water it gives you cover against abrasion, stings and the sun without the bulk of neoprene. Either way, treat it as one layer in a system rather than as the system itself.

Thermal layers and rash vests are not the same thing

This collection holds both, and it is worth knowing which one you are buying. Garments like the Apeks Thermiq Carbon Core tops and the Fourth Element Hydroskin range are built as warmth layers. Others, such as the Waterproof R30 rashvests and the DynamicNord RG range, are rash and abrasion cover first. The product page and the manufacturer specification will tell you what a given garment is designed to do, and we would much rather you checked than assumed. Nothing here is a substitute for correct exposure protection in cold water: for that see Wetsuits and Undersuits.

What we stock

Short sleeve and long sleeve, in men's and women's cuts. Fourth Element Hydroskin tops and Hydro-T long sleeves, the Waterproof R30 rashvest range and the WPSkin, DynamicNord RG short and long sleeve rashguards, and Apeks Thermiq Carbon Core tops. Secondhand pieces turn up here from time to time as well.

Sun cover

Plenty of divers wear a long sleeve rashguard on the boat purely to stay out of the sun. Some manufacturers publish a sun protection rating for their fabric and some do not, so if a stated rating matters to you, check the manufacturer specification for that specific garment rather than assuming it across the range. Fabric only protects the skin it covers, so the usual advice about sun cream on everything else still stands.

Fit and care

Skin layers work best close-fitting, so they do not bunch up underneath neoprene. Sizing is not consistent between brands, so use the size guide belonging to the brand you are buying rather than assuming your usual size carries across. Rinse in fresh water after use, dry away from direct heat, and follow the manufacturer's washing instructions, which for technical fabrics are often more specific than you would expect.

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Frequently asked questions

Both are normal. Under a wetsuit a skin layer reduces chafe at the neck and arms and makes the suit noticeably easier to pull on and off. On its own in genuinely warm water it gives you cover against abrasion, stings and the sun without the bulk of neoprene. What it is not is a replacement for proper exposure protection in cold water.

Some of the garments in this collection are designed as warmth layers and some are designed purely as rash and abrasion cover, and they are not the same product. Check the individual product page and the manufacturer specification before you assume either way. Whichever you choose, treat it as one layer in a system rather than as your exposure protection, and talk to us about what suits the diving you are planning.

It varies. Some manufacturers publish a sun protection rating for their fabric and some do not, so we will not quote a figure across the range. If a stated rating matters to you, check the manufacturer specification for the specific garment. And whatever the fabric does, it only covers the skin it covers, so keep the sun cream for everything else.

A skin layer works best close-fitting, so it does not bunch up under a wetsuit. Sizing is not consistent between brands, so use the size guide for the brand you are buying rather than assuming your usual size carries across. If you are between sizes or ordering for a suit you already own, call or email us and we will check it against the size chart.