Halcyon BP/W Information Please

[wjefferis]

I have been wanting to get rid of my jacket style BC for some time now and want to go to a back inflate BC. I also want to get rid of excess bulk and streamline my equipment. I have been looking at the Halcyon Eclipse set up and like what I see. I have heard that the wing is very important to keep from getting the dreaded "taco" or folding of the wing around the tank and the eclipse wing looks compact and would suit my HP 119 and 19 cu ft pony just fine. I would like to hear from some current owers of the eclipse of the pros and cons and if there is anyone who thinks there is a similar but better set up out there please feel free to comment.

 

[halocline]

Going from a jacket BC to a backplate/wing set up will be a big change for the better. There are lots of quality options. Halcyon is one of those, but often costs hundreds more than a similar set up from the other BP/W manufacturers. Check out Deep Sea Supply and Oxycheq for their very streamlined single tank set ups.

 

[lnjohn]

I dive the eclipse and love it. My diving includes southern california, hawaii and a trip to fiji. The eclipse has been great in all situations. In california I dive with steel tanks and only need an additional 10lbs of lead for weighting. In Hawaii and Fiji, I dove an aluminum 80 and would use 5 or sometimes no weight with a shorty 2mm suit. The bc is very comfortable and offers a great range of motion.

 

[Vie]

I have heard that the wing is very important to keep from getting the dreaded "taco" or folding of the wing around the tank and the eclipse wing looks compact and would suit my HP 119 and 19 cu ft pony just fine.

The Eclipse wasn't really designed for a single tank with a pony bottle attached... I'm sure it'll work but the Eclipse was not designed with that tank combo/configuration in mind.

 

[BrianM]

I've been using the halcyon wing for 5 years and I love it. I had an oceanic jacket prior to that and I sold it as soon as I had a few dives on the Halcyon. The only thing I might have done different is this: I am not into the cult mentality, and diving halcyon gear gets me thrown into that certain group with the 3 letters...

If I could do it over again I would probably buy a Dive Rite or Oxycheck or something like those brands. Heck they're all pretty close to the same thing anyhow, just one brand is "cult approved" and I am not. I surprised I haven't been attacked yet, wearing split fins with a Halcyon backplate!!!! OMG!!

 

[Vie]

I surprised I haven't been attacked yet, wearing split fins with a Halcyon backplate!!!! OMG!!

I wouldn't lose sleep over it. I honestly don't think anyone cares.

 

[Waterskier1]

The Eclipse wasn't really designed for a single tank with a pony bottle attached... I'm sure it'll work but the Eclipse was not designed with that tank combo/configuration in mind.

This is something I am considering: a single tank with a 19 cf Pony bottle. I am planning on getting the HOG 30 # wing, since it seems to be a great value. But, are there some wings that are better suited to single tank/pony bottles than others? I don't want a doubles wing - not for this configuration. When I double up full size tanks, I'll get a doubles wing. I like the idea of the "donut" versus the "horseshoe" since I need more lift lower (with a single). What is the recommended wing configuration for a single tank with a pony? Or, is the only recommended way to carry a pony with a single tank to sling it? I really don't want to do that. I understand slinging a 30 or 40 cf bottle of different gas, but I will use the pony as a bail out bottle, not a deco bottle.

 

[halocline]

The Eclipse wasn't really designed for a single tank with a pony bottle attached... I'm sure it'll work but the Eclipse was not designed with that tank combo/configuration in mind.

Why do you say this, and what would be different about a wing "designed for a single tank with pony attached?"

 

[Waterskier1]

Why do you say this, and what would be different about a wing "designed for a single tank with pony attached?"

I don't know, but maybe there isn't room for the pony along side (not in back of) the main tank? Simply there is no room for the wing around both tanks? I didn't plan on mounting my tank behind the main tank, but along side it (to reduce overall profile). Is this the generally accepted method for attaching pony's to a main tank? I'm sure this isn't DIR, since they would prescribe doubles, and a slung stage, but no pony. :no I'm not looking for the DIR-only answer.

 

[ScubaJW]

I have Halcyon Eclipse bp/w. I loved it from the first time I dove it. It was absolutely comfortable compare to jacket and back-inflation bc (Zeagle Ranger). I will never look back! I have never try pony tanks on it yet, but I can see that it will work.