I assumed it was a female BCD, because the colour co-ordinated sizing was token pink. But that was about the limit. The main throwback? Being squeezed. Fully inflated meant fully squished, simply because the design was not sculpted around a womans curves.

So, scuba girls have special needs and requirements? Hips, boobs, back and waist; the ultimate trial.

Why not just deal with it? Be squeezed, dug into etc, and just wear a mens BCD. For years, that was the deal. Even doing a Course, or renting gear, it too can be the deal. I’ve read of scuba girls who have nearly given up diving due to the lack of comfort issue. Near frustration can do that.

I’ll ask the question again;

Do marketers really understand scuba girls needs?

Obviously there is a bigger market for men, and new BCDs are being developed all the time, but only recently have BCDs especially designed for scubagirls started really getting designers effort. Oceanic with the ‘Hera’, Mares with the sleek ‘Kaila’, and the Beauchat Masterlift Evo, all designed with female divers in mind. Scubapro also developed the ‘Ladyhawk’, as an alternative to the popular ‘Knighthawk’ at the time. But finally have nailed it with the cream of the crop. The ‘Bella’. It stands out by a nautical mile, and scuba girls will find comfort and reliability from a renowned brand. This is what we’ve been waiting for. My guess is a scuba girl got into the design department and did her thing…

1. Instead of being squeezed, the wrap-around air bladder ‘hugs’ a scubagirls body when inflated.

2. Contoured hip indents providing comfort, and room for a weightbelt without unnecessary layering.

3. Shoulder padding on the wide straps, and a chest strap that will not constrict the bust or breathing.

4. Shorter back length, which is also padded for no bruising, and a comfy cummerbund.

5. Integrated weight system (if weightbelt bruising is a problem), with quick release tabs sized well to avoid accidental ditching.

6. A perfectly streamlined jacket that is light, with plenty of accessory pockets and D-rings for all a scuba girls bits ‘n’ pieces. Tick!

So, do marketers understand a scuba girls needs? Well, one does… and I hope when I do my PADI Instructor internship I can blog more about this topic.