Why the Sharkskin Titanium 2 is an excellent dive skin (According to a scuba instructor)
I hate being cold, I mean I really hate being cold!! I have a tendency to get chilled easy, which is not hard to do when most of my diving throughout the year is in Lake Erie off of Buffalo, NY. If you’re like Scuba Jay and don’t like being cold, then read on. Sharkskin has come up with a superior product to help keep us nice and warm.
Function
How many times have you bought into the hype of a product, only to be let down? Well, when it comes to the Sharkskin, the hype is true. Sharkskin sates that its “new Titanium 2 product range offers outstanding thermal protection tested equivalent to 5mm neoprene.” After my use of the product in Lake Erie, I can say that is pretty accurate.
On October 4, 2025, I did my last dive of the season – at least last dive of the season in Buffalo. The air temp. was 58 degrees and the water temp. was 65 degrees. We dove on the wreck of the Richardson at a depth of 35ft for about 50 minutes.
Now, while these conditions are pretty good for Northeast diving in October, you will get chilled in water temps like this. I wore my Sharkskin under my 7mm Henderson Talon wetsuit. Near the end of my dive my arms were getting a little cold, but the rest of my body was kept nicely warm just as advertised.
According to Sharkskin, its “Chillproof material has been embedded with nanoparticles of titanium that capture and retain significantly more body heat.” There are three layers that comprise of an inner “hollow yarn” fleece layer, middle “technical” layer that is a one-way body temperature regulating membrane and an outer nylon/lycra layer with four-way stretch.
The Sharkskin’s inner fleece layer not only keeps you warm during your dive, but is quick drying and helps to keep you warm after your dive too.
If doing a morning and afternoon dive, you will most likely find your Sharkskin almost fully dry while hanging up in between dives.
Another bonus is Sharkskin’s windchill blockage capability. I like to do some Fall riding on my Royal Enfield and it can get cold on the road. I have used the sharkskin pants under my jeans and they did a great job of blocking that wind on a crisp Autumn day.
Finally, the Sharkskin boasts no additional buoyance with its product, so you get more warmth without having to add on extra weights.
Fit
The Sharkskin Titanium 2 is extremely comfortable. Both on dives and, as mentioned above, under my clothes on motorcycle rides on cooler days. It’s advertised four-way stretch material really makes for a good fit.
On size, you want it to not be loose, or it will not do it’s job. on the flipside, you don’t want to cut off your circulation. A nice snug and firm fit is what you’re going for. I am 6ft and weigh 200lbs…about. The large Sharkskin top and bottoms fit me good. You can see more on fit on the Sharkskin website under “size chart.”
You can get the Sharkskin Titanium 2 in a single jumpsuit or two-piece. As I also wanted to wear my Sharkskin on my motorcycle, I opted for the two piece, so I could wear just the pants under my jeans on cooler rides.
Durability
I’ve only had my Sharkskin for two months now and have worn it for about half a dozen dives. So far, so good on durability. No issues with any wear or the fabric or with the zipper. It seems to be very well made and will hopefully serve me well on many dives to come. I will be diving the Red Sea in June of 2026 and will update this portion after some more use.
Some Cons
I have found the Sharkskin Titanium 2 to be a superior product with not much in the way of cons. If I had to stretch on a con, I’d say the cost is not cheap…but then again neither is the product. While the Sharkskin may cost you more, in my opinion thus far, it is worth the cost. My advice is to wait for a sale. I bought mine during a Labor Day sale and saved some money on the purchase.
While the product is advertised as being neutrally buoyant, some of my dive buddies have felt the need to add an extra pound or two when wearing their sharkskin. I started with an extra two pounds, but was then able to go back to normal as I felt it really did not make me more buoyant. So this may not actually be a con, but something to keep in mind.
Final Thoughts
Basically, I cannot recommend the Sharkskin Titanium 2 product more. It does its job very well in keeping me warm, and that can be a challenge in those colder Lake Eire temps. It is also comfortable and versatile, if you want to wear it as a wind guard for something like motorcycle riding. This is a product that is worth its cost and I would happily buy it again!
More Of Jay’s Faves
Check out the below, if interested in more of Jay’s Faves.
“How boring would the world be if everywhere and everyone were the same. Safe travels and good adventures.” Scuba Jay
