Need child's BC recommendation

[Flightlead]

I'm at a bit of a loss trying to find a BC to properly fit my very petite daughter. She's 4'6" and about 70 lbs w/o an ounce of fat on her. Cannot find a BC to fit her. Even the XXS Seaquest we're renting is too wide at the shoulders and the waist and shoulder straps cannot be tightened up enough.

Does anyone know of a BC specifically designed to fit a child this size?

If not, I'm considering having a custom backplate made and using something like the Oxycheck 18lb wing. That way I can cut the webbing to whatever length I need.

Ideas anyone?

 

[scarefaceDM]

I have a friend with the same issues...Son and daughter. Son 13 weight is 90lbs wet and the daughter is 11. about 70-80 lbs. Same height as your little girl.

I put each of the kids in an aluminium backplate and hog harness with a OMS 32lbs single wing with a STA. They do not need much weight so it is on a belt for now. Plus they wear a full 7mm suit hood and gloves...cold water diving...

They fit very well and when they grow which is soon it will be a simple adjustment .
As for tanks. They use small steel 72's. Alu 80's are tall for the girl, but the older son switches to one or the other with no issues.

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

We use the Seasoft BCDs in our Kids programs....they also adjust while they grow....What size tank does she use?

I have kids smaller than her using them too.....check out some of the pics

http://www.diverightinscuba.com/gallery/album02

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Oceanic and Aqualung used to make kid sized bc's. neither does now. there is a company called Seasoft that makes a BC that is supposed to be adjustable from 70 to 170 lbs. It's around 600 bucks but if it does what it says she'll probably never need another unless it wears out. If you can find one check around with Oceanic dealers to see if they have any left overs of the explorers line. This was the kids line they had out. You may be able to find a used one in good shape as alot of times they were used just in the pool or on maybe a few checkout dives. One shop I work with has one and wishes at times he had one or two more. You could even PM Doug Krause at Oceanic here on the board to see if they may have one left at the factory. Long shot but hey a PM costs nothing but a few seconds. Jim

Otherwise the plate idea could be a very good start. DSS makes a small plate that may work or ask Tobin about the kydex one. Good luck and let us know what you find and go with.

 

[willembad]

Contact Bill Jacksons http://www.billjacksons.com/
I just bought 2 Aqualung Wave Juniors from them for $149.00 a piece. They had maybe 6 or 8 left on sale.

Willem

 

[voodoodiver]

Oceanic made a kid BC the explorer, If they still do it was a great bc for kids and it had weight intergration. I used it for a scuba rangers program I taught.

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

The seasoft adjustables start at $249.99 and go up to $600.....I have some I could let for for $199.99...but your a bit limited on the tank sizes, unless you do some mild modifications

 

[dgreenh]

My daughter is 11, 4'6" and maybe 70# soaking wet. Zero body fat. We bought her a Juvi from ScubaL. If she grows much it will be too small, but it is the smallest BCD we could find. It has some adjustment but not much. Non-weight integrated, seems to be well made. The US distributor didn't have any so we had to order it from Vietnam or wherever they make them. It only took like 4 days to get here. It may be smaller than what you are looking for, not much room for growth but it fits her very well right now.

 

[Flightlead]

Thanks. I will check out the suggestions, SeaSoft, Wave Jr, Juvi, Explorer.

She's diving an AL 63 right now, which is a little heavy for her but manageable...plus she races through her air

Still, I think she would look so cool in a BP/W, 5' hose on the primary with a bungied backup

 

[SteveAD]

try a zeagle stilletto size sm or xs