Anyone have 1st hand experience with Scubapro BC's?

[LCromwell]

I am looking at thse two BC's by Scubapro. one is this one Scubapro Safari BCD, the other is the Knighthawk series and the ladyhawk series. They to me are a lot of money ($399, no Scubapro warranty, but brand new just the same) but our they worth it? Please no posts about harness and wings.

 

[DennisW]

I've owned a Scubapro Classic Sport for over 20 years. At 18 years, my first one finally gave up the ghost and I bought a new one of the same style. I tried a back inflate Scubapro (Seahawk no longer in production), but just didn't like the back inflate system and stayed with the vest style BC. You cannot go wrong with a Scubapro.

 

[drbill]

I've had mixed results... I absolutely love and regularly dive my two SP X-Tek BCDs. I had two jacket style SP BCDs, one the double black which failed (albeit after many years) and was replaced by Scuba Pro with a Classic that had a faulty inflator design that was never repaired (my fault... I didn't get the recall notice and by the time I realized the problem it was past the recall date).

 

[jupitermermaid]

I dive with a Scubapro Ladyhawk and love it. I have almost 300 dives on it and have never had a problem. When it's time to replace it (which doesn't look like it will be for quite a few years more, as it still looks brand new) I'll probably get another one. The only downside in my opinion is that it only has one rollout pocket.

 

[Damselfish]

I love my Ladyhawk except for the lack of pockets, IMO the rollout pocket is worthless. (It actually had a cracked inflator when I got it but of course they replaced that.) A long time ago I has a Scubapro non-adjustable jacket that didn't really fit me, and I hated that. It's a good brand but so are lots of others, so whether they are worth it is really a matter of how well it fits and how much it suits you.

 

[scubadada]

I had a Glide Plus for a few years and liked it very much. After diving a Knighthawk as a rental, I bought one and have not looked back. I now have several hundred dives on the Knighthawk. I find it very stable and easy to weight with a 3, 5, or 7mm wetsuit. I don't mind the fold out pocket though I don't use it often.

Good diving, Craig

 

[LCromwell]

I had a Glide Plus for a few years and liked it very much. After diving a Knighthawk as a rental, I bought one and have not looked back. I now have several hundred dives on the Knighthawk. I find it very stable and easy to weight with a 3, 5, or 7mm wetsuit. I don't mind the fold out pocket though I don't use it often.

Good diving, Craig

Thanks Craig, does it fold up easily for packing or does it take up a lot of space in a suitcase? Weight? How heavy is it?
Lee <><

 

[LCromwell]

I dive with a Scubapro Ladyhawk and love it. I have almost 300 dives on it and have never had a problem. When it's time to replace it (which doesn't look like it will be for quite a few years more, as it still looks brand new) I'll probably get another one. The only downside in my opinion is that it only has one rollout pocket.

Do you have any info. on how easy it is too fold in to a suitcase. Some almost totally collapse, does this.

 

[HBO MD]

I have dived extensively with both jacket and back inflation styles. I have to say that when I first changed to the Knight Hawk, I was amazed at the degree of freedom I experienced. Especially since I take pics, it was great. IN addition, none of that inflation squeeze I experienced during alteration of buoyancy. My wife uses a Lady Hawk and she loves it. Fine tuning buoyancy is terrificly easy. It's rugged and has been with us all over the world. Packs up nicely in our gear bags also.
Good luck.

 

[Damselfish]

Do you have any info. on how easy it is too fold in to a suitcase. Some almost totally collapse, does this.

It packs up fine. I suggest taking out the weight pockets and packing them separately as they are very stiff and it folds much better without them.