Fourth Element – Thermal Protection Wear – The Right Gear for the Job

fourth-element-brand-logoTech divers understand the importance of gear selection. We know it’s often possible to make a “quick fix” but that, ultimately, it makes more sense to invest in top quality gear will support our dive objectives and our comfort for years. You wouldn’t dive with a garden hose for a regulator, so why settle for exposure equipment that is less than perfect?

Fourth element makes a range of top quality gear. Their equipment is modernly….. styled and trendy, but is also manufactured to suit the needs of technical divers.

Cuts on my thumb from several days of diving
My thumb, after several days of diving

After days of boat diving, my thumbs start to look like a cat’s scratching post. I’m not even sure where the cuts come from – my guess is sliding against line while deploying an SMB – but they are very irritating and can easily be avoided with simple gloves. Lucky for me, my dive center had a pair of Fourth Element technical 3mm dive gloves on hand, of which I am now the proud owner. I got them for protection against abrasion, but have come to appreciate the grip that is molded onto the fingers and palms. It stops my thumb from slipping against stiff double-enders when clipping tanks or accessories.

Love them or hate them, hoods are a critical piece of exposure equipment for any dive in overhead environments or of significant duration. Like dive boots, you have many similar options to choose from when buying a hood. Comfort and thickness are the most essential considerations, but minor variances in design can make the difference between a comfortable and restricted dive. Fourth Element’s simplistic hood has a smooth interior for ease of donning and comfortable microadjustments underwater. Rub your fingers against the inside of a hood and you will appreciate this feature – the difference is the Glideskin material used in manufacturing this critical piece of life support equipment.

I frequently dive off the beach when charter boats are not an option. On occasion, I exit the water with leopard spots from jellyfish that have brushed my skin in the tide. Though not dangerous, these red lumps are itchy and unattractive. A rash guard isn’t usually necessary when wearing a wetsuit or drysuit, but can be an attractive alternative to a shorty in warmer waters. Cave or wreck divers who need protection from snags, or just from jellyfish, without lots of thermal protection will appreciate the convenience of a long sleeve rash guard. Fourth Element’s thermocline sets the standard when it comes to this piece of equipment. It offers the equivalent thermal protection of a 3mm neoprene wetsuit with the ease of a front-zip design and convenient maintenance of a long sleeve shirt. Say hello to more luggage space!

Any underwater enthusiast understands the importance of protecting our planet’s aquatic environments. As divers, we share the unique responsibility to help shelter these ecosystems from the human activities that cause them harm. Fourth Element’s Ocean Positive campaign recycles nylon fish netting collected from the ocean and repurposes it

Fourth Element Thermocline
Fourth Element Thermocline

into Lycra fabric for use by divers, so you know you are supporting this mission every time you choose Fourth Element.

Fourth Element gear is not the “quick fix” option. It’s superior design and manufacturing standards ensure that you are getting quality equipment that will meet your diving needs for years while supporting a critical mission.

When it comes to technical diving, Fourth Element is simply the right gear for the job.