Full figure girlfriend

[WaterBaby]

I too am quite big chested and find the Diva great!

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Skinny women are way over rated. On a recent trip to Denver for a weekend course, we got really bored one evening watching CNN in the room and after a few too many beers in the hotel bar, we decided to sample the ummm....arts...so to speak across the street, something I had not done since college.

I noticed that the "performers" were much younger than I remembered but that is probably because I am nearly 20 years older than I was then, and I noticed that tall and skinny was definitely in.

Not my thing at all so the whole thing was a real yawner washed down with over priced beer. But then one of the "cast members" arrived. She was maybe 5'5" and probably 170 lbs but very well toned and all in all the most strikingly beautiful woman I have seen in years. I have no doubt that she could haul herself out of the water with a set of doubles and that is a very very attractive thing in a woman.

Sort of restored my faith in society and gives hope that the current skinny fad will pass. It isn't what you have, it's what you make of it that counts.

 

[CuriousMe]

weight comes from a number of places - I`m not a small person by any means - but I`m also very heavy - even for my size - I`m active and as such a lot of my weight comes from musle as well as just ... umm .. bulk :0) I`m also fairly tall

So .. lets talk dress size - I`m a 16 - finding suits it not easy - but the Henderson hyperstrech range do fit and i don`t take the largest off the the shelf size. Your girlfriend might find the off the shelf suits a little long but i don`t think so

BCs have never been an issue but I doubt the ladies BCs will fit - I have never tried one - I have never felt the need

Dry suits I have had custom made.

Depending on her comfort and body make up she may be bouyant - I find the biggest stress to larger people learning to dive is the amount of weight they sometimes get stuffed with because no one has explained how important breathing is.

As far as dress size...surfice it to say that mine's higher than 16....and I use a Diva LX and absolutely love it. I love that the weight is integrated, mostly because I hate wearing a weight belt!

groovhog...if she thinks she might want to get her C card, encourage her to sign on here herself....I'm sure she'll find answers and support.

Peace,
Cathie

 

[IndigoBlue]

What kind of embarrassment can my full figured girlfriend expect to be challenged with? Fitting, boyancy, mobility, etc?

I've got my c card and dry suit this summer I thought she could go with me on a dive at a near by rock quary. Or am I just asking for trouble?

You are going to have trouble fitting a larger person with a rental of any kind. And wetsuits do not work too well for larger divers in that it requires you to wear an inordinate amount of lead weighting to compensate. This then becomes unsafe at depth when the suit material compresses.

Order her a drysuit, custom fitted, and then there should be no major difference. Large body size is somewhat of a hinderance in scuba, but it is a problem that is managable with the right gear. I have seen it done, I have seen it done wrong and I have seen it done right.

 

[DivingGal]

You've already had some very good advice. Here's my 0.02 worth:

Try for off the shelf for a wetsuit/drysuit, but with legs, arms, and body length she might find a custom suit the way to go. (Don't limit her to just looking at "female" suits. The way some suits are measured, a guy's suit might just fit.)

As for BCs -- I'd recommend a back inflate or a BP/harness. The typical jacket style with inflation can be a real pain to some women.

 

[Groundhog246]

Gotta agree with that. We had a horrible struggle finding a good fit for my wife. She's almost the same build as me, 5'9" around 160. Any ladies suit tall enough bagged around her upper leg. Had her try on my Bare Extreme (7 mil one piece) and it was an excellent fit (and she looked far better in it than I do :wub. Ended up getting her a White's ADS (6.5mil one piece with 6.5mil sleeveless jacket). Later on we bought identical 3mil Mares suits for warmer waters (which then brought on the problem of identifying whose is whose.)
I don't remember the model, but she dives a Ladies design Aqualung weight integrated back inflate.

 

[MsParamedic]

As another "Full Figured Woman" or as I prefer---a BBD "Big Beautiful Diver", I have found that getting my own gear was much higher on my priority list than my male dive buddy. This way, there wasnt a panicked LDS/Rental equipment person who had to find a way to tell me they didn't have anything that would fit properly.

I also use the DivaLX, but also have a Zeagle Escape. Whatever you choose, make sure it is weight intergrated. For wetsuits, I would certainly recommend a custom from Liquid Fit. The specialize in suits for the + size ladies!

But most of all----HAVE FUN!

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Whatever you choose, make sure it is weight intergrated.

Ditto the weight integration, it will keep the weight off the hips and lower back and make the BBD GF much more comfortable.

Back inflates also work very well as there is no problem with the BC squeezing as it inflates, chest area is less cluttered and the straps are generally more comfortable.

 

[Belushi]

I always used to teach that if you can get into the water, then there is always someone out there to help you out.
The variety of diving locations is such that if anyone is not the most agile, you can always get assistance in removing the gear before they get out.
I taught a student with only one leg and after much hilarity from both our parts where the "empty" dry-suit leg had to be tied-up and then weighted, he used to remove his gear before getting out of the water. then hop up the ladder and sit down.

I am a big fella and I use a huge amount of weight when diving dry, there is no reason why your dear lady cannot distribute the weight around her person (ankles, one on the back of the tank, integrated weight system on the bcd, harness etc) to obtain the "ultimate" diving position. it just needs patience and time to get it right.

Cool thanks everyone, great advice.
Ya, I'd figured the a mount of weight would be embarressing. Plus You have to haul yourself out of the water with all the gear n lead.

Well cool. I'll bring her to see a dive an see if she thinks its for her.

She's going to AL for C-mas, I'm going diving.

Sea ya

MOre advice is still appreciated
Thanks again

 

[divemistress]

maybe it depends on the person, but a brand-new diver who carries, let's say, 50 extra pounds, little of it muscle, may well need a LOT more weight on her weight belt.

been there, was there, ain't no more, thank the gods.

dm

Being full figured does not really have much to do with needing a lot of weight. A larger suit requires a bit more weight, but beyond that size does not really matter that much.