I need an answer

[chepar]

chickdiver once bubbled...
I am 5'3" 125lbs. I dive double 104's and I move ALL my gear by myself, always.

I am one that has not always had an easy time with all the gear - shore dives are not the greatest thing for me. I've always been impressed and envious of the women that tote around their gear with apparently little effort.

But I do agree that you do build stamina after a while. I don't know if I could build enough stamina to dive doubles, though.

 

[chickdiver]

it all depends on how much you want to do something. I may not move things around as easily as my male friends, but I can do it. There is much to be said for finesse over brute strength.

 

[redseal]

...and all of our diving requires 7mm suits and the appropriate amount of weight to offset the buoyancy of the suits. They used to b**ch and moan about the long walk to the water from the staging area, but after several visits had strengthened their legs and backs to the point that it's no longer punishment. Not that it's easy, but they realize that the rewards are usually more than worth the effort.

And the difference in dry weight of a 72cu ft vs a 80cu ft tank is negligible as far as they're concerned. And at the end of the dive, I'll usually help them with their tanks while they carry the rest of our gear, normally a couple of trips.

Encourage your wife; the enjoyment of the dive may overshadow the workout getting to the water.