A Tackle Shop Guide to Dive Gloves
Dive gloves are one of those items spearfishers either swear by or ignore entirely — until they grab the wrong fish barehanded. Crayfish, urchins, rough reef, and species with sharp spines or gill plates will do damage to unprotected hands quickly. The question is not really whether to wear them, but which type suits what you are doing and whether the trade-off in dexterity is acceptable for the way you dive.
A Note From Our Local Experts
"The gloves we stock are suited to spearfishing and lobster diving — two activities that put your hands through different kinds of punishment. Spearfishing demands reasonable trigger feel and grip on a slippery fish. Lobster diving is harder on the palm — rock edges, barnacles, and crevice work wear through plain gloves faster than most people expect.
That is why we stock proper dive gloves like the Adrenalin Amara gloves and dependable options for divers, as well as basic woven grip gloves for boat anglers. The Amara palm holds up significantly better to abrasion than neoprene alone, and the grip in wet conditions is noticeably better when you are trying to hold onto a kicking lobster or a fish that does not want to stay still.
The brands I stock include Adrenalin and Land and Sea — I have found these brands offer consistent performance and durability at a reasonable price for my customers."
- Ben Czulowski, Owner, Fishing Tackle Shop
Decoding the Dive Glove Materials
Understanding the structural differences in these gloves dictates where you can safely use them.
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Plain Neoprene: Focuses purely on thermal warmth and maximum stretch. It absorbs minor bumps but is structurally just soft, aerated rubber, making it highly vulnerable to being sliced open if wiped across an oyster shell or sharp reef.
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Amara Synthetic Leather: A tough, suede-like material stitched over the palm and fingers specifically to take physical, abrasive damage. It extends the working life of the glove significantly and does not crack or harden when dried out in the salt.
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Basic Woven Grip: Simple, knitted gloves with a rubberised dot pattern. Unlike closed-cell neoprene, these are highly breathable. They offer zero thermal warmth for diving, but are a practical choice for dry boat fishing, filleting, and handling catch without your hands sweating in the sun.
Pro-Tips: Trigger Feel & Maintenance
- The One-Glove Trick: If you are struggling with trigger sensitivity on your speargun but still need protection for grabbing reef, wear a glove on your non-trigger hand only and leave your shooting hand bare.
- The Inside-Out Dry: The damp smell dive gloves develop is bacteria breeding in the moisture. Hosing the outside is not enough. Turn them completely inside out, wash with fresh water, and leave them in a shaded breezy area until they are bone dry inside and out.
Dive Glove Material Application Guide
Understand the trade-offs of the materials before you buy.
| Palm Material | Primary Advantage | Main Limitation |
|---|
| Plain Neoprene |
Maximum stretch, flexibility, and warmth. |
Wears through quickly on rough reef and barnacles. |
| Amara Synthetic Leather |
High abrasion resistance and secure wet grip. |
Slightly stiffer than plain neoprene. |
| Basic Woven / Rubber Dot |
Highly breathable, excellent friction on fish slime. |
Zero thermal warmth or puncture protection. |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Dive Gloves
How do dive gloves affect grip when holding a fish underwater before surfacing?
Bare wet hands on a slippery fish at depth are harder to control than most divers expect — fish skin, scales, and slime all reduce friction significantly. A plain neoprene glove improves grip over bare skin, but an Amara palm glove performs noticeably better on wet, slippery surfaces. For spearfishers who regularly need to secure a fish before surfacing, the palm material is worth considering for this reason alone.
Can one pair of dive gloves cover both spearfishing and lobster diving?
It depends on the glove. An Amara palm glove handles both activities reasonably well — the reinforced palm tolerates the rough reef and crevice work involved in lobster diving while still providing adequate flexibility for spearfishing. A plain neoprene glove is fine for spearfishing but will wear through faster on the sustained rock and barnacle contact of lobster diving. If you do both regularly and want one pair, our recommendation is to go with an Amara palm glove rather than plain neoprene.
What sizes are available in dive gloves?
Most of the dive glove models we stock are available in a range of sizes from Small through to XXL. Sizing varies between models and brands, so check the individual product listing for the size options available on each specific glove before ordering.
What is the best way to wash dive gloves?
Rinse with fresh water after every session to remove salt and debris. For a deeper clean, a small amount of mild soap works well — avoid bleach, harsh detergents, or fabric softener. Do not machine wash. Dry out of direct sunlight.
