Halcyon entering SM market

[Wayne at DiveSeekers]

As a Top HALCYON Dealer (non G.U.E. shop/Instructor), I have been saying for years are you an Agency or a Gear Manufacturer (They make great products, just wanted more)? So for me, over the past 2 years, I am glad to see that they are finally answering that question and are having the separation. They started with some other BC options (not BP & W) and now a SM System and Lights.

I was one of the test divers for the Contour so I logged almost 20 dives in it. Nice right out of the box, no bungees on the wing (not needed), very stable and balanced. Like some have stated, it is modeled from Ed Sorenson's config. For those that don't know, Ed is Cave Country's (Florida) Guru. Once again, great quality & performance from Halcyon.

I have been diving the SMS100 (Close to Ed's Config) for the past 6 months and I prefer the new Contour. I saw that someone stated that the SMS100 trims out better, well Trim does in part have to do with the wing design but I feel that it mainly has to do with how we control our body and that we don't let our body control us. IMO, I felt just as balanced in the Contour, but loved that it didn't have the bungees and that I didn't have to modify it to the extent that I did the SMS100. Ed has seen and dove this new system and I heard that his comment was "finally, a manufacturer that got it right, right out of the box!" Comment is probably along the lines of what I'm saying. Now I'm still sure that Ed may make some little tweaks but what SM'er doesn't?

Units shipping soon (approx 10 days), can't wait to get my final production unit!

 

[nimoh]

It's my understanding that although GUE saw advantages in SM, they didn't see the advantages as having enough significance to double the number of standard configurations in the GUE system.

However, I will agree that there a lot of divers in every agency that go on rants about equipment configurations that are going to kill you, not sure any of them are authorized to speak for the agency though.

 

[karstdvr]

Guys, spin it all you want, the masses know how GUE felt about sidemount for more than a decade.

You know a few years ago I was talking with the GUE and WKPP leadership about sidemount,and I wasn't accused of heresy at the inquisition. The discussion went into a lead that was found in a cave that was a sidemount passage,but the blue water flowing from it was very interesting as a possible lead. The rather civil discussion (imagine that people of differing ideals can have civil conversations). The discussion did touch on that learning this method may be something needed in the future,and incorporating it into the dives when the conditions necessitated it.

I also know BM GUE divers refused to dive with SM divers because it would be dangerous, ie. someone might die.

I have encountered this too. I was at Ginnie and someone was walking around looking for a buddy,and when they noticed I had a TLS350 they came closer,but then they looked at the Hogarthian regulator configuration,I was told that I was doing it wrong and they couldn't dive with me.

The point is the dichotomoy that exists. The GUE leadership from my experience has been open minded and less rigid,than the actual practioners of the philosophy. That being said,I have had people who a stern followers of a certain sidemount harness manuafacturer with Joe Blow mods,and they look at my rig,and proceed to tell my why I am wrong and dangerous.


---------- Post added October 7th, 2013 at 03:11 PM ----------

 

[rambaldi]

I also know BM GUE divers refused to dive with SM divers because it would be dangerous, ie. someone might die.

Far be it from me to interpret others actions; or know anything about the special microcosm that is Florida cave diving, living on the other side of the world. But this situation could quite easily be interpreted differently, a lot of the GUE teaching is over standardised everything. Standardised gear, standardised gasses and standardised procedures. The thinking is that if everything thing is the same for everyone then things will be easier for everyone. This necessitates not diving with something that is different, as the case would be with the BM GUE vs. the SM divers. It doesn't necessarily mean the SM divers will die, just that the GUE divers feel that their dive would be conducted with more safety if it was restricted to only diving with people with a similar config, both in gear, gases and procedures.

 

[gearhound]

I have a friend that owns an Italian restaurant. He ate Chinese food one day. Does that mean he thinks his Italian food is bad? Is he going to die? Does that mean he has to change his whole menu?
Just because Halcyon built a sidemount bcd, doesn't mean GUE is changing their philosophies. The two can coexist.
An interesting note, when GUE had their conference in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico 2 or 3 years ago, they had Steve Bogaerts give a presentation on sidemount diving.
GUE divers were friendly and said hello to me at dive sites and never once mentioned that I was going to die in my sidemount rig.
I think we can all find our happy places.

And please, for those of you critiquing the bcd, at least have a look at an actual one, or better yet dive one before you go all negative on it. And a lot of you are comparing it to a modified sms100, which actually costs more once the mods are completed. The last thing I want to do with a shiny new piece of kit is have to send it away for modifications. Especially if I've spent over $700 for it.

 

[ColdH2O]

What s boring world it would be if everyone was the same and did the samething! Lol!

 

[ams511]

Far be it from me to interpret others actions; or know anything about the special microcosm that is Florida cave diving, living on the other side of the world. But this situation could quite easily be interpreted differently, a lot of the GUE teaching is over standardised everything. Standardised gear, standardised gasses and standardised procedures. The thinking is that if everything thing is the same for everyone then things will be easier for everyone. This necessitates not diving with something that is different, as the case would be with the BM GUE vs. the SM divers. It doesn't necessarily mean the SM divers will die, just that the GUE divers feel that their dive would be conducted with more safety if it was restricted to only diving with people with a similar config, both in gear, gases and procedures.

Technical Diving is NOT easy. If you read some the transcripts of George Irvine talks, the standardization was by-product of several fatal accidents that could have been avoided if the divers had similar training and gear. Some of these accidents involved very experienced and highly trained divers, not a bunch a newbies.

If you spend some time at the Cave Divers forum you will see that many cave divers are switching to side-mount not to explore caves with tight restrictions but to save wear and tear on their bodies. I am sure that is the group Halcyon is trying to market to.

 

[JamesK]

Personally I am excited about this rig. I have had a chance to play with it out of the water, and it seems extremely well built and thought out. I already have two side mount rigs that I am very happy with, so I doubt I can afford to add this to my collection, but who knows.

I have talked with many about this rig, and heard many comments good and bad. I have also heard some say that it is a rip off of Edd's rig. Not true. They did not rip off anything. They went to a leader in SM diving and got his help. Makes a lot of damn sense to me. Is it new and innovative? No. It does not need to be. When soemthing works, stick with it! Make the changes that are needed, and run with it. Was the Halcyon backplate and wing new and innovative? Is anyone's backplate and wing new and innovative? Same thing here. I have heard some complain that they saw Edd's and he has made changes to it. Edd's is the prototype and the changes have been reflected in the production version.

Every sidemount rig has been a "rip off" of something else with some changes made. Personal.y, I can't wait to get one in the water. In fact, I think I am gonna head to Extreme Exposure in a little bit and see if hey have it in for me to try. I have been offered a test dive, and can't wait to take them up on it.

Farewell, it's time to stop talking about diving, and actually go diving!

 

[victorzamora]

a lot of you are comparing it to a modified sms100, which actually costs more once the mods are completed. The last thing I want to do with a shiny new piece of kit is have to send it away for modifications. Especially if I've spent over $700 for it.

Have you purchased one of Edd's rigs? If you do buy one, let me know what it cost. Mine was much cheaper than the Contour's MSRP. I bought mine as divable out of the box (bag?) for a reasonable price, as a solution to the VAST majority of dives I was doing.
The CA guys still have some mods they recommend making, but I haven't heard anything negative about it yet. I'm very excited to try it myself, but it probably won't replace my current set up. If I were in the market now, I'd have to ponder long and hard.

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[Wayne at DiveSeekers]

Got my first shipment of Halcyon Contour SM's Today! Still have to adjust it (just threw it on real quick), can't wait to get back in the water (I was one of the test divers) and dive it! Now that I can, just wanted to share some photos!