TransPac or Zena For Teen Girl

[Stymie]

I'm 14 years old and completed my PADI Jr. O/W in May. I'm now in the market for a bcd, my lds has the DiveRite Transpac they are trying to sell me. They tell me its very adjustable since I'm still growing ....... up not out ,lol. I've tried it on and it fits well but have not dove it, and was planning on purchasing one in the near future.

Now the kicker....... I was diving with my dad yesterday and there was a lady dive instructor that was there also. She highly recommended the Zeagle Zena , she said it was more comfortable than the Transpac and almost as adjustable. The problem is there is no dive shop within a reasonable distance that stocks Zeagles so I can't try one on . Now I'm trying to decide on the DiveRite I've tried on at my lds or go with the Zena in the blind and hope the lady DI I spoke with yesterday was right.

I asked my dad what he thought but he said ask the girls and women here for input.

 

[sasscuba]

Welcome to the board. While I am not a girl I would say the Zena is very popular I have seen with women. Call Larry at www.scubatoys.com and talk to them. Scuba Board members receive 10% off scubatoys purchases.

 

[Mike126]

Welcome to the board. While I am not a girl I would say the Zena is very popular I have seen with women. Call Larry at www.scubatoys.com and talk to them. Scuba Board members receive 10% off scubatoys purchases.

Sasscuba - You mean all this time I've been thinking that's really you in your avatar. Talk about bait and switch!!!

Stymie - you might want to talk with Zeagle directly as well.

 

[ReneeC]

Stymie,

I am a female instructor as well and have a Zena which I just bought a few months ago. I do like it alot and it has a quite a bit of adjustability about it. Plus some of the parts are interchangeable - for example I needed a medium for my torso but I have a very short torso so the shoulder section was too large. I was able to switch the shoulders out for a small which made a huge difference for me.

The other BC you might want to look at is the Diva. It has adjustments in it as well. I started with a diva and still do most of my teaching in it because it is sooooo comfortable! Plus it has more pockets being a jacket style. It has been a very popular woman's BC for a log time.

 

[BKP]

I'm 14 years old ...

I asked my dad what he thought but he said ask the girls and women here for input.

Stymie,

My wife has been diving a Zena for the past year. She likes it for a number of reasons: Zeagle uses a modular system, so, you *can* adjust it - talk to Scubatoys about it; it has a zip-up front which she finds very comfortable; it's a back-inflate, which tends to give you better trim then a jacket style; comes in different colors (the front part) ... don't ask... my wife likes colors...

I hear ScubaToys gives 10% discount to board members... I haven't tried it out, yet, but we need a couple of backup 'puters, so....

Good luck with the diving... I wish *I* could've started at 14 (I'd be a Grand-Poobah Supreme Ultra-Cousteau Dive Wizard Emporer by now)...

 

[kidsdream]

As a big fan of both the BC's you are considering, I would suggest the Transpac might be a better long term choice.

While the Zena is modular, you would have to buy new "parts" as you grow. The Transpac provides a comfortable fit over a wider range of sizes - and allows you to easily change wings if and when you choose to.

My son has used a small Transpac for the last 3.5 years (he is now 17) and I would expect that he will be able to use it for next 3 or for more years.

Just a note - my wife has a Zeagle (as did I before I moved to a Transplate).

 

[DiveMaven]

I have to agree with KidsDream that although the Zena is modular and totally adjustable, if you're going to grow very much in the next few years, the Transpac will be instantly adjustable and won't require you to buy parts. Of course a boy will definitely grow a whole lot more in his teens than a girl, and many girls don't grow much between 14 and adulthood.

I love my Zena and definitely promote it as a BC for women to try, but it all comes down to the right equipment for the right people in the right circumstances. Since you really liked the Transpac when you tried it on and it was comfortable, it sounds like a good match.

 

[7milehi]

First , Congratulations on your Jr. o/w certification.

My daughter is 12 and should finish her Jr. o/w this week and we've been looking at the diverite transpac w/travel wing. Since she is 12 and should hit a growth spurt soon I like the idea that the transpac is very adjustable. I think at one time Diverite would upgrade younger diver's Diverite b/c with a larger size for free if they were under 16y/o. To the best of my understanding they no longer do this.

The Zeagle Zena ........... great b/c for women I hear, decisions, decisions

 

[rotax14]

i would consider the trans pack or even a full bp/w combo the pockets on bc's are almost useless in my oponion... the reason i am selling the bc and going with a bp. considering the transpack but i hear it is not as good with doubles.