Getting back into diving, need my own gear, have NO IDEA what any of this means!

[Tsaven]

Hey guys! Some of you may have seen my post over in regulators, I'm basically asking the same thing here, only with BCs

I started diving when I was 13, and dove on vacations fairly regularly until I was 19 or so. I'm 26 now and haven't dove on the last 6 years. When I was diving I had my own basic gear but I always rented the reg & BC.

Now I'm in a situation where I need to buy my own. I'm moving to Kwajalein atoll in the Marshall Islands, for two years. Tropical enviroment doing mostly shore dives, and I could easily be looking at 10+ dives every week.

So I need to buy a BC, but I have NO IDEA where to even get started! I called ScubaToys, and the guy I spoke with recommended the Zeagles, specifically told me to look at the Stilleto, Escape, or Brigade. Does anyone else have any opinions on what would be a good BC for someone who isn't new to diving, but is new to owning his own gear?

About me physically: 6'0", 155lbs, very skinny build, wearing a 3ml shorty wetsuit.

*edit* I should add that I won't really be traveling with it a lot. I'll have it at Kwaj but it's not like I'm going to be carting it on and off airplanes every month to fly off to a new location to dive. I'm pretty much stuck on Kwaj for at least two years

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

I think you should just contact the

Kwajalein Scuba Club

If there are really 300 members using an average of 1,400 tanks per month there is plenty of dive gear already there.

Personally, if I was making over 10 dives per week, the water temp was ~81 degrees and I weighed 25 lbs less than I currently do, I would want at least a 5 mm full wet suit. I would take at least 2 pair of my favorite fins and 2 of my favorite masks. I would buy the rest there, used.

 

[tstormdiver]

You might look around before you move & even after, if you don't find what you want. Try on several different types/ brands. Get a feel for what is most comfortable for you. I am no knocking Zeagle at all, but there are also other good brands, ScubaPro, Aqualung, Oceanic, Tusa,.... the list goes on. Also look to see what brands of equipment are sold & serviced locally to where you'll be moving. It could provide a quicker turn around, for service work & if there are any issues with your equipment, instead of waiting for shipping, service & shipping back.

 

[Tsaven]

Thanks for your advice guys. I've shot off some e-mails to the instructors at the Scuba club, but from what my other friends who are already on the island say, I shouldn't expect to hear back for a bit. Things there happen on island time.

 

[chrisski]

x's 2 with halemano

 

[NCadiver]

Go with a aqualung/seaquest/apeks BCD you will be happy with any one of them or even diverite.

Aqua Lung - Professional Diving Equipment

 

[halocline]

If you want to know exactly what to buy, just like in your regulator post, I will happily oblige. You have a choice between the following two options: 1)Freedom plate, oxycheq machV wing (18lbs or 30 lbs lift), simple webbing harness, XS scuba camband pockets, dive rite or similar cambands. All of this should be available at scubatoys. Option 2) Deep sea supply single tank rig with kydex plate, 20 lb LCD wing or torus wing. This set up will come complete with cambands and a harness. You should still get a pair of XS scuba camband pockets for weight. You get the DSS set up directly from the manufacturer, and the pockets at scubatoys or any other dive shop.

You put the XS scuba pockets right on the waist belt, against the plate, held in place by D-ring keepers. At your size in a 3 mil suit, I'm guessing you will not need much weight, maybe 8 lbs at the most, probably less, and you can easily put that amount in the pockets and forget a weight belt or integrated quick release weights.

Trust me on this own, you're going to like it way better than a jacket or back inflate BC.

 

[Crush]

Trust me on this own, you're going to like it way better than a jacket or back inflate BC.

And the BP/w vs. BC debate has begun!

I have an admittedly small number of total dives (70), the first 60 being in a Zeagle Scout rear-inflate minimalist travel BC and the last 10 in an AL BP/w. They are different to get on and off, but in my personal (limited) experience, when it comes to diving a properly configured setup with single AL80's, you can't feel the difference between a rear-inflate travel BC and an AL BP/w. My travel BC is slightly lighter than the BP, while the BP/w packs slightly smaller. I have had many other SB posters with much more experience than me say the same thing.

 

[diversteve]

Simplifying the Scubatoys recommendations somewhat - maybe....lol:

All three are back-inflate BC's - meaning the wing is entirely behind you.

An Escape is a warm water BC. It has front EZ-lock weight pockets and 20 lb rear weight trim pockets. And a 35lb. lift wing - more than enough for warm water diving. Not as many add-ons so it's $399 retail.

A Stiletto is a warm water BC also. It uses their Ripcord system - one pull dumps both front weight pockets if needed. They also have a slightly larger capacity - 24 vs. 20 lbs. But realisticaly after several hundred dives you may not need any weight - or at the most a few lbs. My divebuddy is about your size/wgt. and after a few days on our annual trip he gets to about 4-6 lbs. total. And dives a Zeagle Ranger.

It also has a lumbar pad to cushion your back from the tank. And has the PFS - Personal Fit System - some components can be changed to larger/smaller sizes as needed. It also has a 35lb. wing. There's also a Stiletto

If you describe yourself to Scubatoys, they'll find someone of similar build in their store and have them try it for fit. Also you can exchange components after the sale - they're very good about it.

The wing on the Escape and the Stiletto use two different attachment systems. I'm not really sure if one is better than the other. There's one more d-ring on the Stiletto also.

A Brigade is a Zeagle Ranger with a 35lb. Escape wing. It's a custom creation only sold by Scubatoys - mostly to decrease the wing size for packing - a standard Ranger has a 44lb. wing.

The Brigade also has the Ripcord system and AFAIK will allow you to mount doubles - either with Zeagle's optional ($100?) hardware or by fitting their backplate. It's also cheaper than the Stiletto - $399.

The Escape and Stiletto are single tank BC's only.

The Brigade uses the slightly bigger, one more pocket, one more d-ring Ranger jacket. Many people consider the Ranger a cold-water BC so it might be more than you need. Although I dive all over the Caribbean with mine. It's a slightly heavier duty harness and slightly bulkier also.

You can also interchange wings on the Brigade and the Stiletto - IDK about the Escape.

There's also the new Stiletto LTD. It adds some Ranger features to the Stiletto. Including two mesh weight pockets for the Ripcord system - and is a newer model so it adds a right shoulder pull dump. And their ZipMount system so you can zip on/off various accessories that mount under the wing - there are mounts for pony bottles, Spare Air, signal tubes, etc. It's $629 though.

[user]ScottZeagle[/user] is their rep here on SB if you have further questions. They also have a manufacturers forum here. Zeagle - ScubaBoard

Zeagle also sells a BX inflator. It allows you to unscrew the inflator to expose a std. garden hose fitting for flushing the BC. You'll probably be doing a lot of that...

There are other differences but I think I've covered most of the important ones.

 

[halocline]

but in my personal (limited) experience, when it comes to diving a properly configured setup with single AL80's, you can't feel the difference between a rear-inflate travel BC and an AL BP/w.

Maybe YOU can't feel the difference, but to me it's night and day. The large rigid plate spreads out the point of contact between the round cylinder and your (roughly) flat back, and couples the tank to your body. IMO there is no substitute for that.

But, you're right, this is an absurdly over-beaten-to-death argument on scubaboard, and shame on me for bringing it up.