What are the biggest challenges for female divers compared to men?

[kimbalabala]

I have found one advantage to having pink & black fins, my buddy can still see me in a low viz quarry. Other than that, I am just happy they fit perfect. As for the tank size issue, I found that using a AL63 instead of an AL80 works great if you are a bit on the short side like I am.

Same for me (and I have a set for local dives) - and most places I've gone I've been able to get 63's. However, if they don't have 63's then I have to re-adjust my weighting.

 

[pelan-pelan]

Laughable orientations - fins in face, fins at back of head, even doing the splits! Too many instructors and dive shop staff don't understand about ankle weights. I float head down without any gear on. Went muck diving - saw the look of disgust on the faces of the dive guides before the check out dive, saw the look of surprise on their faces when I came back with no silt stirred up. When explaining the situation - try saying "My legs are very positive" - gets a reaction every time. Can't say what reaction . . .

Problem - you can hire BCs, fins etc - but virtually nowhere has ankle weights. Also need to adjust the amount of weight in them. Couldn't someone market ankle weights with a zipped compartment that you can fill with sand, or shot or lead bullets or whatever?

 

[TheRavenCT]

The biggest problem for me is fit. (5'2" and 108lbs and athletic with a TINY waist)

When it comes to Aqualung my main question is this: Why do your wetsuits run small but your Womens BCs run a little big? My Pearl is over adjusted and the Lotus barely fits. I guess the average female diver is larger?

As a petite lady, it would be cool if there were a cold water Mikron. I get tired with a bigger regulator in my mouth.

When it comes to fashion, the d6i is sweet. Watch fashion is probably more important than wetsuit or bc fashion, those items are all about function, fit, and visibility.

Also, yes, being able to pee is a number one priority. Physiologically, we just aren't able to hold it like men can. I know some techies wear diapers.

 

[Thiad]

As a petite lady, it would be cool if there were a cold water Mikron. I get tired with a bigger regulator in my mouth.

.

I found that using a different mouthpiece helped with that. I used a Legend for about a year with a Sea Cure mouthpiece. My jaw fatigue is zero - even after an hour + dive.

 

[Lunahippo]

My most embarrassing problem (which I think could also be a male problem) is that I'm weak y'all! weak. I just did my pool time for dry suit and couldn't get out of the pool without help. pathetic. even carrying the bag with all my gear in it was sad. i could fit in said bag (5'3, 110, skinny fat, aka- weak). And i don't have a buddy... i know, wipe your eyes... I just have to keeping breaking hearts when men won't get a c-card cuz I already know it won't work out. So, since I found in the past 3 years that it's a deal breaker :deal: I just travel and dive alone, and am determined to start diving dry so I can dive locally and improve my skills. And wear diapers because I don't have used .38 casings to make a p-hole in my used DUI, as I am a Yankee. Bringing me to 2.5 questions:

-Does anyone have a suggestion for a cart I could strap gear to? Some of the dives around here (so I've heard) include a 3/4 hike.
-I've read many a thread where a newer diver takes the fundies course. But what if this means taking fundies solo with a drysuit you haven't mastered? Good, bad, ugly? Hilarity for everyone but me?
*If I did take fundies outside of New England, it is odd to ask someone in line in front u of at a gas station for a used .38 shell? kidding! (kinda)

I don't want to wear a diaper people. I'm scared.

 

[TSandM]

You don't need a 38 shell. You can cut the hole with a pair of nail scissors, or burn it with a soldering gun. I've done both. What's important is just not to make it too big. Or you can have a shop install the p-valve, if you're the nervous sort and poking holes in your dry suit doesn't sit well with you

Don't take Fundamentals in gear you aren't comfortable in -- there's no point. Dive the gear until you are happy with your ability to manage it, and then take the class. I think a very reasonable litmus test for readiness is whether you can hover and switch regulators, without losing buoyancy, trim, or position.

As far as weakness goes, it's fixable, at least to some extent. I couldn't get out of the pool seven years ago with an Al50 on my back; now I climb boat ladders in double steels. In my case, it hasn't been gym time -- it's been hauling dive gear! But a lot of people don't get to dive as much as I do, so that may not be a good option. But gyms are everywhere, and if you are doing squats and leg pushes and lifts, you WILL get stronger. If I could do it, starting at 52, anybody can.

 

[otterfox]

Notice how there are no votes for fashion being an issue. I'd like to be able to tell all manufactures that PINK does not make women's gear fit or function better!

More choices in sizes, gear that fits my torso/center of gravity. That's where I'll blow all my spare cash. But if it is freeking pink, I'll wonder if it is just a cut down guys pattern with a "girly" color.

I agree with everything said. Women's sizing isn't an exact science but a more tailored sizing availability would be nice and for heaven's sake, enough with the pink! I am not personally a big pink lover and a lot of seemingly good quality women's equipment only comes in pink or with pink trim. I don't mind all the pink and it does make me easier to identify me in the water, but again I agree, pink does not equal more femininity and certainly not better function.

 

[Lunahippo]

Dry suit training went great- I found it as easy as my wetsuit if not easier... And I did get laughed at for some pink- its was on my bcd that fits, which I hate- but it fits alright...but not great- which is one of the reasons I'd like to take fundies, I'd like to try a backplate/harness (not because of pink, but for fit and trim) and I'd like to learn tech... But, back to being called pinky...

Then someone needed an Allen wrench.
And another boy needed a screwdriver.
someonelse needed an o-ring and lube.

They stopped laughing when I was the only person had all this sizzle. Duh. Extra everything- helooooo

Pink what? :cool2:

 

[blueclearsky]

Laughable orientations - fins in face, fins at back of head, even doing the splits! Too many instructors and dive shop staff don't understand about ankle weights. I float head down without any gear on. Went muck diving - saw the look of disgust on the faces of the dive guides before the check out dive, saw the look of surprise on their faces when I came back with no silt stirred up. When explaining the situation - try saying "My legs are very positive" - gets a reaction every time. Can't say what reaction . . .

Problem - you can hire BCs, fins etc - but virtually nowhere has ankle weights. Also need to adjust the amount of weight in them. Couldn't someone market ankle weights with a zipped compartment that you can fill with sand, or shot or lead bullets or whatever?

I ordered a pair of these but have not used them yet. Quality seems good, concept seems great. Could also be joined around bottom of tank if needed. I ordered them off of Amazon from JC Scuba but the link no longer works. I found these through a Google search.

Scuba Ankle Weights Regular Size Unfilled Holds Up To 2lbs Of Weight by NAUTICAL at the Scuba Nation Dive Shop

 

[DukeAMO]

Scuba Ankle Weights Regular Size Unfilled Holds Up To 2lbs Of Weight by NAUTICAL at the Scuba Nation Dive Shop

Does anyone else think that the product descriptions on this website were auto-generated?