[Eiderfleur]

Hi folks,

I've been lurking here for a while now but only just registered to post.

A little background about me before I jump in there asking for advice.

I'm 28, female approximately 5'5 and of a slightly bigger build than I would like.

I am also looking to purchase my first set of dive gear, I have looked extensively at sites, information and also read these boards about gear.

I have a rough idea of what I would like to buy but need a little advice on a couple of things.

Firstly, my fiancé is a qualified BSAC and PADI instructor (I have been harassing him for the last three years to teach me to dive and finally when I realised it wasn't going to happen through him, I demanded he give me the phone number of a dive instructor friend of his and contacted him myself.

I've had three dives so far and am due to have my dry suit orientation tonight in the pool. Of these three dives two weren't ideal.

The first dive I had was approximately 5m of water, in the South of France, my BCD didn't fit properly as I said I'm a big girl and the straps on my chest wouldn’t do up tight enough and the cummerbund wasn't enough to support the BCD. I also didn’t have enough weights (I appear to be extremely buoyant for someone my size). This being said I had my fiancé swimming behind me and "guiding" me downwards (without this I would barely have been able to get below the water surface). However, this being said I found it enjoyable and loved this new world I was discovering and had no idea about at all before then.

My second dive was my first swimming pool dive and it went fantastically, I am an excellent swimmer and very good in the water due to years of swimming clubs and synchronised swimming lessons etc when I was younger, this dive was in my bathing suit so I was comfortable and everything went well.

My third dive almost put me off for life. Again it was in the pool but it was my first time in a dry suit. I was using my fiancé's neoprene dry suit which obviously had size 12 boots (I'm a size 5-6) and the neck seal on it was for a man who has at least a 17 inch neck. I think after measurements made at a later date mine is approximately 13-14. Well we can figure out that I was leaking water at an incredible rate, I couldn’t sink and when I added ankle weights on top of the weight belt I was already wearing I would end up sinking bum first, after much flailing and freaking out I was almost ready to quit diving all together.

I didn't, but because of other circumstances I haven’t been able to go back to attempt another dry suit dive for a few weeks, tonight is the night though! Membrane suit this time, neck seal is still for a man but at least I wouldn’t need as much weight as I had last time.

Anyway, enough of that, my other half and myself are going on our honeymoon in July to Belize and I have already been measured up for a 5mm shortie (I feel the cold) which I should be getting soon hopefully.

After having looked at dive gear etc I have a rough idea what I think would suit my body shape most but would like some opinions.

I know for diving in the UK I would like a membrane suit because after the neoprene disaster I've been put off for life!

I also have been drooling over the Mares Proton Ice regulator.

Now, this is the bit I need help on… I think a wing is probably the way to go as my chest isn’t small and I think unless I get a custom made BCD I would be uncomfortable and find it extremely cluttered.

I have looked into backplates/harness system as I like the idea of a fully adjustable system, and after having read up on some other sites and reading on this forum I think I would like a halcyon eclipse, however I think I will be needing a weight harness system (like the look of the bowstone one as mentioned here) as opposed to weight belt, this is because I don't have much in the way of a waist and know that the belt will either dig in or slip down my bum which is what happened with the drysuit.

I am worried that wearing a weight harness AND a backplate/harness system will end up digging in, is this likely?

As for fins, I am thinking of going for force fins as I have found that fins that are too long make me feel like they are tripping me up or getting tangled up with eachother, has anyone tried these or would anyone recommend them?

Right I suppose that is long enough already for my first post. I will be diving in Vobster Quay, hopefully this weekend for my final Open Water Dives so will try to find out if I can borrow a Halcyon Eclipse from someone if possible.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.