Fourth Element

The Thermal Revolution

There was a time when diving in a drysuit meant looking like the “Michelin Man,” wrapped in layers of woolly jumpers that lost all insulation the moment they got damp. Then, in 1999, over a post-dive beer in Egypt, two friends—Paul Strike and Jim Standing—decided to change the game. Based in Cornwall, Fourth Element set out with a singular mission: to bring high-performance technical fabrics to the diving world.

They succeeded spectacularly. With the launch of the Xerotherm and later the Arctic undersuits, they revolutionised thermal protection. They proved that low-bulk, high-density fabrics could trap more air and wick moisture more efficiently than traditional thinsulate. Suddenly, UK divers could move freely, reach their valves easily, and stay warm on 90-minute dives. They didn’t just make us warmer; they made us safer, as better thermal protection directly reduces decompression stress.

Today, Fourth Element is more than just a clothing brand; they are a voice for the ocean. Their OceanPositive initiative has pioneered the use of “Econyl”—nylon recycled from ghost fishing nets—in their swimwear and rash guards. From their Halo 3D undersuits that use biomapping to protect critical body areas, to their recent foray into exposure protection with the Argonaut drysuit, Fourth Element represents the modern, environmentally conscious face of British diving.