Hips Boobs and ALL..... :)

[TekDiveGirl]

I am not short, but do have a short torso and long legs. I dive a backplate/wing - the plate I have is a special made plate (he only made a handful like this one - which he gave me when I was visiting them last year) by Scott Koplin who sold his designs to OxyCheq -- it is the small plate --- only difference with mine is it is 10 pounds unlike the one they sell stock being 4 pounds. I love it as with the harness I can adjust it to my comfort - the crotch strap means no shifting. When I used to wear a standard backplate it used to bruise me. The smaller plate is fabulous.

I also have an AL plate made my GUTs which is nice as well. Smaller cut.

You may want to look into this as an option to a jacket style bc.

http://www.oxycheq.com/backplates.html

 

[OceanGrl]

Hey there...

I'm 5'3" with an hourglass figure and I absolutely love my Tusa Platina weight integrated BC. I didn't see anyone else mention Tusa, but for me, the BC fits me perfectly. It might be worth a look as well.

Hi,

I know there are tons of posts on women's BCs. I have been searching and reading. But wanted some direct input.

I am 5'3" (if I stand REALLY tall) With a very WELL padded hips and chest. I have a VERY short back (formal clothes have to be taken in in the back!) and very narrow shoulders.

We (husband and I) are trying to find a BC for me that will actually fit. I think I will always have to dive with 80's because the 100's are just too dang long... they bonk me in the head! And I find that (probably becuase of all my bouyant padding) BCs fit very differently on the surface than in the water. I have been wearing a Seaquest medium something for my AOW class. Standing up, I have to open the chest and waist straps to their absolute biggest... suck it all in as tight as I can and strap in. But, once I'm in the water, my hubby comes and cinches up my floating away BC.

I know the best thing is to try them on (which I will) but I would also love some input from any women with a potentially similar build or just opinions to share. My hubby is quite intrigued with the Zeagle Zena... but we're open to suggestions. Thanks all!!!

(Getting wet in 8 days!!!!!!!)

 

[msandler]

For my wife - 5'0" and my 12 yo son < 5'0" I did this: Choose what ever wing suits your purpose (my wife dabbles in doubles and stages occassionaly). The 13" backplate is key. My son's webbing is one piece continuous (DIR). My wife's is OMS' comfort harness with modifications.

The backplate is a hybrid using OMS and Oxycheq components.

The OMS wing is 45lb non-bungie single wing. The quality and durability is excellent. [I also have wings from Dive-Rite and Oxycheq as well]. OMS is nicer than the Dive-Rite and equivalent to the Oxycheq. It has an exremely tough nylon outter shell that looks impenetrable. If I were to be picky, the zipper (substantial as it is) could be given a protective flap (it is exposed). The corrugated hose does not have a built in exhaust where it connect to the bladder (a desireable set-up).

I also grabbed the OMS comfort harness. This took a lot of thought because I wanted to keep the harness as close to a simple continuous webbing as possible but add a touch of comfort. I am extremely pleased with the OMS comfort harness. The broad comfort shoulder padding is perfect. It is not plush at all, only adding some width the 2" webbing. The shoulder pads are pleasingly minimalistic and thin (3mm). They are firm (stiff) enough to keep the webbing in a nice "open" position for donning and aid in distributing weight from the webbing itself (it doesn't cut in her shoulders with heavy tanks). It has nice velcro hose keepers that you can use optionally (I will use one of the two included). Comes with four two inch D-rings.

It also comes with plenty of webbing, lots of plastic three-bar sliders, a plastic buckle, and two plastic quick disconnects below the shoulder D-rings. I have replaced the delrin sliders and buckle with SS components and the disconnects are GONE, replaced with nice beefy ladder-locks for easy on-the-fly adjustment and secure (stays snug) no-fail fit. The ladder-locks also make removal easier for her. She needs zero assistance from me. I had looked into the "comfort system" from Dive-Rite as well (the Transplate) but I did not like how the shoulder webbing attached to the waist webbing (not the lower plate directly) via a creative angled slider/connector thing. The Transplate harness also has disconnects but due to the fancy belt-situated slider thing, the disconnects would be more difficult to eliminate. The OMS comfort harness webs through the backplate like conventional webbing. A superior design IMO. A chest strap and "disconnect style" crotch strap with a 2" ss ring completes the picture. Using either of these items is optional as well (though I recommend the crotch strap.

The Backplate is a Koplin via Oxycheq. Koplin makes a small sized plate (13 inches high) and is perfect for small torso's. It has everything a large plate has like perimeter holes for attachment points and a slot for a crotch strap. A standard size plate is over 15inches long. The two inches make a world of difference. The small plate weighs 4 lbs excluding bands or ss single adapter, and allows weight to be removed from the belt another goal saught.

Finally, I picked up an Oxycheq thigh pocket (called X-Pocket). I love diving with a thigh pocket. Plenty of secure room and keeps the waist area super clean. Especially for those with tiny waists. The one I have myself is from Dive-Rite. I chose the Oxycheq version this time for one small but important difference. Oxy. has a very effective wide velcro cumberbund type closure that goes around the thigh. the DR uses plastic disconnects on two elastic staps (kinda messes up a great design). If you have large thighs, you would need to extend the thigh closures on either company's pocket. I am lean but weigh 200lbs (thick thighs). and have no problem with either pocket. Though I haven't experienced this, it is reasonable to consider the thigh closure could prevent drysuit air from circulating easily - not a show stopper by any means. The Oxycheq pocket also lays nicer do to the width of the velcro.

Needless to say, both my son and wife love this set-up. Everywhere they dive, people, DM's, Instr's, Liveaboard Boat operators praise the set-up and how "it" dives.

Hope this helps.

 

[TekDiveGirl]

The Backplate is a Koplin via Oxycheq. Koplin makes a small sized plate (13 inches high) and is perfect for small torso's. It has everything a large plate has like perimeter holes for attachment points and a slot for a crotch strap. A standard size plate is over 15inches long. The two inches make a world of difference. The small plate weighs 4 lbs excluding bands or ss single adapter, and allows weight to be removed from the belt another goal saught.

This is exactly the plate I was refering to - except mine weighs a bit more! Thanks for elaborating!!

Kimber


"There's no earthly way of knowing which direction we are going. There's no knowing where we're rowing or which way the river's flowing. Is it raining? Is it snowing? Is a hur-ra-cane-a blowing? Not a speck of light is showing. So the danger must be growing. Are the fires of hell a-glowing? Is the grisly reaper mowing?! YES! THE DANGER MUST BE GROWING! FOR THE ROWERS KEEP ON ROWING! AND THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT SHOWING! ANY SIGNS THAT THEY ARE SLOWING!!!"

 

[Pez de Diablo]

Hmm, noted.

I will set you up with a Seacsub BCD and a steel 80 (smaller than an alum 80). See how this fits. If you would like, I will also bring a BP/wing for you to try.

Looking forward to our dives,

Dennis

 

[msandler]

Hey Tekdivegirl have you ever worked at MGM Grand or dive L. Mead?

...just fishing

 

[TekDiveGirl]

Hey Tekdivegirl have you ever worked at MGM Grand or dive L. Mead?

...just fishing

Nope - fishing in the wrong seas...

Kimber

 

[lostinspace]

Do you know if this BC is suitable for use with a dry suit?

I have a Zena and absolutely love it but it won't work with a dry suit. So I need to get a new one which I hope to love just as much...

Thanks for your thoughts,

Tauchmieze

I don't know personally - I've never tried it with a dry-suit. But I know it is meant to be capable of it, and I know of an instructor who uses hers for both wetties & dryies - she just adjusts the waist band in or out (by up to 6") as she feels necessary.

The girl in my club also swaps out the backplate for a twin-set back plate as & when she needs it. It's got plenty of lift.

It is a very flexible BCD, but as always, it is so personal you really need to go to the shop with your wet/dry-suit and try the thing on.

I ended up getting the small rather than the XS, because the XS has a really & truly short back!!! :11:

 

[msandler]

Nope - fishing in the wrong seas...

Kimber

I figured it was a long shot. -sorry, my bad.