Female BC: Dacor, Mares, or Zeagle?

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If you haven't already tried a variety of BC's - women's and non-woman specific, then I'd start there. Find a couple good shops and tell them what you're looking for in a BC and see what they suggest. I thought I wanted a women's model until I started trying them. I really didn't like how they fit. The Zena, for example, was tight and claustorphobic feeling. I ended up getting a Zeagle Scout and I love it. I'm more comfortable with just a cumberband and chest strap then the zippered jacket front that the Zena has.
 
... I dive a Zeagle Ranger with female shoulder straps.. and I love it! I tried on countless B.C.'s and this is the one I really liked... However... if you think you're going to be doing mostly warm water diving... you could probably go with something more lightweight.. I pretty sure that the Ranger is made more for cold water diving.... :)


Kayla:)
 
pussgurka once bubbled...
I will go check out the backplate and other types of BC's that everyone has suggested.

Thank you for all of your suggestions!!

:D
Click to expand...

Just to add an additional BC to your list - the Transpac II from DiveRite.

I personal use a Halcyon BP but up until 4 months ago used jacket bc's, then I decided to buy my own and tried out the Halcyon and knew that it was right for me.

My wife decided to buy a BC as well and I hired a Halcyon for her to dive with, she tried it for 6 dives and decided that it was not for her... We had looked at many different BC and the main issue was they were to big and bulky and didn't fit her body.

Then when I was picking up some hoses, she saw the Transpack II, she had to ask was this for kids as it was so small.

Turned out that it was for adults and she tried and liked it, she had bought a ScubaPro Pro Tour a few days before and now realised that she had made the wrong choice.

We were lucky enough that we could return the first BC and get a refund and then she bought the Transpac II. She is more than happy with it.

She bought small packets for her weights that fit on the waist strap and the torch fits on the sholder in a smart way.

The system is very adjustable and will grow with you should you require a BP in the future (it's an option) as is larger wings for doubles or different types of diving.

I'd recommend giving it a look it only to know what the half way between full BP and standard jacket.

Note: All the options are back inflate as I feel that it's a more comfortable way to dive, no squezzing your waist as you inflate on the surface.
 
Just a quick point regarding traveling.

We have taken our gear with us when diving in Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia. And it proves to be quite easy to travel with not to heavey or bulky.

I have an AL Back Plate so it's not that heavy at all. I don't need a SS plate as I'm diving warm waters mainly and even then think I would only need the SS if I was diving with a dry suit unless I used other equipment as weight (ie. canister light)
 
The Genesis Athena is a woman's BC very similar to the Ladyhawk. If you liked the Ladyhawk you will probably like the Athena. The best part is that it sells for about $289.00 on LeisurePro. Check it out in Rodales...it was a DiversTest Choice and also a BestBuy. I also tried the LadyHawk (my LDS is a ScubaPro Dealer) and loved it...but too pricey, so I'll be going with the Athena and since no one in my area carries it, I'll be ordering from Leisure Pro. Here's the link to Rodale's on the comparison of women's BCs:

http://scubadiving.com/gear/200304womensbcs/
 
My wife dives the Zena and absolutly loves it. She really like the zip up design. The only drawback I see to it is that if you dive cold water it might not have enough lift. I wouldn't use it with more than about #25 of weight.

Not a problem for my wife as she dove cold water once and said "never again" :).

As for traveling, I've never seen a BC that packed as well as the Zena. (And I know, somehow it becomes my resposiblity to pack BOTH our gear on every trip.)

James
 
when my wife was searching for a new bc, about two years ago, we happned to walt into a zegule dealer (we had no intentions of getting one). she put the zena on and fell in love instantly (and I was droped from the secound place in her hart to third, after the can and the BC :-(). it's a very small bc, very adjestable, and is compleatly unnoticed underwater, as a cb should be. it's the closest to a bp/wings setup I have ever seen on any "normal" bc. find a place that rents them and try it out.

I would have gotten myself one, but 22# of lift is a bit low for me.
 
Actually my husband purchased a Zeagle Escape, and liked it so much he talked me into checking out the Zena. Loved that I could mix and match the pieces (Back, shoulders & vest) with different sizes to fit my body. Also like the zip-up vest and the three sets of adjustable straps (shoulders, waist & hips) which allow me to really tighten the BC to a nice snug fit so my tank doesn't slide around my back anymore. And no more velcro cumberbund sticking to my wetsuit and everything else .....
 
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https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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