Plus Size women -- AGAIN!!

[ladycute1]

Hi gang!

I just wanted to post an update...
I now have a web site dedicated to Diving... it's still in the very early stages, but take a look --

www.BigAdventures.net


Also, just a quick plug... there are still a couple of openings for the June trip for Plus size women and their allies (you don't have to be plus size, just need to be willing to put aside diet talk!) and the September trip is still wide open.


Liz

[CuriousMe]

What is your June Adventure?

[ladycute1]

The June adventure is a trip to Maui, June 21 - 28. It's a women's only trip --- for both experienced divers as well as those who want to get certified.

[astrl]

I am planning on buying my first BC and equipment, but I am unsure as to the relationship between the weight and lift. If I need to wear 19 pounds of weight, what kind of lift do I need from a BC? Also, are any BC's better suited to larger sizes than others?

astrl

[divemistress]

hi ladycute1,

i think your idea to organize trips for plus women divers is great. ...but do you ever go any place besides maui? either pacific or caribbean. if you do, i'd love to join you.

thanks,

divemistress

[divemistress]

hi,

any plus-sized women out there looking for buddies? i'd love to take a one-week trip in september, ideally to the caribbean, off the much dived path: no bonaire, no caymans, no cozumel.

anyone interested? what about puerto rico, dominica, or or or or?

ideal buddy for me would be 30-50, (platonic), and have some experience....i'm 41 and have logged 150 hours underwater.

i'd love to hear from you!

thanks,

j

[ladycute1]

Hi Divemistriss --

Let me see if I can answer some of your questions about Big Adventures.

At this point, I will continue to plan the Big Adventures certification trips for Maui -- I have the connections there and can reliably support the needs of plus size women.

However, I am interested in diving anyplace warm. I have been to Belize and also, recently to Fiji.

I love diving the Big Island in Hawaii, too.

I am 40, have Rescue Diver certification, and am a Dive Master Candidate. I have 150 dives logged.

Also -- just a heads up, there are tentative plans for Big Adventures to co-sponsor a dive trip to Fiji next June -- this trip would be for certified divers.

Let me know if you are interested in any of the above.

Liz

[Scuba Barbie]

Good Luck and please keep on posting to keep us up to day.
Thanks
-DD

[SCUBAKristey]

Liz-
I'd be interested in doing this! Fiji's one of those places I've always wanted to get to, but wanted to wait until I had a c-card. (Which, btw, as of this weekend I NOW HAVE!!!!!!!!!!):grad:

I'm heading down to Akumal, Mex for my first dive trip here in about 6 weeks. (Is it me, or is that like not for an ETERNITY?)

Send me some info once you have some available!

Kristey:jester:

[Tartan Terror]

:samuria:

Just checked out you page, great start. I'm a rather cuddly wee scot who is about to emigrate to DC. So I'll keep an eye out for your trips.

I'm also a PADI OWSI so if you need a hand give me a shout.

[divemistress]

count me in for a fiji trip too! i went on the fiji aggressor a year ago, and am dying to go on a land-based trip.

judy

[rugbyfemme]

I am so THRILLED to see that there are other bigger women out there who dive. My GF and I are just learning and we were beginning to wonder if that was going to be OK or if it was just for skinny people. I Hope to join one of the women's dives someday, but I want to get my cert first.

I'd love to talk to any experienced divers out there though! I'm so happy that this sport exists!!!

Dive mistress- I'd love to hear about any resources you know of in the NoVa, DC MD areas!! THanks!!

[mtdivegirl]

:) Glad to see that there are some people out there catering to plus size women. I am gearing up to start my OW and I was really hesitant about what I thought would be glaring looks or snide comments...so far nothing.
Obviously divers of all sizes rock!

[divemistress]

isn't that sad? so many times i, too, hesitate before starting something new, or going someplace different, because i'm afraid of those looks and comments....

some of it is in my head, but some of it....

judy

[ladycute1]

It seems like it is time to post an update.

At the moment, I am somewhat physically frustrated. I was in a car accident while in Hawaii and sprained my ankle. Luckily, no one else was injured, and my injury is relatively slight. But, it has been causing a fair amount of pain, and has slowed me down a bit.

I was in Hawaii for the second Big Adventure trip (most of you have heard me talk about my hobby of leading groups of plus size women to Hawaii to learn to SCUBA dive -- www.bigadventures.net). Overall, the trip was another success!! There are THREE newly certified plus size divers in the world! Watch out!! There were five of us on the trip -- a returning Big Adventurer from the February trip who was already certified -- she and I did as much diving as my ankle would allow - -and we had some awesome times --- saw small sharks, turtles, spotted eagle rays, manta rays and of course, tons of tropical fishes.

The three newbies completed the certification course during the first three days of the trip (at times I'm sure it seemed like it would never end!) And, then we went on a group boat trip -- The newbies still have lots to learn, but they were doing it!!! I think that one of them is newly addicted -- she asked if she could dive with us the following day (Yes! OF course!) and we had two great dives. The other two, I think are proud of their accomplishments (as they should be) -- and I think they enjoyed diving, but I'm not sure if it is something that they will continue to pursue.

And, just for the record, Big Adventurers have ranged in size from a size 8 slender ally through the range of plus size to approximately size 30/32. They have ranged in age from mid 20's to early 50's.

Part of this trip included a trek for me to Fiji with some of my dive connections to check out the possibility of future trips there. It was awesome! Fiji is on the southern side of the equator -- so early June is the beginning of their winter (Thank God! It was still really warm). We stayed at two different resorts and tried out two different dive operators.
The first was excellent -- a first class operation, extremely safety conscious, customer service oriented-- brand new boat with easy entry and exit systems -- and very manageable for a plus size person. The accomodations were great and the diving was awesome. Dive opportunities included attending a shark feeding as well as a 3 dive day with the surface interval spent on a remote beach with a barbqued lunch and a rest in hammocks. The topography in the Beqa Lagoon was wonderful -- the "bommies" -- I guess they are pinnacles that rise from the lagoon floor to about 15 - 25 feet of the surface -- so, you are doing your safety stop hanging out with all the critters that inhabit the top of the bommie!!

The second location was a bit more of a challenge -- the dive boat didn't have any safety equipment (no personal flotation devices, no throw rings, no first aid kit, or fire extinguisher, no Emergency Oxygen); they often had to start the engine using a screw driver... -- OK, this was an _adventure_ and we were 'roughing it' -- For me, the biggest challenge was the boat ladder -- if you want to call it that... The "ladder" was a vertical plastic piece about 24" long with three cross pieces -- and, the bracket that was meant to hold it to the boat was broken... So, upon surfacing, I would swim up to the boat and pass up my camera then I would take off my weight belt -- I'd pass that up to the boat captain... then I'd rest for a minute to work out the cramp that was forming in my calf from passing up the weight belt. Then, I would take of my bcd and scuba tank and pass that up the boat captain. Then I would take off my fins and pass them up. Then, I would attempt to put my foot on the ladder and the captain would try to pull me aboard by one arm -- of course, that put me way off balance, and someone else on board would have to grab my other arm to heave me aboard. -- It was NOT a pretty sight!! Finally, I discovered that if I distracted the captain so that he didn't grab my arm, I could actually scramble aboard using different hand holds -- first the motor mount, then the cleat, etc. Even though I was the largest -- in fact the only really large person there (I'm 5'7" and wear a size 28), I wasn't the only one struggling with the ladder -- the other two women also needed assistance, and a couple of the men too. The second challenge of this dive operation was that we would return from our dives at low tide -- and the boat would take us as far as it could go, and then we would get out, wearing special 'mud shoes' , and walk the last 1/4 to 1/2 mile across the tidal mud flats to the resort -- did I mention that this was Fiji and it was hot?? The diving was gorgeous, the people friendly, accomodations nice -- but certainly not a place for the plus size diver -- unless they are really hard core and up for a serious challenge.

So, needless (?) to say, Big Adventures will not be returning to the second location-- However, there ARE tentative plans for a week long trip to the first place with great diving in the Beqa Lagoon, Fiji during June of 2003!!!!!

The next Big Adventure Hawaii trip is scheduled for September September 27 - October 4th in Maui. The trip after that will be scheduled for February 2003 -- to visit the whales during their stay in Hawaii.!

So, I'm back in California, trying to get back into the work routine and trying to get caught up with everything that didn't get done in the last month.

Liz

[Ally]

I am a new diver and would be interested in joining you for any trips this winter or later (have to have time to save some pennies). So far I know VERY few people to dive with and only one other is a female. So...let me know when you do get vacations lined up please.

[chepar]

on your upcoming trips -

I am definitely interested in your trips to Maui - and being just a hop, skip and a jump from there, depending on the trip
schedule(s), it's a lot easier for me to join you than it is for me to contemplate most of the other dive trips that are posted.

Any plans to do a trip to Kona?

[gr8lakesdiver]

Hey

Tge new site looks great and most of all is really encouraging. Here in the midwest, I guess alot of divers come in plus sizes, so I never gave it much thought. I have been fortunate, probably like most of you to find myself bound to people from the shared passion of the sport. But as an instructor, I get conscious of my size every time i encourage students to be fit.

[ladycute1]

Awesome!! I'm so glad to see that you guys have resurrected this string!!

OK, here's the current update / news --

The next Big Adventure trip is right around the corner -- September 27 - October 4 -- at this point, it is all certified divers... and there is still one or two spaces available.

Big Adventure activities for 2003 are tentatively planned as Maui in February, Maui and /or Fiji (you choose -- do one or both) in June and Maui again in September.

I LOVE diving in Kona but have found that Maui is better for newbies.

Allie -- I'd love to join you and explore the sights off Oahu too! -- Or we could hop over to Kona and have some great fun there!

My schedule is pretty flexible, so if anyone wanted a trip to Hawaii at a particular time, I might be able to arrange it.

I love dive trips with women, especially relatively small groups --- 2 - 6 women; and especially size positive folks.

My purpose in organizing the groups is not really to make money but more to share my enthusiasm for diving, to share the possibilities to other plus size women, and finally to support my dive "habit" by pooling resources to cut costs.

Oh, and Gr8tlakes --- you mentioned that you get self conscious when encouraging fitness.... Perhaps you can talk about how fitness is a continuum, and for improved safety, a diver wants to be as fit as they can be -- but remember there is no _single_ idea of fitness.... you can be big and still be very fit! Fitness is life long process.


Liz

[chepar]

Anytime you're down on Oahu, feel free to drop me a line if you want to do some diving - I will do my utmost to meet up with you! I'm still searching for a regular dive buddy, so anytime I can meet another diver (especially those from ScubaBoard) is a treat. :)

I'll keep your trips next June and September in mind - while I wasn't planning another vacation other than taking my daughter to Disneyland in March, the lure of a dive trip so close is very tempting. I'll just have to make sure I save up my spare change!

Have a blast on your upcoming trip in September - let us know how it went.

[AfricanTravelBu]

Hey everyone,

This is great! I'm a plus sized woman about to travel alone (couldn't find a travel partner) to the Dominican Republic October 26th. I plan to go scuba diving for the first time. I called the resort I'll be staying with the confirm that they would not have a wet suit in my size and of course they don't so then I went on a long journey to find a wet suit in my size that wasn't going to require me to take out a bank loan to pay for (*Smile*). I ended up getting a mens XXL shorty wet suit that fits fine. Now I'm on a quest to find a swim suit with more coverage. I plan to do some wind surfing and snorkeling as well and may not want to use my wet suit while doing that so I decided to look for a swimsuit unitard where there the bottom part is longer like shorts. But the speedo one has those awful u-back straps that never stay in place when you have rounded shoulders and the Dolphin/Ocean unitard is out of stock everywhere. hahahahah So I decided to order it as seperates. Junonia has a part of swim shorts that are pretty cool and I'm just going to order a mens dive skin shirt for the top part. I'm hoping that should do the trick.

Well enough about that, I'm very happy to see dive tours for larger people. I'm not sure what to expect when I go for my first dive, but I've just been thinking I'm not going to take any BS from anyone when I get there since I paid my money like everyone else. But from the sounds of it, it seems a lot of divers are cool people so I'm not too worried.


I try to stay pretty active and think I will have a good time there. I'll be going to Africa again next year and hope to do some water sports there as well, however I don't think there is good diving off the coast of Ghana so it will probably just be surfing or something.


Thanks Ladycute1 for all of your efforts!

Peace,
African Travel Bug

[MsParamedic]

LadyCute...

Have you thought about organizing a live aboard???

[watersquirrel]

:bounce:
I just wanted to thank you for your inspiration that plus size woman can enjoy diving. I finally got my certification in August and I'm loving it! It's great that you have taken this step and encouraged some of us to take that BIG step and plunge into an awesome new world. I have also taken your advise on getting a lycra suit from Junonia. They feel good and I'm looking forward to trying them on my first ocean dive in Cancun at the end of this month (Oct 28-Nov 2).
I don't know when I'm going to be able to dive with you and one of your trips, but I'll plan to try to join you maybe during 2004.
I was wondering if anyone reading this might want to get together for a smaller trip...say florida...or gulf...or keys..or even a lake dive. I think it would be great to start a small group of plus size divers. I'd love to talk and communicate with other divers during the year. Since I'm so new to eveything, I'd love to learn more from experienced divers that are my size.
If anyone want to contact me...you can by this board or at squirlnut9@aol.com. You can also find me in the scuba conference chat room on aol as well.
Again I want to thank you for your insight and support. I'll look forward to talking and diving with you in the future
Happy bubbles!

[MsParamedic]

Congrats Squirl!!!! And welcome to a new world of fun, relaxation and friendship.

Being a plus size, mature woman (50 years old)--hasn't stopped me. Ive completed my Dive Master, Assitant Instructor, and hopefully will test for my Instructor cert. early 2004.

[Trish The Fish]

Hi.
Newly joined. Not new to diving.
15 years + / 100+ dives
PADI - AOW

USED TO BE A SIZE 4. Now I'm a REAL woman!
tee hee.

Anyway... glad to be here.
trish the fish

[ladycute1]

Hi everyone -- It's so cool to see that this thread keeps getting resurected!

I've recently returned from another dive trip to Maui. And, of course,
it was great! I added 22 dives to my dive log in 10 days and broke the
300 mark. The water was warm - about 80 degrees. We had lots of
opportunities to swim with turtles - there was a big range of size in
turtles - small babies to super giant elder statesmen (stateswomen?
statesturtles?) I also saw the largest octopus I have seen outside of an aquarium. -- I only wish I had had the nerve to play with him (or her)!

We saw lots of Frog Fish during this trip. Now, Frog Fish are difficult
to find - they are ambush feeders and camouflage themselves to blend in
with their environment. Secondly, Frog fish are truly an example of a
face that only a mother could love. They are lumpy and bumpy; they often
have a mottled color. They also have an appendage that hangs off their
head, with a bit of flesh bobbing in front of their mouth - it serves as
a lure. When another fish comes along, it is attracted to the lure, the
Frog fish strikes and eats the unsuspecting victim. Additionally, Frog
fish are usually only found singly. So, it was very unusual that we were
seeing so many Frog fish, and furthermore, we kept finding them in
pairs. I started browsing through some dive journals, and I found a
possible explanation. The article said that Frog fish are indeed found
singly, except of course during breeding (makes sense, right?). It went
on to say that the males are generally smaller than the females. The
male needs to be careful to stay behind the female, because if he strays
in front of her, she may eat him! (A Frog fish can eat something many
times her size.) The "wild thang" usually takes place at dusk, when the
spawn are less likely to be seen by other predators. (The weather was
pretty overcast, so there may have been some time confusion by the
fish.) When the male gets settled behind the female, he gently nudges
her cloaca to let her know he's ready. The female starts to release the
eggs, and the male starts jumping up and down to release the sperm, the
resulting spawn floats to the surface. So, okay, I admit, this may be
WAY more information than you needed to know... on the other hand, it
may be reminiscent of other species that we know.... Oh, nevermind!

It is time to think about Big Adventures for 2004. The February trip to Maui is sure to be amazing! (February
15 - 22, 2004) --- But, I'm a bit unsure about the posting procedures here for such a trip, so I'll contact those of you who stated an interest directly.