Scuba Style: What Women Divers are Wearing

Shopping for Scuba gear or any other sporting equipment as a woman can be a challenge. From wetsuits to fins many products are simply designed with the male diver in mind and just made smaller for women. 

Too often women visit the shop and say things like “My feet are too small”, “My face is too narrow”, “My shoulders are too wide”, or “My bust/waist/bottom is too big”. Well I am here to tell you, it's not you girl, it's the gear! 

To celebrate International Women’s day our crew headed out on an all Women's dive with Xico Dive Center. It was a great opportunity for us to connect, have fun and of course share tips, tricks and our favorite gear recommendations. 

It feels unfair to keep this information all to ourselves, so here is our collective list of what we wore for our all women's dive adventure. 

🩱 Wetsuits Made for the Tropics

It's not a myth that women get colder than men; it's actually a fact. With lower percentages of muscle mass, different body compositions and hormones, women are actually prone to be colder than men. 

Even in warm Caribbean waters many women divers opt for a wetsuit to add a layer of comfort and protection. A 3mm wetsuit is ideal for Caribbean diving — offering just enough warmth without overheating, plus protection from jellyfish, sun, and reef bumps. 

For rentals at Xico Dive Shop we have a number of options of high quality wetsuits you can choose from which are also available for sale for yourself or your dive center. 

Scuba Supreme 3mm Wetsuit: Scuba Supreme is a Mexican dive brand that specializes in scuba and snorkel equipment. It's known for offering durable, functional, and affordable gear that meets the needs of both recreational divers and dive shops. While no one particularly enjoys wearing wetsuits, the Scuba Supreme suit has a cut and design that is super flattering on all women. And at $3,500 MXN it is a great price for personal or rental use.

Aqualung Hydroflex 3mm Wetsuit: Although this is not a women specific cut for a wetsuit we love the way it looks and fits for athletic build women. The HydroFlex 3mm wetsuit features super-stretch neoprene, stretching up to 250% more than standard neoprene, providing added comfort in the water as well as when taking the wetsuit on and off. The extra stretch is great for accommodating the curves of our feminine bodies. At $2,600 MXN it is an affordable option that looks and fits great.

Need gear for the day? Xico Dive Center offers a variety of women’s wetsuits for rent, designed for fit and function.

☀️ Lightweight Rash Guards + BCDs for Maximum Comfort

Many women complain about the restrictive nature of wetsuits. Being blessed with warm Caribbean Sea diving, we regularly enjoy 28 degree dives. If you are not prone to cold and you like to have more mobility, we recommend ditching the wetsuit all together and opting for a lightweight Rash Guard. 

Rash Guards provide sun protection as well as coverage from corals and marine life. Some women choose to wear them under their wetsuits for extra warmth, while many of us wore them over swimsuits, with bikini bottoms, leggings or shorts. 

Xico Dive Shop offers a full selection of rash guards in different cuts and styles. Some offer half gloves, hoods, and all are made from UPF materials that offer sun protection. 

Xico Dive Center Rash Guard: our signature Rash Guard comes in a crisp black colour with our logo and bull shark design. Bull sharks are one of the most resilient and versatile predators in the ocean — able to thrive in both salt and freshwater, fearless in its exploration of every environment.  Channel the Spirit of the Shark when you wear this rash guard, feel strong and confident and ready to explore. Available now in store or online for $1,000 MXN. And check out our full range of new Rash Guards that have just arrived in a variety of inspiring prints and colours.

 
Aqualung Wave BCD: The Aqualung Wave BCD is a top choice for rental gear for dive shops around the world. Affordable and durable it is a great choice for new and experienced divers alike. The sleek design of the Aqualung wave prioritized comfort, control and effortless buoyancy. One of the reasons women love this BCD is that there are multiple adjustment points (shoulders, waist, and chest), making it easy to fine-tune the fit for a woman’s torso. It also comes in smaller sizes to accommodate, Women's smaller frames. Available in sizes from 3XS-XL you will be sure to find the perfect fit. Right now all Aqualung BCDs are 20% off at Xico Dive Shop. The Aqualung Wave BCD is Regularly Priced at $12,000 MXN, is on Sale Now for just $9,600 MXN.

🐠 Hair-Protection + Crystal Clear Views

The most asked question I get from Women divers is “What do you do with your hair when you are diving?” We will save the full hair care lesson for another day, but we will share a tip from our pro-female divers. 

Diving with long hair is not only a hassle it can become a hazard if it gets tangled up in your gear. Keeping your hair out of your eyes and equipment is key to having a fun and fuss-free dive. Our trusted pros here rely on a simple microfiber buff to use to keep their locks tight. 

Microfiber Diving Buff: Our microfiber buffs are light weight and are a must have for every diver. Keep your hair protected from salt, sand, seaweed and sea creatures. Simply pull the buff over your hair, tuck your hair inside and keep it all in place with your mask strap. No more tangles, no more fuss. Trust us it is the best $100 MXN you will ever spend! 

Bonassi Hercules Mask: One of our best sellers the Bonassi Hercules Mask is made with a hypo-allergenic silicone, this means no mask rashes or irritation. With a single lens you enjoy a wide range of vision for maximum enjoyment. Unlike many other masks, this one forms a great underwater seal, so no more leaks or fogging. And the best part at only $1,200 MXN it's a great choice for instructors who need to carry a second mask, newbies or those looking for an affordable option.

 

🦶 Fins That Move with You

When it comes to fins there is one clear winner among all our options. The Scubapro Seawing Nova are a top seller when women divers make the leap to buying their first pair of fins. Lightweight and designed for travel, enjoy effortlessly gliding through the sea without pain or friction. 

Scubapro Seawing Nova Fins: Sleek, flexible, and designed to reduce leg fatigue while boosting control. The Seawing Nova Fins are available in three colours-Pink, White or Black. Regularly priced at $5,400 MXN, they are now on sale for $4,300 MXN. In  a full range of sizes from XS-XL they are a great choice for women with smaller feet.

 

Aqualung Express Fins: Ideal for rentals or beginner divers who want smooth, powerful kicks, the Aqualung Express fins are a great affordable option. With closed heels they eliminate the need for boots and are soft and comfortable for warm water Caribbean diving. Regularly $1,600 MXN they are now on sale for only $1,300 MXN. Stop by and pick up a pair for you, your dive buddy or to stock up your rental shop.

📸 Don’t Forget Your Underwater Camera Essentials

No Women's Dive would be complete without capturing amazing instagrammable moments together. Don't forget the GoPro and the accessories to capture every bubble, buddy selfie, and shark encounter.

GoPro Housing: Most GoPros are only waterproof to 10 meters (33 feet) without a case; and that’s not deep enough for scuba diving. A proper dive housing allows you to go down to 40–60 meters (130–200 feet). Investing in a GoPro housing also protects your GoPro from saltwater, sand and debris and the accidental dropping. Available in store for $1,200 MXN.

GoPro Floating Handle:  The GoPro Floating Handle might look simple, but it’s one of the most useful accessories for anyone using a GoPro in the water. As the name implies it Floats! This means that if you happen to lose your GoPro it will float to the surface and you wont be stuck scouring the sea floor for your beloved camera. Apart from that the handle provides a sturdy, steady, comfortable grip, which helps reduce shaky footage. The handle is in a bright orange so even if you drop it, it’s easy to find on the surface even in waves or choppy water. At only $1,200 MXN its the best insurance you can invest in for your GoPro.

Dive Like a Mermaid, Gear Up Like a Pro 🧜♀️

To celebrate International Women’s Day, we teamed up with Xico Dive Center for a Women’s Only Dive Day. A memorable and inspiring underwater adventure filled with vibrant coral, incredible company, and of course, stylish, functional dive gear designed to keep you safe and looking great beneath the surface.

Whether you're gearing up for your first dive or you're a seasoned pro, Xico Dive Shop will get you geared up with the top picks for your underwater adventure. All products featured in this article are available in-store at Xico Dive Shop and online at xicodiveshop.com.

Do you have questions? Drop us a message or swing by the shop in Playa del Carmen — we love helping divers gear up for their next adventure!