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Wet-suit: Often worn by SCUBA Divers, wind surfers, and personal watercraft operators, this suit requires no warm clothing underneath. Though chilly at first, the water that slowly seeps-in is unable to circulate and is soon warmed-up by the body.
Dry-suit: SCUBA Divers can stay toasty warm, even under the Arctic ice. This type of suit keeps a person dry, but they must wear "woolly's", (insulated garments), under it to keep warm.
Immersion suit: Much like a dry-suit, this device is designed for extreme conditions and is usually carried onboard seagoing vessels and offshore drilling platforms. (With limited mobility, the wearer is not really able to do much more than just float around in it.)
Floater-suit: Lightweight & comfortable, you see more & more of these brightly coloured "head to toes" personal flotation devices onboard pleasure craft today (shown above). However, they tend to trap water, making climbing back onboard difficult.
Exposure-coverall: These look similar to a floater-suit but have a thermal protection rating.
Multiple layers of dry clothing: wear them under your personal flotation device or lifejacket.
Water or wind-proof outer layer: You should always carry ponchos or raincoats onboard, in the event of nasty weather!
If you do go into the water, there are steps you can take to extend your survival time (and increase your prospects for rescue); Do not swim to keep warm, it will only speed the chilling effects!
don your Pfd, (remember the in water technique?)
if your flooded or overturned vessel is still floating, stay with it! (it's easier to spot than a person alone).
if possible, climb onto a floating object, (some small craft have built-in flotation). Try to keep as much of your body as possible out of the water (to conserve heat).
if alone in the water, cross your arms tightly against your chest. Draw your knees up close to your chest. (this is known as the Heat-Escape Lessening Position, (H.E.L.P.)
huddle with others by getting the sides of everyone's chest close together, with arms around mid to lower back, and legs intertwined.
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