View Full Version : BCD Advice from female divers please!!
Hi all!!
Hoping to purchase my first BCD soon and have been looking at some designed specifically for females- any recommendations from the BSAC ladies? Have no idea where to start- even some ideas about manufacturers would be a help??!!
Many thanks
Yvonne.
Helen (AKA Hellvet)
28-08-2006, 02:06
Interestingly tried quite a few designed for female divers and ended up with a Buddy Explorer...
I found the ones designed for women were not designed for women of my shape and while i didn't try them all in the water, i found them extremely uncomfortable, with very restricted access to pockets, on the surface.
In contrast when i tried on a Buddy explorer i found the straps and pockets all sat in exactly the right places and within a couple of pool sessions felt like i'd been diving in it my whole life! I was originally after a Buddy commando as thats what i trained in, but i found it didn't sit quite as nicely as the explorer.
Guess the correct answer is to try to "borrow" a couple of examples, either from friends/buddies, or your LDS, and see what works for you, both on the surface and in the water...
Oh my favorite subject :D
I agree with Helen, are you a member of a club ? do you have access to a range of BC's so you can try them on.
Some years ago when we walked in to a dive shop all we were automatically handed a Buddy Commando, slimline version if you were of a smaller build. Now there are many deferent BC's around and when I was in the same LDS and a women walked in they were automatically given a ladies BC to try on, personally I think they are a gimmick and not suitable for "most ladies".
I suppose really I don't see the point, there was a thread about this the other day and I went to do a search for the Diva BC, it said something like "sports bra" design - WHY :confused:
If you are going to be diving in the UK there really isn't much point in a fitted type of BC, most of us look exactly the same once we have on a drysuit over and undersuit :D you don't need the shape of a ladies BC.
I had a Mares Vector BC for a long time it did me just fine for both UK and holiday diving, I now have a wing and harness (OMS IQ pack) and there are lots of ladies diving harnesses and finding them extremely comfortable. Don't dismiss these as "techy kit" before you have tried one on, they seem to fit all sort of ladies from the petite to the chunky (like me)
Anyway that's my opinion.
Female BCs are not a gimmick, there is a definate need for female cut BCD's. That said a number of us can get away with wearing any BCD, provided it is the right size.
I'd consider a female BC if you have any/all of the attribtues below;
wide hips
a short back
an ample bossom
quite petite everywhere
I know that one of my students had a cow of a time in a traditional BC and was just on the verge of giving up diving. She is a large lady in all senses of the word. I suggested she tried a Diva LX and she hasn't looked back. Her position in the water is now right and as a result her buoyancy is as it should. She loves her jacket.
Female BCs are high cut to accommodate our child bearing hips (just perfect for keeping a weight belt in place), and have a sensible back length, whilst taking into account the female shape.
There are a number of good female BC's out there. I enjoyed diving the DIVA LX by Seaquest, and they do another one as well. Pro lady I think, also good to dive. I'd also consider taking a look at Seac Sub and Scubapro, and I know that Ralf Tech are just about to launch one called the Cocoon Lady. Not dived the female jackets by these guys, but know of one lady who thinks her Seac Sub jacket is fab and I should be diving a Cocoon within the next month.
I would suggest that when you go shopping you take your suit with you and try on a number of jackets. If you are in a dry suit, can you still easily access your LPI on your suit? Can you disconnect the dry suit feed quickly and simply? Does the jacket feel right, or are you pinched/squeezed/uncomfortable?
Both Helen and Fiona have given you good advice about trying on different jackets, and if you can, dive them atleast in a swimming pool. You'll soon find what you like and don't like.
Alternatively, as Fiona has said, take at look at the OMS IQ pack and harness. This is a well designed harness that should have the flexibility and adjustment to suit your figure.
If you are not in a rush and tear, go and visit the Birmingham Dive Show and talk to the manufacturers and try on jackets. They will be perfect for telling you the features and benefits of their female jackets. You will also get to understand why the jacket has been designed as it has, which means you get more out of it, when you dive it. I do know that both Scubapro and Ralf Tech will be exhibiting.
Good luck with your quest.
I'm not female and if my warm ha ........ oh, I'll only get told off. :)
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Andy Wade
28-08-2006, 15:09
Female BCs are not a gimmick, there is a definate need for female cut BCD's. That said a number of us can get away with wearing any BCD, provided it is the right size.
I'd consider a female BC if you have any/all of the attribtues below;
wide hips
a short back
an ample bossom
quite petite everywhere
And if you have all of these attributes then my tel no. is.... :D
In contrast when i tried on a Buddy explorer i found the straps and pockets all sat in exactly the right places and within a couple of pool sessions felt like i'd been diving in it my whole life! I was originally after a Buddy commando as thats what i trained in, but i found it didn't sit quite as nicely as the explorer.
The Commando is actually quite long in the body which is why you cant get
small in the Commando. The Explorer is shorter and of course goes into small
sizes. So the Explorer is a better fit with women because even in the larger
sizes, the shorter length fits the torso better.
So if you are female and want a buddy BC as you found, checkout the
Explorer.
TerryH
John Bantin
28-08-2006, 15:36
My wife has the problem of being 34E and she likes the SeaQuest Diva, the Seacsub Pro Lady and the Mares Kaila. We recently photographed a girl for next month's entry-level BC review in Diver and found that her measurements were not current with her model agency. Instead of being a 34B she was a 34E due to recent surgery. We photographed her in the Buddy Explorer as it was the only one that had a hope of fitting.
Helen (AKA Hellvet)
28-08-2006, 16:22
My wife has the problem of being 34E and she likes the SeaQuest Diva, the Seacsub Pro Lady and the Mares Kaila. We recently photographed a girl for next month's entry-level BC review in Diver and found that her measurements were not current with her model agency. Instead of being a 34B she was a 34E due to recent surgery. We photographed her in the Buddy Explorer as it was the only one that had a hope of fitting.
Thats kinda my problem too(34H/36G), but i found the medium explorer sat just right and didn't make me feel like i was in a straightjacket, whilst being adjusted on the top half to fit just right...you might be able to tell i really like it!!
The Commando is actually quite long in the body which is why you cant get
small in the Commando. The Explorer is shorter and of course goes into small
sizes. So the Explorer is a better fit with women because even in the larger
sizes, the shorter length fits the torso better.
So if you are female and want a buddy BC as you found, checkout the
Explorer.
TerryH
Yep what he said!
mirrocraft
28-08-2006, 16:38
im not a female diver but when i got my wifes gear we bought and ist wet suit fit her figure well and rented bc for a while till she found one she liked weman divers are a large part of the community so most dive shots carry both sexes of gear if thay dont you can ask them to and most of the time thay will take one off the shelf for you and put it in the rental gear
Hi everyone!!
Thank you so much for all the excellent advice- :)
I have got all those female shape issues discussed above- short back etc etc and am definitely finding it hard to find a general bcd that fits properly. I like the idea of seeing and trying lots on so think the suggestion about the Dive show is great- will try to get there.
Only trouble is, will need to find someone to go along with so that I can ask.......'Does my bum look big in this' ???!!! ;)
Thanks to all!!
Yvonne.
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