Let’s face it, scuba diving gear was not always made with a woman in mind. For years we have had to try and figure out our sizes based on men’s sizing charts. Luckily with each passing year, more and more women’s specific dive gear is becoming available. Take the Truli brand of wetsuits for example, they exclusively make wetsuits for women only. In some cases, manufacturers offer more women’s sizes than men’s. Below is a list of gear and accessory items that we deem female-approved.

TRULI WETSUITS TRULI-FUL THE BEAUTIFUL

This women’s-only suit is available in 21 different sizes—including plus sizes and long torsos— making it easy to zero in on the perfect fit. The female-oriented fit and flexible, eco-friendly limestone neoprene make this one comfortable suit. Soft fleece lines the interior of the suit for added warmth and comfort. The suit features a hidden front-zip closure that makes it easy to don and doff and has a long ribbon sewn into the inside near the zipper top that assists in pulling the suit off your shoulders. The low, smooth skin collar is soft on the neck and the ankles have an ergonomic notch at the back to relive pressure and keep the cuff flat against the skin. $549 (5.5mm); truliwetsuits.com

BARE ELATE 5 MM WETSUIT

The Elate is stylish, warm and affordable. The suit’s highly flexible material allows for a body-hugging fit that keeps it close to the skin without inhibiting movement and is very comfortable. The suit’s anatomical collar features a wide smoothskin lining. The seals are basic neoprene rings sewn into the cuffs and the lining is relatively smooth and flat, but the suit is surprisingly warm. That’s because the stretchy form-fitting material keeps the seals and lining close enough to the body to work very effectively. The suit is available in 14 women’s sizes.
$229.95; baresports.com

AQUA LUNG AQUAFLEX WETSUIT

Made with super stretchy neoprene and a design that eliminates underarm seams for exceptional body-hugging comfort. While this suit is available for men and women, the 12 different women’s sizes make it easy to find a good fit. The tapered X-Tend cuffs are zipperless. This makes them comfortable and convenient, but they require a snug fit to work effectively. The suit features a number of features to improve warmth and insulation including a large overlapping zipper seal, plush lining in the chest and abdomen and lumbar pad. The suit is well-made and uses high-quality materials throughout.

$399 (7mm), $379 (5mm), $299 (3mm); aqualung.com

HENDERSON AQUALOCK QUIK DRY WETSUIT

This wetsuit features a hydrophobic interior lining that is soft and warm. The lining dries to the touch in minutes, meaning you won’t have to hop back into a damp wetsuit after your surface interval is over. The zipperless AquaLock double wrist and ankle seals can make donning more work than some other suits, but the resulting seal is excellent at keeping cold water out. The seemingly tailor-made fit is available in 15 women’s sizes. Specific sizing is available for short and tall body types, makes it easy to find a great fit.
$405.95 (3mm), $486.95 (5mm), $519.95 (7mm); hendersonusa.com

TUSA TINA BCD

This jacket-style BC sports a high-cut waist specifically designed with female divers in mind and includes a plushy back pad that provides support along the lower back and disperses weight around the hips. The result is a super comfortable, supportive wraparound fit. The BC is rock-solid underwater with great attitude and stability underwater. The tank cam buckle has a half-stop between open and closed that makes setup easy and the BC’s multiple exhaust options and ergonomic, responsive inflator make buoyancy and ascent control a cinch. To top off its female-friendly fit and solid performance, the Tina also offers two large zippered cargo pockets, integrated weights, octo pocket, movable D-rings and a small zippered pocket on the cummerbund. It is available in pink and black.
$499; tusa.com

ZEAGLE ZENA BCD

With elastic panels and a front-zip entry in place of the standard waist- and sternum-straps, this back-inflate BCD looks somewhat like a corset and its body-hugging fit is secure and comfortable. The dual straps allow you to fine-tune the waist and hips independently for a seemingly tailor-made fit. The BCD is comfortable with good attitude and stability. It features four D-rings for stowage. The expandable mesh bag holds a fair amount, but can be difficult to access due to the narrow opening. High-capacity weight pockets are located near the rear of the harness and make for precise trim control and a comfortable head-up floating position, and they can dump lead in a flash using the Ripcord weight release. Several standard sizes and colors are available, but custom fitting and color options are available.
$566.95; zeagle.com

ACCESSORIES

RAW ELEMENTS REEF-SAFE SUNSCREEN

This reef-safe sunscreen is made in the USA with certified natural and organic ingredients. The tinted facial moisturizer with 30 SPF is the perfect solution to zinc-based sunscreens that would normally leave a white residue. It can be used as your daily moisturizer or face sunscreen and blends in easily with most skin tones. The tinted moisturizer is part of the Face, Lip & Body pack that also includes a Lip Rescue water resistant lip block and their signature Face + Body tin that is water resistant to 80 minutes and of course, 100% reef-safe. Price varies; rawelementsusa.com

SZILVIA GOGH JEWELRY

Women owned and made in the USA, Gogh Jewelry Design aims to empower women through jewelry. Gogh herself is a breast cancer survivor and scuba diving instructor. Purchasing a piece from her cancer collection directly supports breast cancer research. Each one of her collections is inspired by something, whether it be the ocean or yoga. Women will have the most to choose from on her detailed website but Gogh also designs jewelry for men and children.

Price varies; goghjewelrydesign.com

STREAM2SEA LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER

If you're a woman with long hair especially, then this is a must on a dive boat. After repetitive dives in saltwater our hair becomes less and less manageable. It is one of the great frustrations of diving as a woman (or a man, with long hair.) The Stream2Sea leave-in conditioner is a natural, sulfate-free product that helps restore your hair's natural feel and shine after sun and saltwater exposure. This biodegradable formula is made in the USA from an antioxidant blend of organic Green Tea, Tulsi, Wakame and Olive Oil. $12.95; stream2sea.com

ABINGDON MARINA DIVE WATCH

Designed by female divers for female divers, this beautiful dive watch is the perfect blend of fashion and function. The 40mm titanium case features a one-way elapsed timing bezel to help keep track of your bottom time and is depth-rated to 660 feet. The dial features luminous markings and a world-timer that is perfect for divers who travel to far-flung destinations around the globe. The lightweight titanium band has an extender hidden in the buckle for cold water diving and quick-release pins that allow to add or remove the strap without tools. The watch is available in several bold, eye-catching colors.
$799; theabingdonco.com

FOURTH ELEMENT OCEANPOSITIVE SWIMWEAR

This eco-friendly swimwear line was conceived by Fourth Element as a way to put recycled ghost nets to good use. The recycled ghost nets and discarded waste is turned into ECONYL® yarn which is how OceanPositive products are made. The line features both women's and mean's swimwear and rash guards. By look and feel you would never know this swimwear is made from recycled products as the fabric proves both sturdy and durable in and out of the water. You can also purchase the OceanPositive products direct from Fourth Element's website, making it even easier to get your hands on this sustainable brand.

Price varies; fourthelement.com