Beyond this, you will also need to consider a diving suit. Even in warm tropical waters some kind of suit is required, but in UK waters a good diving suit is essential.

Generally there a 3 types of diving suit. The first type is the wetsuit which you wear over a swimming costume. Water enters the suit and is warmed by your body heat so you are protected from the cold by this thin layer of warm water. As you move about in a wetsuit you will be continually "flushing" out the warm water and replacing it with cold water. Eventually you will start feeling cold.

A better bet would be a semi-dry suit, which as with a wetsuit you wear over a swimming costume, however tight seals at the neck, wrists and ankles minimise the amount of "flushing".

Most people within this branch dive with a drysuit, and as the name implies, it does not allow water to enter the suit. It is worn over an undersuit which could be as simple as a tracksuit or a specially designed thermal undersuit.

A drysuit can be made of either "neoprene", which can be about 8mm thick, or a reinforced "membrane" which can be only 1 mm thick. An alternative neoprene suit such as the Northern Diver Divemaster is made from "crushed neprene" and will be about 4 mm thick. Each type has pros and cons, and you should discuss the options with your Instructor and fellow Club members