BonaireTalk Discussion Group
Diving Bonaire: Women's Tall Wetsuits
Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999-2005: Archives - 2001-09-01 to 2002-05-23: Women's Tall Wetsuits
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rachel Ludlam on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 10:54 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'm a 6' tall woman and in search of a wetsuit that actually fits! I was looking at the DiveSkins fuzzy lined light suit, does anyone have some feedback or sources for other tall suits? I will use the suit I get for our trip to Bonaire next month.

Thanks!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Freddie Hughes on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 11:15 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Rachel, My experience with the fuzzy lined suit are that they never DRY!!!! You may do better with a 1mm neoprene. Good luck

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Daniel Senie on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 5:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

In cooler Bonaire water (80 degrees) I wear a Henderson Hyperstretch 3mm suit. In warmer water (84 degrees) I wear a Scubapro 0.5mm skin. Both are QUITE comfortable, and stretchy.

Look at the manufacturer websites and see if their sizing charts include tall sizing. Dive shops which carry the brands should be willing to order in a suit for you to try on.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Faith M. Senie on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 7:11 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Also keep in mind that (for a price, of course) most wetsuit manufacturers will make custom wetsuits to fit those people who don't come in "standard" shapes. It's my understanding that the extra $$ are quite reasonable with some of the manufacturers, so it's worth asking around.

That said, some wetsuit manufacturers do make "special" cuts of some of their more popular sizes. Xcel makes a women's 10S (S for Short), Scubapro makes an XL-R (R is theoretically for Robust, though it sure looks like R for Round!), etc... so it wouldn't surprise me to see a 'T' or 'L' version (Tall/Long)...

Faith

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 11:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I like wind proof PolarTek (thick skins with fuzzy) suits for tropical Bonaire Dives. They are neutrally bouyant, and do not creat a chill factor when getting out of the water on a windy day. There are a lot of different brands on the market, i.e., Henderson, Blue Reef, Bare, etc. Some people may argue, but most of the gear I buy now is from a company called Leisure Pro. They have saved me thousands of dollars over the past seven years on camera equipment, mixed gas computers, regulators, tek B.C.'s - you name it. You may find it worth your while to check them out at www.leisurepro.com. Enjoy your shopping, and have a wonderful trip.

Rob...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DIVER DEBBI on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 10:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Rachel...I empathize with you..I also am 6 ft tall..or "5 ft 12 inches "I tell people..when it comes to dive gear..you'll find your best fit in mens sizes..even the womens' BC's are for smaller sizes..I just returned from Bonaire where I was very happy with my new 3 ml Henderson hyperstretch suit( no pink on it ) the website or just trying on at your local dive shop is the best...I have replaced my " fleece" and like the neophrene better for warmth...good luck and STAND TALL..YOU GO GIRL !!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gordon Brown on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 5:45 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Rachel,

My wife Michele recently discovered she isn't really considered tall anymore. (6 ft 140 lbs)
When she was 18 yrs younger and in highschool she was on the basketball and volleyball teams cause she was "so tall". Not anymore, not really. But it does seem that wet suit manufacturers are really lagging with the times. As an example, I'm 6'3" and weigh 181 lbs. I'm neither extra large or extra tall (for a guy), but that is the size wet suit I have to buy to get the right fit.

Michele found the Parkway size 12 fit her well. Funny how pear shaped wetsuits can get skinny when they are stretcher taller. She even found it in pink, if that's important to you.

BTW- The new titanium, or "shark skin" suits are really neat cause you can actually don them when they are wet. Might give em a look. Henderson, Parkway, etc. all make competitive suits in the 3 ml size that are more than adequate (in 75+ degree water) for active divers (ie folks that actually burn calories while diving and therefore can stay a bit warm)

Gordy

 


Visit: The Bonaire WebCams - Current Bonaire images and weather!
The Bonaire Insider - the latest tourism news about Bonaire
The Bonaire Information Site, InfoBonaire
Search Bonaire - Search top Bonaire Web sites


Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration