Immersion suit

"Survivor suit" and "Survival suit" redirect here. For other types of survival suits, see exposure suit.

An immersion suit, also known as a survival suit, is a type of waterproof dry suit intended to protect the wearer from hypothermia if immersed in cold water or otherwise exposed after abandoning a vessel, especially in the open ocean. Immersion suits usually have integral footwear, and a hood, and either built-in gloves or watertight wrist seals.

Several manufacturers also include an inflatable pillow attached high on the back, or an inflatable tube that is attached with zippers at two points on the chest, each side of the main zipper, and circles the back.

Immersion suits are of two types: work suits, worn for long periods in high risk environments, and survival suits, worn during emergencies. In the water, the suits inflate to increase buoyancy and stability, helping the wearer keep the head above water and to keep wind and seas from striking the face. The inflation tube is routed from the inflatable pillow over the left shoulder of the user, and secured in a loop on the chest. Immersion suits with buoyancy aids are provided with buddy lines to allow survivors to connect to one another in the water. Some suits are manufactured with hoisting lanyards that make it easier for vessels with hoists to pull survivors from the water.

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