Ladies BCDs

[Pigpen]

Originally Posted by divebunnie

it has built in pockets for carrying those odds and sods that you might need on your dive.

Compact, lippy, hairbrush etc !!


Coat already on.........

[purple vonny]

Originally Posted by Pigpen

Compact, lippy, hairbrush etc !!


Coat already on.........

Yes, well, we have certain standards to maintain you know.

[shark_girl]

I've got a Dive LX, but I've got to say I'm not getting along with it as well as intended. Each BCD has it's flaws I think.
The Diva does give fantastic lift capacity, and it does fit very well on a single tank, and is nice and high up, so there's really good access to your weightbelt in an emergency. However, the straps are no good in that they don't give enough slack when you want to put it on - great when its on, but I always need someone to help my left arm in!
The pockets are also uselessly small, as they're taken up by integrated weight space - I don't use integrated weights, as they're a faff for RIB diving, so the pockets just there for prettyness. I will definitely not be able to twin up on the Diva, and because of the half wing/half stab design, its difficult to get all of the air out on the surface using the vent. This results in shoulder dumping for quick entry, and a jacket full of water at the end of the dive. It also interferes a little with my suit inflate.
I'm sure for some people the Diva would be ideal, but I'm afraid not for me, and I wouldn't recommend it to other club members...

[jojac]

Originally Posted by Scubee

More likely because you jumped into a thread which asked for experiences of womens BC's. Unless you are actually a woman, I'm sorry to telly ou, but you cannot possibly hve direct experience of womens BC's. All you can have is observed experience. You may well agree with Kath and Fiona, but it is like you advising a woman on which bra she should buy. You don't have tits so you can't know what it is like to have them squished into a place they are not designed to be squished into any more than i can advise you whether boxers, jockey shorts or y- fronts are the most comfortable.

Next time there is a Pee valve thread, I will give my valued opinion as to how to stick the condom thingy on based shall I?

Go girl

[CatB]

Originally Posted by shark_girl

I've got a Dive LX, but I've got to say I'm not getting along with it as well as intended. Each BCD has it's flaws I think.
The Diva does give fantastic lift capacity, and it does fit very well on a single tank, and is nice and high up, so there's really good access to your weightbelt in an emergency. However, the straps are no good in that they don't give enough slack when you want to put it on - great when its on, but I always need someone to help my left arm in!
The pockets are also uselessly small, as they're taken up by integrated weight space - I don't use integrated weights, as they're a faff for RIB diving, so the pockets just there for prettyness. I will definitely not be able to twin up on the Diva, and because of the half wing/half stab design, its difficult to get all of the air out on the surface using the vent. This results in shoulder dumping for quick entry, and a jacket full of water at the end of the dive. It also interferes a little with my suit inflate.
I'm sure for some people the Diva would be ideal, but I'm afraid not for me, and I wouldn't recommend it to other club members...

I appreciate that not everyone will get on with the same BC but I have got round a few of the problems that you mention. I agree that it is a tight squeeze to get the second arm in - I go for for the arm with clutter (dump and computer) first then the 'clear' arm which is less likely to snag. If I have a surface to rest it on when kitting up I just undo one of the clips, stick the first arm in and then clip up around the second arm. I don't use the integrated weights either but I've found that if you take the pouches out the space is just the right size to put my SMB into to keep it out of the way (it's clipped to the reel which is clipped to me just in case it should fall out).
I do very slow descents so haven't had a problem with the dump but I do symapthise on the inflate issue and I haven't found a way round it.

I hope this helps a bit

[shark_girl]

I appreciate that not everyone will get on with the same BC but I have got round a few of the problems that you mention. I agree that it is a tight squeeze to get the second arm in - I go for for the arm with clutter (dump and computer) first then the 'clear' arm which is less likely to snag. If I have a surface to rest it on when kitting up I just undo one of the clips, stick the first arm in and then clip up around the second arm. I don't use the integrated weights either but I've found that if you take the pouches out the space is just the right size to put my SMB into to keep it out of the way (it's clipped to the reel which is clipped to me just in case it should fall out).
I do very slow descents so haven't had a problem with the dump but I do symapthise on the inflate issue and I haven't found a way round it.

Some of my buddies have taken to unclipping the second strap to get it on easier - which works quite well, but a bit tricky when I've already got everything else on (mask field of vision). Its a shame though, as I'm sure that wasn't the original design intention... Well, I'm not complaining too much, because I havn't changed it for something else yet; maybe next season