Sherwood Scuba Marine Conservation Style and Design
Sherwood Scuba touts a high quality “Quantum Stretch” neoprene and tailored design in this suit, which offers a comfortable fit with a decent amount of stretch for a slightly thicker, 5 mm full wetsuit.
Though this wasn’t the most stretchy wetsuit I’ve tested out—check out the Aqualung HydroFlex for that—I still felt fairly flexible and not at all choked by the snug yet relaxed collar, which can easily be the case with other thick wetsuits.
The wetsuit also features glued and blind-stitched seams for a smooth finish, reinforced knee pads for abrasion resistance, and a striking wave graphic on arm and leg cuffs.
Overall, I felt this wetsuit easily met all my basic expectations for a comfortable and warm dive, with good mobility, virtually no leakage, and ease of taking the suit on and off with a long back zip. It’s suitable for water temperatures between around 60 to 75 F (16 to 24 C), comes in sizes 5 to 15 (odd sizes only), and a black/white color combo.
Marine Conservation: A Message for Devoted Divers
As a passionate diver and marine ecologist who is constantly trying to understand my own role in terms of positive changes I can make for our ocean ecosystem, Sherwood Scuba’s commitment to having marine conservation principles up front and center with this wetsuit is a valued focus in my book.
Beyond the good philosophy, the Marine Conservation suit is a solid and comfortable 5 mm option for those looking for a little extra warmth in the water.
The purchase of this wetsuit supports conservation and outreach projects run by non-profits like Fins Attached and Pelagios Kakunja, who gain valuable information on shark populations through tagging and biopsies. CREMA, the Center for the Rescue of Endangered Marine Species, conducts work in Costa Rica and Central America.
However, transparency for customers on the details of environmental standards when purchasing new gear goes far in terms of fostering trust in production and donations associated with a product.
Terms like “a portion of proceeds” to marine conservation and “earth-friendly neoprene” certainly indicate steps in the right direction, but the lack of explicit detail leaves questions for anyone who uses this as a purchasing criteria.
Price/Quality Ratio
With a price of approximately $400 at the time of writing, the Sherwood Scuba Marine Conservation wetsuit is a decent mid-range cost option for a women’s 5 mm that offers high-quality features, comfort, and stylish design. However, at that price point, I would expect a handful of extra custom features and sustainability standards that seem to be lacking in this suit.
One of its main selling points is the support of partnering non-profits, which conduct marine conservation. By my account, it’s worthwhile, when buying dive gear, to help protect the environments and marine fauna we all love.
However, it would be easier to weigh the cost and benefits of this purchase with a bit more transparent information on donation of proceeds, as well as sustainability standards for the production of the wetsuit itself.
If you’re not quite ready to pull the trigger on the Sherwood Marine Conservation wetsuit, check out our full guide for comparisons and further recommendations on the right wetsuit for you, along with any other dive gear you may need.
Do we recommend the Sherwood Scuba Marine Conservation wetsuit?
With Quantum Stretch flexibility, well-sealed 5mm warmth, and supporting partnerships with devoted marine conservation organizations, the Sherwood Scuba Marine Conservation suit gets our recommendation as a good option for any diver looking for a 5 mm that can take you through a variety of locations and seasons underwater.
Specs & Features
| Material | Quantum Stretch neoprene |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 5 mm |
| Zip | Back-zip |
| Seams | Water-based glue and blind stitching |
| Sizes | 5–15 (odd sizes only) |
