I asked 200 divers if their gear actually fit. Only 12 said yes.

I asked 200 divers if their gear actually fit. Only 12 said yes.

Not whether they could zip it.

Not whether they could force the buckle closed.

Not whether someone at a dive shop said, “That’s probably the right size.”

I asked whether their scuba gear actually fit comfortably and worked with their body.

Only 12 said yes.

That number came from an informal poll I conducted during dive-boat trips in the Florida Keys. Talking with divers about fit—and seeing how often people accepted discomfort because nothing seemed designed for their body—was part of what prompted me to create Fat Guy Scuba Supply.

That’s a problem worth fixing.

A wetsuit shouldn’t make taking a full breath feel difficult. A BCD shouldn’t squeeze your chest, ride up, or force you to constantly adjust straps. Fins shouldn’t crush your feet. A mask shouldn’t need to be painfully tight just to stop leaking.

But a lot of divers have learned to accept “good enough” as normal.

Especially bigger, taller, broader, shorter, muscular, plus-size, and differently proportioned divers.

The truth is, the size printed on the label doesn’t tell the whole story.

A 2XL from one manufacturer can fit completely differently from a 2XL from another. Chest, waist, torso length, thighs, calves, foot width, and face shape can all matter.

That’s one of the reasons Fat Guy Scuba Supply exists.

We’re not here to tell divers to change their bodies.

We’re here to help divers find gear that works with the body they already bring to the water.

If you’ve ever stood in a dive shop thinking:

“Apparently scuba gear just isn’t made for someone built like me.”

You’re not alone.

What piece of scuba gear has been the hardest for you to fit properly?

BCD? Wetsuit? Mask? Fins?

Tell us in the comments.

And if you want more straight talk about scuba gear, fit, comfort, and equipment for divers who don’t fit the “standard” mold, follow @FatGuyScubaSupply.

Because the diver shouldn’t have to fit the gear.

The gear should fit the diver.

Learn more: Scuba Gear Sizing Guide and BCDs for Big, Tall & Broad-Chested Divers.