Halcyon Explorer 40 & Single Tank Diving

[Snowblind]

Ciao!
Having just ordered an Explorer through a friends dive shop, I started reading some articles on it. Since I have my EANx course in two weeks I realised I will be doing single tank dives on my brand new twin-tank BC. I phoned my friend up and we ordered a Single Tank Adaptor.

From what I could understand, Halcyon frowns upon diving single tank on a twin tank rig, due to balance problems one might encounter. Of course they highly recomend their Eclipse, the single tank BC model. So, does anyone have any experience in diving with an adaptor with a Halcyon? Or any other Tek BC for that matter?

Looking forward to reading your responses,
Snow

 

[Gombessa]

I've never tried it, but a doubles wing (especially the Explorer) will completely wrap upwards around your tank like a taco shell. It won't be great for stability, but it won't kill you either. I would think that the OPV may then be too high to comfortably reach, forcing you to go vertical and dump from the corrugated hose. In all, using a doubles wing for single-tank diving just sounds cumbersome enough where I'd rather not deal with it.

If you're going to be doing a lot of single tank diving, you should just get a dedicated single-tank wing. The Eclipse is quite good, as are a number of wings from Oxycheq, DSS, Agir, etc.

 

[Snowblind]

Well I have 3 up-coming dives, all single tank ones. Thanks for your imput. I thought something like that would occur ... but I think I shouldnt have too much trouble ... I think.

 

[SparticleBrane]

You will have tons of trouble-- it will be a HUGE pain in the ass. But, find out the hard way if you must...

The purpose of a single-tank adapter is to allow the backplate to attach to a single tank, not to turn a doubles wing into a singles wing.

 

[Snowblind]

You will have tons of trouble-- it will be a HUGE pain in the ass. But, find out the hard way if you must...

The purpose of a single-tank adapter is to allow the backplate to attach to a single tank, not to turn a doubles wing into a singles wing.

Actually the rig was very balanced and stable. You've had contrary experience? The only thing I found slightly odd was the placement of the inflator hose. It attaches to the wing behind your head and so is quite short. Otherwise very nice

 

[wunat]

From my experience, it's possible but not recommended. I once dived snigle AL80 on my old DiveRite RecWing (51lb). It's okay but some effort is certainly require with regards to venting air out of the wing underwater.

If you would be switching between singles and doubles, you might as well invest in a Eclipse and a single tank adaptor. Right tools for the right jobs.

 

[ivobj]

It is possible, but should be unconfortable at some details, like someone already mentioned, you will have problems to reach the OPV and as you will have too much extra wing off the cylinder you can have some difficulty to release air also from the inflator hose, as the air tends to get trapped in that extra material and float above the hose, you should have to go vertical (which is always bad for diving) and pull down the wing to make the air come under the inflator hose and thus being able to be released.

About the positioning of the inflator hose, all new Halcyon Wings, include single tank are like this, I use the evolve 40, evolve 60 and eclipse, they all have the hose behind your head.

 

[a22shady]

I have the Eclipse system with the Single Tank adapter and single wing and Works absoutly Great. 1st BC i purchase and seems like it will be my only one. I also got the double wing so all set up i think you will enjoy it

 

[Fishpie]

I have exclusively been using BP&W's for more than 10 years.....I would rather use a poodle jacket than use a double wing on a single tank.

 

[mikeguerrero]

I have both the Eclipse 30# wing and the Evolve 40# wing... When laid out side by side the Evolve is just plain huge and will engulf my 100hp. I cannot imagine underwater what it would be to dump out air?

I have dove several BCD's; Malibu Back inflate, ProQD Jacket inflate, Apeks WTX harness 32 lb wing. Overall, the Eclipse Halcyon is the most compact and better performing wing I have used just isn't any competition with these BCD's.

MG