battle of the bcds

[bubblemaker]

Ah that's good to know. I have only really heard about the Scubapro one and the Seaquest Diva. Will be good to have the choice when I eventually get my own kit. One day soon! ;D

[luckyliz]

Ok, so some of us are not size 8! What is good for those of us that wear size 16 and have boobs and hips! (And can adjust a lot since I'm trying to become a 14!)

[waterbabe]

Has anyone seen an online version of the August edition of Scuba Diving Magazine? I'm a bit late to get a look at that one.

I still go with the Diva, they even have a new one called the Pearl that has loads of pink on it ;D

[Dive Bunnie]

Here is a link to the on-line article... makes for quite interesting reading:

8 Women's BCDs

At the end of the day though, this is something that you need to get right, make sure it fits and make sure it has all the features you want. It is no good getting it delivered and then realising that the pockets aren't big enough for what you want. They are not cheap, and you are going to be using this for a few years.

Think about whether you are likely to travel much with your dive kit, you might want to go for a simpler model that is lightweight or easy to pack.

If you have a delicate back, maybe make sure that there is plenty of padding and lumbar support, and that that support is in the right place for you.

Most of the models these days are adjustable, but check to see how easy it is to make those adjustments, as some are a little on the fiddly side. Think about the suit you will wear... wetsuit or drysuit... or both.

If you are going to be doing photography or carrying things, make sure there are enough D rings for you.

If you like trim weights, make sure the model you want has this option, the same goes for integrated weights. Do you want them integrated? Or would you rather put the lead onto a weightbelt, where your hips take the load rather than your shoulders? Or you could spread it between the two, so long as most of it can be dumped in one go.

For durability, I will say my last Diva LX lasted 6 years, and looked pristine for the first 5 of those, but as you may have heard me bleat, these have now been replaced with the Pearl i3, which is just not the same.

Finally those of you who might be venturing down the instructor route, think about what you would require from a teaching BCD. It would need traditional inflation/deflation systems (ie the corrugated hose) so as not to confuse students when demonstrating. You would benefit from big pockets both zippered (so those spare weights don't drop out accidentally). You would also want a few D rings, on which you can hook your slates, rattles etc.

I hope that helps. Read the article, but still put a day aside, and go around a few shops, take the time to find the right one for you. And then... go diving and... enjoy. There is something to be said for a BCD that fits properly! Mine was so comfy when I first put it on that I thought I had missed something!

[luckyliz]

OK, so I had the big 5 oh and my mates (bless their cotton socks!) clubbed together to give me a 'kit kitty'. ('What would you like for you birthday Liz - chocs or smellies?'...'Scuba kit please!')So here I am with enough dosh to finally get a BCD but no idea what to get. Mares Kaila has been suggested and I tried on an Oceanic one at my most local dive shop but I feel a bit out of my depth (Ho Ho!) and would welcome some advice. I looked at the magazine article linked a few posts back but they seemed to be American ones (names I've not heard of) so I doubt I'd find them in the UK. I'm 'real woman' sized, currently about a large 16 but hoping to get down to a 14 (I was a 20!) so I need one that will adjust a good bit and the first line of this post tells you I'm no spring chicken so my figure is mature rather than perky! (So I don't want bits of me squashed so they make nasty looking bulges...I have enough of them already without a BCD adding more!) I'm based in Kent so the Dive Show up in B'ham would be a bit of a hike.

[waterbabe]

Whatever you see on line, it's still best to go to a few dive shops n try stuff on. I would buy your first from a shop anyway, as you get the follow up service, can try it on, and ask questions etc.

Chat to the assistants, they are usually divemasters or instructors, so can help. As DB said, decide what you want from your kit too.. lightweight? or sturdy? etc

Know its' a pain, but shop around before you part with any cash. Read what the dive magazine article says. Dive kit is international, most stuff is made abroad, so don't be put off if the manufacturer's web site is in the US, it will probably still be available in the UK.

A couple of good names quality wise are Scubapro, Seaquest, Mares, Ralph Tec.

If you do have as you say a real woman's shape... then definitely go for one that is designed for women. That way they don't have much inflation at the front, so you won't get squashed. It makes a big difference.. the Seaquest Diva has a kind of cross over effect as well which is quite cool, and with most of the inflation being at the back, it takes away from the chest. Just be aware that on the surface, any jacket with back inflation will push you face forward a bit, but once you are used to it, it will be much better than a normal bcd.

Good luck ;D

[luckyliz]

Thanks for the advice...looks like I'll have to go footslogging then! It was having my boobs squashed by the rental BCD on hol this summer that put a 'ladies BCD' on my wish list! (It's neither comfortable NOR flattering!) Dive bunnie was one of our guides so she can vouch for the squashing that I was experiencing tho' there's a couple of kilos less of me now - and more still to go I hope! What would be the best would be to be able to dive in the various styles but that's obviously not really feasible and was the reason I was seeking other folks opinions...I'm hoping other 'lady shaped' ladies might give me advice..or are you all skinny lasses...pah! ;D

[Dive Bunnie]

Most bcd's for women avoid having inflation over the boob area, some go one step further and have what is called "back floatation" or a semi wing function. This is great, as you don't get that squished feeling at all, even when the bcd is totally full.

But bear in mind that if all the inflation is in the back, you will tend to fall face forward. This is great on the dive, as that is the perfect position in the water, but it takes some getting used to on the surface. You can counteract this by pushing your shoulders back and lying right back on your bcd like a lilo, letting your feet float up in front of you.
Some stores do allow in water testing on some of their kit. I think the one based in Chiswick does this... can't for the life of me recall the name right now. Not sure if they do this with BCD's though.

Whatever you get, do go in the pool and have a play with it. Be prepared for it to feel a little odd at first, but believe me, you will get used to however it feels, and you will love having your own jacket. At least it will fit, and you will instinctively know where everything is.

[Dive Bunnie]

I'm not sure if Jilly will get the chance to write about this one, but I thought I would add it here, as I know some of you were asking about other bcds that might be suitable. She is a little busy with Course Director stuff at the mo, so I don't want to put the pressure on.

Anyway, she found the Seaquest Diva to be a little too short in the body for her, so opted for a Scubapro one. I am pretty sure it wasn't one of the glidestar women's bcd's so will find out the exact model when I can.

The pockets are great for teaching, nice and big with stretch built into the sides, so that they can expand if need be. Nice big metal D rings for carrying stuff (ok that is not going to help the baggage allowance, but nice and sturdy). I also noticed that the zips were nice n chunky, making them easy to use whilst underwater.

There was also a handy little DSMB pocket on the right hand side, so that you don't use up valuable space with your surface buoy.

Jilly particularly liked the quick shoulder dump... a very gentle pull on the toggle and it opens the dump valve immediately.

;D