Interestingly - the other item on this list that IS an issue for me is Fin sizing. I have to wear two pairs of thick socks under my turbosoles to keep my jetfins from kicking off. And I have tried several other fins (I'd like a bigger blade) but the foot pockets are all too big. I wish there more options that took into account women's feet size!
I stubbornly dive jetfins too
Have you tried the medium, or are you between medium and large but want to dive jetfins?
I have a medium pair for warm water diving with booties, and a large pair for diving my drysuit (the boots, which are a non standard, slim fit, non rugged boot fit very very well in the large, but any other boot would probably not fit in the large at all).
That would put my feet, in a drysuit, in rugged boots at size too big for L but far too small for XL.
The jetfin sizing is also definitely inconsistent depending on the year of manufacture. When I completed my DM (warm water) I could not fit in the Medium at my LDS and wore a slightly too large pair for Large jetfins, later that year I tried on a Medium pair that I stole/swapped with the boat marshall and they fitted like a dream.
Bloody jetfins, great fins, ridiculous sizing.
I have size 5 UK feet, but wear 5.5 because I have high and wideish feet....
I ended up voting for drysuit sizing/options. Being short, and prefering front entry, I am always going to have to compromise.
I'm also suprised that for larger breasted women, a BP and wing with webbing is considered unccomfortably. I mean... it has no boob strap, it doesn't need one.
The boob straps on female BCDs are never quite wear you need them. If you;re in trim, it is redundant. If you are vertical, its not quite in the right place, and if you're on the surface it strangles you.
That leaves, back weight. As I am transitioning to twin 12s this is likely to be an issue. I do weighted squats etc but will always need to lift the cylinders onto a bench/car boot etc before donning them. Once they're on, they're fine... then I need a decent escape route from the water. Quarries never have the clambering out handles high enough for when you're tired after a dive, and dive boats must be chosen on the basis of whether or not I can get out the water without assistance.
So.... Drysuit, Fins (but finally sorted) and Back weight
Nic
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Regarding menstruating and diving.
Personally I am happy to dive if my flow is light. No different from going to the swimming pool. Just make sure you take enough tampons when you travel and dive. So many countries just don't do tampons.
I am least happiest diving the day before or first day of my period when my cramps can be uncomfortable at best and excrutiating at worst. If I were a dive instructor I just would refuse to dive on those days. They make concentrating impossible, and may mask other symptoms.
Fortunately I have recently found a contraceptive pill that has reduced my symptoms if not eliminated them entirely. I am trialling it on and off at the moment as I don't much like mucking around with my hormones, and do not need the contraception.
And when it comes to peeing, I have got very used to.... peeing during long dives in a wetsuit, during the dive, on the ascent, and at the surface. When I get back into my drysuit again it will likely be a few dives of drysuit diving orientation before I fit a pee valve.
Nic
I'd like to be able to tell all manufactures that PINK does not make women's gear fit or function better!
