An inflatable wet suit comprising: a torso section (10-1a, 10-1b) having a back pocket (10-4); a bladder assembly positioned within the back pocket (10-4), the bladder assembly comprising an inflatable bladder bag (12-1) and an inflator valve (12-2) adapted for operative connection with a compressed gas canister ; a rip cord having one and other ends with the one end being connected to the inflator valve (12-2), the rip cord extending over a shoulder region (10-1c) of the torso section so that the other end thereof is graspably positioned adjacent a front portion (10-1a) of the torso section; characterized in that the inflatable wet suit further comprises a canister pouch arranged within the back pocket (10-4) of the torso section for receiving the gas canister therein, the canister pouch including a front wall (20-2) attached to the torso section along side and bottom edges thereof with a top edge being unattached to the torso section so as to define a pouch space (20-2a) with an open upper end, the front wall including at least one cut-out region (20-3) to allow manual manipulation of the gas canister positioned in the pouch space (20-2a), wherein the canister pouch further includes a top flap (20-4) fixed to the torso section about top and lateral edges thereof and having an unsecured bottom edge (20-4b) to allow the top flap to extend over and thereby close the open upper end of the pouch space, and wherein the top flap (20-4) includes an opening (20-4a) therein to allow a neck of the gas canister 18) to protrude therethrough and permit operative coupling of the gas canister to the inflator valve (12-2). a torso section (10-1a, 10-1b) having a back pocket (10-4); a bladder assembly positioned within the back pocket (10-4), the bladder assembly comprising an inflatable bladder bag (12-1) and an inflator valve (12-2) adapted for operative connection with a compressed gas canister ; a rip cord having one and other ends with the one end being connected to the inflator valve (12-2), the rip cord extending over a shoulder region (10-1c) of the torso section so that the other end thereof is graspably positioned adjacent a front portion (10-1a) of the torso section; characterized in that the inflatable wet suit further comprises a canister pouch arranged within the back pocket (10-4) of the torso section for receiving the gas canister therein, the canister pouch including a front wall (20-2) attached to the torso section along side and bottom edges thereof with a top edge being unattached to the torso section so as to define a pouch space (20-2a) with an open upper end, the front wall including at least one cut-out region (20-3) to allow manual manipulation of the gas canister positioned in the pouch space (20-2a), wherein the canister pouch further includes a top flap (20-4) fixed to the torso section about top and lateral edges thereof and having an unsecured bottom edge (20-4b) to allow the top flap to extend over and thereby close the open upper end of the pouch space, and wherein the top flap (20-4) includes an opening (20-4a) therein to allow a neck of the gas canister 18) to protrude therethrough and permit operative coupling of the gas canister to the inflator valve (12-2). <EOS>