The diving that U.S. Navy divers do are a far cry from what the average Joe might do when going on a holiday in Palau. Therefore, it is but fitting that they don only the best of the best, in terms of diving suits.

Wet Suit. This is the suit that the U.S. Navy diver would wear for missions that will involve shallow, warm water. These suits, made of Neoprene, are light, comfortable, and easy to slip on or off.

Dry Suit. Dry suits are used for heavy duty operations, and those that involve contaminated water. It has thick Neoprene and watertight rubber seals at the neck and wrists, which create a closed environment for the diver. This prevents water and pollutants from reaching the body.

Hot Water Suit. When working in very cold environments, the hot water suit provides Navy divers with heat, allowing them to make longer and deeper dives. A constant supply of hot water is received by the diver from the surface through tubes embedded in the suit.

Mark V Diving Dress. This suit is the one worn by old school Navy divers, from 1918 to 1984. Most of us may remember this suit from the movie Men of Honour, about Carl Brashear, the first African-American – and eventually, amputee – Navy diver.

Mark 12 Outer Garment. The Mark 12 surface support diving system (SSDS) is a lighter and more durable version of the Mark V, and in 1985, it became the official diving system of the Navy. The Mark 21 helmet has since replaced the Mark 12 SSDS (1993), but the Navy divers of today still don the Mark 12 Outer Garment.

Atmospheric Diving Suits. The ADS was initially meant for commercial use by the oil industry, but was developed by the Navy to help with submarine rescue mission. The pressure inside the suit is the same as that of surface pressure, a characteristic that allows divers to work at extreme depths without the need for decompression afterwards.