First, I would like to thank those of you who replied to my e-mail
asking about drysuit and tank advice for small women.  I wrote it on
behalf of my fiance who I am trying to find a drysuit or wetsuit for.
	Someone had mentioned that they would like to hear a summary of the
advice I had been given for small women in diving.  The majority of the
posts suggested that I spring for a drysuit, even if my fiance is just a
beginner.  I couldn't agree more.  A drysuit is much easier to don and
will keep her warm in the cold Atlantic and quarry waters we frequent.
Small women are actually much more susceptible to getting cold than a
large male (with more heat producing muscle mass) would be.  Being warm
while diving will not only make the dive more enjoyable, but will reduce
the chances of DCS.  Furthermore, it was suggested that it shouldn't be
too difficult to learn to use a drysuit, even though she hasn't mastered
her buoyancy skills.  If your weight is configured properly one should
only have to use your drysuit for proper buoyancy (for starters).
	So, I have decided, and convinced her, that a drysuit is the thing to
get.

	The bigger problem is weight distribution and proper tank size.   As I
mentioned in the previous post, my fiance has been experiencing lower
back pain "while diving."  I actually went to a dive symposium in
Washington, D.C. where one of the speakers did some research on this
topic.  He found that many small women (about 60-70%) in his test group
experienced lower back pain from diving.  Only about 5% of men
complained of lower back pain while diving.  He proposed the reason the
small women were experiencing back pain was due to their profile in the
water (caused by weight distribution.)  Many people (including divers)
would think that their profile would (should) be horizontal (more or
less according to attitude) with their back straight.  This is NOT
generally the case.  Because the typical diver (OW weenie) wears a ton
of weight on their weight belt (they need it because their using an
aluminum 80, what else?) their waist is pulled down while the lift of
their BC is pushing up the upper body.  This problem is even more
pronounced in females who may have extra buoyancy from their chest and
butt.  I would draw a picture with force components if I could, but just
try to picture the midsection of a diver being pulled down while the
torso/head and butt/legs are pushed up.  The diver is no longer
completely horizontal but more V shaped.  This is what causes the lower
back pain (in theory).
	Personally, it makes great sense to me.  Therefore, the solution is to
find the proper weight distribution.  Many different tank sizes were
suggested, but by and large the steel 72 or even steel 50's seemed to be
the preferred tank size.  Does anyone roughly know the buoyancy
characteristics of these tanks?? I was just in the local dive shop today
and was offered an old set of double 50's for $100.  The manifold leaks,
so I'll have to get a new one.  What do you all think??  What size
manifold would fit these old 50's.
	While I was there I also picked up the new Scubapro catalog.
The Scubapro 71.8 cubic foot tank has the following buoyancy
characteristics:  12 lbs negative full  and 5 lbs negative empty
(roughly).  Is this similar to the old (pressed steel?) steel 72's.
	What do you all think about the rest of the weight which will be needed
(especially for a drysuit)??  She has a Diverite transpac (to help with
the back pain).  What about weight integration systems?  Definitely
ankle weights with the drysuit.  How about weight on the tank (like
George's molded weight for his doubles)??

Well, that's enough typing for now.  Any comments or suggestions would
be appreciated.

Thanks again for those previous posts,
	Sean Creagan
	
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