biggest issues diving as a female

[Rilelen]

Everything is too big and too tall for me. Ladders? Too tall. LP 104s? Too heavy. And too long. “Unisex” wetsuits, masks, fins? Sized and shaped for men.

I make it work, but it’s frustrating navigating a sport where the “default” gear and procedures were all really designed with men in mind. I really appreciate the many wonderful men I dive with who DO get that, and who both appreciate the strengths that come with me being a smaller woman (gotta love that ~ .27 SAC rate!!) but also are willing to help navigate the bits that don’t work for me (that ladder at Buford? NEVER gonna happen in doubles, crawling through the swamp it is!).

It’s encouraging to have you ask, bc you can’t know what you don’t experience and don’t see. For instance, the regular advice about BP/W being more comfy - I’m sure for men they are! But there are lots of ladies who are just squished up top by a standard harness; a women’s back-inflate BC is often a better choice for them, bc the straps and start placement are designed with breasts in mind. Same with buoyancy; I find when working with new women divers that standard advice on buoyancy and trim really doesn’t take into account women’s different body shapes.

Finally, what I find most depressing… while many (most!) men in the sport are lovely, I also regularly run into enough men divers who either ignore me, are rude to me, or leer/creep/make crude comments, that I am reluctant to dive with men I don’t know (or who someone hasn’t vouched for). That makes me sad! I’m sure I’ve missed out on some fantastic dive buddies, but it’s just not worth the risk of being alone in the backwoods of Florida with a stranger I can’t a hundred percent trust to be decent with me. I’ve rarely if ever had those issues diving with other women.

For instance, the fill station dude who always ignores me unless I’m with a male dive buddy (or one of the other men customers steps in). The much (much) older man who spent a whole specialty class making rude and sexist comments to me until the instructor stepped in and later apologized to for the other student’s behavior. The constant assumptions (in tech shops) that I’m an open water diver, and the assumption at dive resorts etc that I’m only doing it for my boyfriend (which would be quite a feat, as I’m very single lol). I could go on but I won’t. I’m sure those guys are assholes to other men too, but there’s something extra depressing in realizing that someone has reduced all of who you are to just… “being a girl,” and treating you differently because of it.

The flip side is that I’m really appreciative (and grateful!) for the many legitimately awesome guys I meet and get to dive with; they rock and I try to let them know it.

 

[Bookworm11]

I haven't had those issues. But I'm 67, and broke my tibia and fibula right above my ankle 24 years ago. So I have to take my BCD off in the water, and shore dives are hard for me-both getting in and getting out of the water. I haven't had problems traveling solo as a woman, and I've been to Belize, Mexico, , Egypt, Thailand (dove Koh Tao and the other 2 islands), and Bali to dive. I find going to Amazon and searching for high waisted two piece swim suits gets you lots of good results for diving.
I do have trouble on safety stops with floaty legs. Im going to try getting 3mm dive boots, and negative buoyancy fins.

 

[pelan-pelan]

Floaty legs. Hell. I float naturally upside down. Feet in the air. Have to weight the legs.

And what is it with integral weights? So high up the body that buoyancy control is impossible except with feet in air position. My experience is that even the most intelligent of instructors (male or male-shaped female) are clueless about buoyancy and the range of women's anatomy. Ladies - experiment. Don't be surprised to find a weight belt worn as low as possible stabilises you. But there again, as I said, wide range of anatomy, so if wearing your weights on your shoulders works - do it.

Ladders. As you step down into the boat your little legs don't reach so you have to fall.

Backward roll - trying to find a part of the rail that is low enough to hang my derriere over, or having to balance, feet off ground clinging on frantically as the boat rocks.

Climbing up out of the boat. Straddling the sides of a RIB - holy ripping wet suit moly.

 

[Allen-1]

Floaty legs. Hell. I float naturally upside down. Feet in the air. Have to weight the legs.

And what is it with integral weights? So high up the body that buoyancy control is impossible except with feet in air position. My experience is that even the most intelligent of instructors (male or male-shaped female) are clueless about buoyancy and the range of women's anatomy. Ladies - experiment. Don't be surprised to find a weight belt worn as low as possible stabilises you. But there again, as I said, wide range of anatomy, so if wearing your weights on your shoulders works - do it.

Ladders. As you step down into the boat your little legs don't reach so you have to fall.

Backward roll - trying to find a part of the rail that is low enough to hang my derriere over, or having to balance, feet off ground clinging on frantically as the boat rocks.

Climbing up out of the boat. Straddling the sides of a RIB - holy ripping wet suit moly.

Not specific to females. But Patty at cocoview offers an excellent buoyancy class.

I expect that there are other instructors who do so also

 

[Imla]

Floaty legs. Hell. I float naturally upside down. Feet in the air. Have to weight the legs.

And what is it with integral weights? So high up the body that buoyancy control is impossible except with feet in air position. My experience is that even the most intelligent of instructors (male or male-shaped female) are clueless about buoyancy and the range of women's anatomy. Ladies - experiment. Don't be surprised to find a weight belt worn as low as possible stabilises you. But there again, as I said, wide range of anatomy, so if wearing your weights on your shoulders works - do it.

Ladders. As you step down into the boat your little legs don't reach so you have to fall.

Backward roll - trying to find a part of the rail that is low enough to hang my derriere over, or having to balance, feet off ground clinging on frantically as the boat rocks.

Climbing up out of the boat. Straddling the sides of a RIB - holy ripping wet suit moly.

Possible tips for solution (Regards, one who has the same issues)


Weight positioning is quite logical. Smaller lungs, more fat on hips/but*/thighs makes for a different point of balance. With tank valves/regs being where they are, standard "male/unisex" equipment will cause top-heavy config in A shaped females.

Getting out of ribs: I always find a case/box to flip over and use as an extra step. (Even the corner of an O2 suitcase has been known to work perfectly)