Sharkskin

Sharkskin makes windproof thermal layers that work in and out of the water. We stock the Chillproof range — a long-sleeve chest-zip top, a men's short-sleeve top and a hood — all built from the same three-layer composite fabric. Wear them on their own in warmer water, under a wetsuit when it turns cold, or on the boat between dives. Everything here is neutrally buoyant, so your weighting stays put.

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What Chillproof actually is

Chillproof is not neoprene. It is an aquatic-specific, windproof, three-layer composite: a nylon and spandex outer for durability and abrasion resistance, a windproof breathable membrane in the middle, and a hollow-fibre fleece next to the skin that wicks moisture away from you. Sharkskin puts its thermal properties on a par with a 2.5 to 3mm neoprene wetsuit, without the drawbacks of a suit.

A durable water repellent finish sheds water off the outside. Four-way stretch keeps the garment from restricting you and makes it easy to get on and off. It is non-chafing, itch and odour resistant, so it stays comfortable across a long day, and the seam thread is chosen specifically to resist deterioration in saltwater.

How you will actually use it

On its own

In warmer water, or for surface work and snorkelling, a Chillproof top is often all you need. It carries UPF50+ sun protection, which matters more over a day on a boat than most people allow for, and the high collar keeps the back of your neck covered as well as warm.

Under a wetsuit

This is where it earns its place in a UK kit bag. Sharkskin builds Chillproof to be worn under a wetsuit for extra warmth and wind protection, and the Chillproof Hood does the same job as a liner under a wetsuit hood. Because the fabric is neutrally buoyant, you are not adding lead to compensate for the extra layer.

Between dives

The windproof membrane is the point here. Wet, on an open boat, in wind is where you genuinely get cold, and a windproof layer does more for you in that hour than a thicker wetsuit does. It can also be layered with other Sharkskin garments if you need more.

The range on this page

Three garments, all built from the same Chillproof fabric, each covering a different part of the problem.

The Sharkskin Chillproof LS Chest Zip is the long-sleeve option. Zip it up for full coverage, or drop the zip when the sun comes out or your work rate climbs — that adjustability is the whole idea. The high collar keeps your neck warm and shields it from sunburn.

The Sharkskin Chillproof Short Sleeve for men is the half-zip version. The short sleeve gives you free arm movement while still enclosing the armpit, which is where a lot of warmth is won or lost. It suits paddle and powered watersports as much as diving.

The Sharkskin Chillproof Hood covers the part most people leave until last. It has a water-resistant outer to limit water coming through, a stretch fit that stays snug without bulk, and it dries quickly — useful when you are doing more than one dive in a day.

Sizing and fit

Get this right and everything else follows. A thermal layer works by holding warmth close to your skin, so a garment that is too big will feel colder than the size below it. Sharkskin sizes against height, chest, waist, hips and thigh, and the full chart sits on each product page. Measure with the tape snug but not pulled tight, arms relaxed at your sides.

If you plan to wear it under a wetsuit, resist the urge to size up to make room. The four-way stretch handles the layering, and the extra bulk is exactly what makes a suit hard to get into.

Looking after it

Hand wash in cold water and line dry. Wash after every use to clear residual salt or chlorine, and keep the garment out of the sun when it is not being worn. No bleach, no iron, no dry cleaning. Sharkskin backs its garments with a two-year guarantee on workmanship and ships them in biodegradable and compostable packaging.

Frequently asked questions

Which Sharkskin products does Oyster Diving stock?

Everything on this page is made by Sharkskin, and all of it is from the Chillproof line: the Chillproof LS Chest Zip, the Chillproof Short Sleeve for men, and the Chillproof Hood. Sharkskin is the only brand in this collection, so if you are comparing thermal layers across makers you will want the wider baselayers and rash guards pages as well.

Can you wear Sharkskin Chillproof under a wetsuit?

Yes. Sharkskin designs Chillproof to be worn under a wetsuit for extra warmth and wind protection, on its own as watersports thermal wear, or layered with other Sharkskin garments. The Chillproof Hood works the same way: standalone, or as a liner under a wetsuit hood. Because the fabric has 4-way stretch it goes on and comes off without fighting you, which matters when there is already a wetsuit involved.

Will adding a Sharkskin layer change my weighting?

Chillproof is neutrally buoyant, so Sharkskin states there is no need to add extra weight when diving. That is the practical difference between it and adding another neoprene layer, which does need compensating for. As always, do a proper weight check on the first dive of a trip rather than assuming last season's numbers still hold.

How should a Sharkskin top fit, and how do I pick a size?

Close to the skin. A thermal layer only does its job when the fleece inner is actually against you, so a loose fit will feel colder than a snug one. Sharkskin sizes against height, chest, waist, hips and thigh, and the full measurement chart sits on each product page. Measure rather than guess, and if you fall between two sizes tell us what you will be layering it under and we will talk it through.

How do I look after Sharkskin garments?

Hand wash in cold water and line dry. Wash after every use to get residual salt or chlorine out, and keep the garment out of direct sun when you are not using it. Do not bleach, iron or dry clean. Sharkskin uses a durable seam thread specifically to resist saltwater deterioration, but rinsing still makes the difference between a garment that lasts and one that does not.

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