Womens bc reviews

[lissette]

Hi Guys!

In my search to put a kit together I recently came accross this womens bc comparison chart, and to be quite honest i was really surprised by what i found.
http://dive.scubadiving.com/html/200304womensbcs_chart.html
http://www.scubadiving.com/gear/buoyancy_compensators/best_bcs_for_women/
The first link is the comparison chart and the second is for the bc review article which also has the link for the comparison chart.

I am curious to see what people think about this review and its accuracy, or whether perhaps they think there may be a little bit of bias (underhanded advertising) going on.

I suppose over here in Australia, most of the brands while carried in a lot of LDS just arent really as recommended by the LDS as some of the other brands (eg, sea quest who didnt get a positive mention in the review). The Mares Ariel got a really good review, but i while i have seen it in the store i have never met anyone who owns one (are they good? i would really like to know?) .... while the diva got a beating and i have met quite a few lds, instructors and divers who swear by them. Is the diva really as bad as the review article suggests?

I have been diving for about a year now (ow) and i have been doing as much reading as i can to put together a suitable kit. I dive whenever i get the chance all year round, which does make for some tough conditions sometimes, fast weather changes, currents, surge, swell ... and sometimes when we are lucky, some perfect still warm water.
I want to continue with training, taking my aow in spring and going from there. We have some great wrecks around here which i am dying to explore (hmas Swan and hmas Perth) and are deepish.

I am a small build, about 5'6 and 135 pounds (I think...we work in kgs here..) I want a kit i wont have to upgrade too much a couple years from now, when i can take on some more adventurous dives. I was looking at getting a Legend lx reg, lx occy, suunto cobra computer and diva bcd and some 85cf steel tanks .... I am now thinking perhaps i need to take another look at my bcd choice and perhaps computer choice....


I would really appreciate any feedback!

 

[diverkristi]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Diva LX.

 

[Vie]

The Mares Ariel got a really good review, but i while i have seen it in the store i have never met anyone who owns one (are they good? i would really like to know?) ....

My gf has been using a Mares (Dragonfly) Ariel since she was certified. After 127 dives she is still very happy with it. The weight integrate pockets (MRS) are very nice and compact and the “wing” is nicely designed and not bungied. She found the Ariel to have the best fit of the women’s BCs that she tried—the Ariel also lacks the unneeded Mares gimmics such as Airtrim and Airlock.

Here in Thailand the ladies have to choose between the Scubapro Ladyhawk, Oceanic Isla and Mares Ariel. The weight pockets on the Ladyhawk are huge and unnecessary for warm water diving; the Ladyhawk also has a complex bungied wing design and a hard to use roll-up pocket. My gf found the Isla to be a bad fit and very cluttered at the front.

 

[redrover]

Hi Guys!

In my search to put a kit together I recently came accross this womens bc comparison chart, and to be quite honest i was really surprised by what i found.
http://dive.scubadiving.com/html/200304womensbcs_chart.html
http://www.scubadiving.com/gear/buoyancy_compensators/best_bcs_for_women/
The first link is the comparison chart and the second is for the bc review article which also has the link for the comparison chart.

I am curious to see what people think about this review and its accuracy, or whether perhaps they think there may be a little bit of bias (underhanded advertising) going on.

I suppose over here in Australia, most of the brands while carried in a lot of LDS just arent really as recommended by the LDS as some of the other brands (eg, sea quest who didnt get a positive mention in the review). The Mares Ariel got a really good review, but i while i have seen it in the store i have never met anyone who owns one (are they good? i would really like to know?) .... while the diva got a beating and i have met quite a few lds, instructors and divers who swear by them. Is the diva really as bad as the review article suggests?

I have been diving for about a year now (ow) and i have been doing as much reading as i can to put together a suitable kit. I dive whenever i get the chance all year round, which does make for some tough conditions sometimes, fast weather changes, currents, surge, swell ... and sometimes when we are lucky, some perfect still warm water.
I want to continue with training, taking my aow in spring and going from there. We have some great wrecks around here which i am dying to explore (hmas Swan and hmas Perth) and are deepish.

I am a small build, about 5'6 and 135 pounds (I think...we work in kgs here..) I want a kit i wont have to upgrade too much a couple years from now, when i can take on some more adventurous dives. I was looking at getting a Legend lx reg, lx occy, suunto cobra computer and diva bcd and some 85cf steel tanks .... I am now thinking perhaps i need to take another look at my bcd choice and perhaps computer choice....


I would really appreciate any feedback!

I ran across this myself. I did note the article was the best bc’s for women. I wondered about the reviews, they seemed biased to me. Not to a manufacturer but to a style or what was considered most important. Pretty much along the line of there are two types of Buoyancy Control Devices: BP/Wing and all the rest, folks. Frankly I didn’t think it was fair evaluations comparing them to my limited personal experience and didn’t give it a lot of weight. (Gee, should I have said it seemed to need more weight or have too much weight? I’m not good at puns, sigh.)

I think unfortunately the general dilemma is personal preferences – what each individual identifies is the important features. And suggest the most common advice I’ve read and heard – try them out and see what works for you.


Hopefully if anyone reading this thinks I have a bias, they appreciate I haven’t said what I got or how happy I am with it. Hopefully they will at least eventually ‘get’ I’m smiling as I type that if anyone cares they can search my posts and find out. I can provide hint’s if requested. How’s that for trying to please all the people all the time?

 

[capybara]

You just have to try different BC's on to see what fits. Try back-inflates vs. jacket-style in a pool if possible to see what you prefer. I have a Scubapro Ladyhawk and I love it. It's very streamlined yet has enough lift for temperate waters. Only downside is it has only one pocket (the men's version has an additional zipper pocket). I tried on the Diva LX in the pool and it's nice too, but it's a little bulkier and since we travel we wanted something lighter. And the tank strap on the Scubapro is easier to use. (I saw that article but I didn't notice any problems with the dump valves).

Look at non-women's BCs too (like the Aeris Atmos XT) because they may fit you better than or may have features you need, so don't limit yourself to women's BCs.

As far as the computer, I have the Suunto Cobra and have been really happy with it. Get the attached compass.

 

[ReneeC]

I've had my Diva for eight years and absolutely love it still. When I get a new BC it will be the Diva LX.

 

[DiveMaven]

I think it's impossible for anyone to truely compare BC's and recommend what is best for women as a whole. Two people have remarked in this thread that they love their Divas....I hate the Diva (for me). I won't give up my Zeagle Zena since I find that it fits my body and needs perfectly.

That doesn't mean the Zena is "better" than the Diva, it's just better for ME.

 

[WooDives]

That doesn't mean the Zena is "better" than the Diva, it's just better for ME.

SO right - When I was looking for a BC, I had gotten to the point where I knew what basics I wanted (Back inflation, etc...), but hadn't put a lot of different ones on. I went to MANY dive shops all over the state with my DI boyfriend. A lot of them were fine, and had features that I really liked, but it didn't seem like it really made a difference which one I picked. That was until I put the Zena on... I just knew. It was definitely my BC. I love the "corset" design - it is SO comfortable - completely adjustable, and never rides up on me. The weight pockets are in the back, so not only does it get rid of the bulk, it also helps with trim. I love how free I feel in it - and it is incredibly light. I've had guys borrow it (to use up the rest of my air without changing out tanks), and even they were impressed (I think some guys think that women's=flimsy or something).

I think when you find the right one, you'll just know.

 

[lissette]

I would really love to just go into a shop and try on the whole range in a pool, but there just isnt a lot out there to try on already in the stores here (and in small sizes).
They are all more than happy to order one in for me, the problem is i dont know what one, and i dont want to commit to one without trying first.
The reason I am looking specifically at the womens bcs is that besides being a small build, i am curvy too and I hate a bc pressing in on my chest.

At this point i am equally weighted (no pun intended..haha ) towards Diva, Ariel and the Zena, I am just having a really hard time finding a Zena over here... even the store that is supposed to stock them didnt have them and pushed me towards the diva and ariel.

I am really curious to try one on. The only thing that makes me hesitate with the Zena though is the elastic panels at the front, would they degrade faster than than non stretchy bcs?

 

[ScottZeagle]

I am really curious to try one on. The only thing that makes me hesitate with the Zena though is the elastic panels at the front, would they degrade faster than than non stretchy bcs?

Contact Tony or Chris at Diveaus http://www.diveaus.com.au/

They should be able to sort out a Zena for you to see and try on.

The front panels are actualy wetsuit material, and I have never seen one degrade...

Cheers,

Scott