Deep Sea Diver Vest - Abyss Black edition
Built with Special Forces technology designed for the abyss.
- Built from the thickest fleece we have ever used
- Used in British Special Forces drysuit systems
- Four-way stretch for unrestricted movement
- Breathable, fast-drying and odour-resistant
- Elastic-bound armholes and hem for secure fit
- Two-way front zip
In the freezing blackness of the North Sea and underneath the Arctic ice, a wetsuit isn’t going to keep you alive. For divers operating in the coldest, darkest and most hostile environments on Earth – where the water temperature drops below 10°C – the survival system of anyone who values their life is the drysuit.
An impermeable shell that creates a seal of warm air around the body, wearing a drysuit is a bit like wearing an actual seal. But at the heart of this underwater system you won’t find foam, rubber, or blubber. But fleece. Insanely thick, astonishingly warm, flexible, fleece. Naturally you’ll find the most badass drysuit fleece on the planet belongs to the British Special Forces – guys who don’t mind a bit of a splash about in some cold water.
So we took their fleece – after asking them nicely – and turned it into the Deep Sea Diver Hoodie and the Deep Sea Diver Vest. At 539 grams per square metre, this is the densest fleece we’ve ever used. And that means the Deep Sea Diver Vest traps more heat than any other vest we’ve made. It breathes, wicks, and is fast-drying and odour-resistant. Four-way elasticity means it bends, stretches and rebounds in any direction. So you can climb in it, sleep in it, or disappear into a snowstorm in it.
Technical Details
Built from the same fleece used inside military drysuits.
Why deep sea divers trust fleece, not foam
Unlike wetsuits, which trap water next to the skin, a drysuit keeps you completely dry. Staying warm depends on what’s underneath. Fleece is the go-to insulation because it’s hydrophobic, lightweight and keeps its loft even when damp from condensation. It moves moisture away from the body, traps air for insulation and dries fast between dives. It’s the material that made cold-water diving possible.
At 539 grams per square metre, this is the thickest fleece we’ve ever used.
Engineered for motion
The vest’s four-way stretch fleece moves in every direction, expanding and recovering without restriction. Bound armholes and hem seal in heat while allowing complete shoulder and arm freedom, whether you’re climbing, working, or layering for Arctic treks. The two-way front zip lets you regulate airflow and temperature without breaking stride.
A history of dry diving
Drysuits were first developed in the 1930s and '40s for military and commercial divers operating in the freezing seas. Early versions were made from vulcanised rubber and sealed with crude cuffs and collars. By the 1960s and ‘70s, new materials such as neoprene and trilaminate fabrics, along with the invention of waterproof zips, transformed them into lightweight, flexible survival systems. Unlike wetsuits that let a thin layer of water in, drysuits keep the body completely sealed from the elements, using trapped air and fleece insulation for warmth.
Size + Fit
The Deep Sea Diver Vest has a relaxed fit.
| Size | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL |
| Fits chest | 83 - 90 | 91 - 98 | 99 - 106 | 107 - 114 | 115 - 122 | 123 - 130 |
| Fits waist | 71 - 76 | 76 - 81 | 81 - 86 | 86 - 91 | 91 - 96 | 96 - 101 |
| Size | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL |
| Fits chest | 33 - 36 | 36 - 39 | 39 - 42 | 42 - 45 | 45 - 48 | 48 - 51 |
| Fits waist | 28 - 30 | 30 - 32 | 32 - 34 | 34 - 36 | 36 - 38 | 38 - 40 |
