Making a move from jacket to back inflate, for travel

[Nemrod]

Nemrod- how does your better half find the pockets, that is assuming she uses them at all? At our coldest, I dive a 4/3 full & hood with #16 of weight. Seems like the lift is sufficient for that set up.

Well, I shall leave Meemaw out of this. In my opinion, as stated, the Zuma is stretching but adequate at a 3/2 full suit. It is not just the lift capacity which differs per size but as well the construction and lack of hard shell. This is a roll up, fold up BC, it has no support, the fabric is light and it is not intended to support a lot of weight. It does okay with a five pound in each of the weight pockets and a three pound in each of the cam band (optional) trim pockets.

Pockets, sorry, there is only one fold out pocket on the Zuma on the left waist strap, again the Zuma is a minimalistic travel BC, anyone wanting to bring a can light, kitchen sink, five spare masks and matching snorkels and a complete first aid kit, search and air, sea rescue kit with flare pistol and two way waterproof radio, should look elsewhere, the Zuma is not for him/her.

As to a BP/wing, even an Oxy 18 with the fabric soft plate is much heavier and not nearly as compact as a Zuma. Remember, the Zuma will roll up not much bigger than a tee shirt and shorts and not much heavier. I use and dive a BP/wing, even before they were called a BP and wing. I realize that some people dive drysuits and stainless plates in tropical water, I even saw one in the Keys in 94 degrees and 96% humidity sweating his bXXXs off complete with stainless plate and enough weight to sink him sufficient for the rest of the divers (I also just saw one guy in a drysuit in Coz on a completely non-tech dive, 84 degrees water). I thought it a bit extreme, especially since the guy in Coz had the SAC rate of a Shop Vac. The Zuma was clearly not meant for that diver. Do not be that diver, be a Zuma diver, neat, minimal, streamlined.

And the Zuma has a BP/wing beat on another count, it has a place for a cute little optional snap in knife instead of a silly steak knife.

Here my wife in her Zuma is pointing at a critter, no, actually she wants me to be sure to see the guy in the drysuit, no, really, she is pointing a critter for me:

And this picture has nothing to do with the thread, I just like reef scenics:

N

 

[amw5g]

I dive a scout and have for several years, even put my daughters in them. Great BCs. Probably have well over 300 dives on mine, cooler water to nice warm water. It has weight pockets mounted on the tank band, they're ditchable, you just have to practice with them. I've never had to use a weight belt with it. I can't tell you enough good things about the scout, it would be on a short list if my wife only let me have one BC and I didn't dive doubles. The shop I teach thru even has them in the rental gear and they are holding up well.
Now my wife got a Zuma for Christmas last year. Was the best gift that I could come up with, even tho she didn't want a new BC. She dove it to not hurt my feelings and discovered how much she really likes it. It packs and travels well, and is comfortable. On a trip to the springs last winter she let a few of her friends try it and they bought one when they got home. She has about 30 dives on it and it is now her BC of choice. Hope this helps.

How do you fare with just having weight in the back- does it cause any difficulty with your orientation underwater? I'm concerned a little by that, as I would need 8# even diving my shorty. I'd rather not slap some up on the tank band if I didn't have too.

---------- Post added December 2nd, 2013 at 09:12 PM ----------

Well said, I appreciate the detail.

---------- Post added December 2nd, 2013 at 09:13 PM ----------

I have a Genesis Omni and it works for me.

Anything in particular you like about it, over the myriad other options?

 

[doctormike]

I use and dive a BP/wing, even before they were called a BP and wing. I realize that some people dive drysuits and stainless plates in tropical water, I even saw one in the Keys in 94 degrees and 96% humidity sweating his bXXXs off complete with stainless plate and enough weight to sink him sufficient for the rest of the divers (I also just saw one guy in a drysuit in Coz on a completely non-tech dive, 84 degrees water). I thought it a bit extreme, especially since the guy in Coz had the SAC rate of a Shop Vac. The Zuma was clearly not meant for that diver. Do not be that diver, be a Zuma diver, neat, minimal, streamlined.

Well, that's a good point. But on the other hand, I once saw a guy diving a Zuma who had terrible buoyancy control, and was all over the reef, so I have steered clear of that particular BC since then...


Here's my son, diving a backplate, wing and a bathing suit in Bermuda. Just so no one thinks that the plate and the dry suit are sewn together...

 

[dfx]

Anything in particular you like about it, over the myriad other options?

Not really, just wanted to mention it as an alternative. It does everything I want, which is mostly back inflate and weight integrated, plus some medium sized pockets, and it's not too expensive.

 

[Nemrod]

Well, that's a good point. But on the other hand, I once saw a guy diving a Zuma who had terrible buoyancy control, and was all over the reef, so I have steered clear of that particular BC since then...

His/her problem was not the Zuma.

I also dive a plate and wing in swimsuit and rash guard, no problem and every once and a while I use one of these gurlymahn single hose jobs:

My wife on the hunt for critters:

My wife in some jacket BC, buoyancy control and trim is a skill and not an equipment issue per say:

Because actually, one can do quite well with no BC or wing or anything at all:

I can say that I have only used a BC jacket or back inflate once in my life, other than that I have always used either nothing, a horse collar or a wing, but, I, Nemrod, have realized I am not at the center of the Bell Curve:

N

 

[doctormike]

His/her problem was not the Zuma.

I also dive a plate and wing in swimsuit and rash guard, no problem. My wife on the hunt for critters:


My wife in some jacket BC, buoyancy control and trim is a skill and not an equipment issue per say:


Because actually, one can do quite well with no BC or wing or anything at all:

Right, sorry, I was trying to be funny! I definitely need to work on my delivery...



I was just responding to your implication that diving a BP/W somehow implies that you are diving a dry suit. I didn't understand what you meant, when you brought that up.

 

[uncfnp]

Just another thought to add to the raging debate. Given Nemrod's description, I would be concerned about the ability of the Zuma to handle larger/heavier tanks, an option you may want in the future. And it sounds that if you think you will ever need a 5 ml suit that it might be a problem. We needed a 5 mil in Florida this past August and often need it in Bonaire toward the end of a week diving. I am all for lightweight and minimalist, hence the Islander, but not to the point that function and versatility is compromised for little added benefit. As I said, I can get virtually all I need to dive, including the BCD, into my carry on. To me, a pound or 2 less weight and room for a few extra socks would not be worth the loss of versatility. I even sling a pony with my Islander.

 

[C P]

How do you fare with just having weight in the back- does it cause any difficulty with your orientation underwater? I'm concerned a little by that, as I would need 8# even diving my shorty. I'd rather not slap some up on the tank band if I didn't have too.

Absolutely no problem with the weight on the tank. I think it trims me out horizontally better by getting it up higher. None of the BC pulling up at the shoulders and the belt tugging down on the waist. Getting it off my waist also means less soreness in my back, which is really nice over a week trip. With the two pockets I can reach it with either hand and only ditch part of the weight. Depending on the location and suit I have used as much as 12 lbs with it. One of my former students even uses the front pockets to trim out, tho that isn't as easily or quickly ditch able and I like the pockets to carry a small ight and my snorkel in.

 

[Nemrod]

Just another thought to add to the raging debate. Given Nemrod's description, I would be concerned about the ability of the Zuma to handle larger/heavier tanks, an option you may want in the future. And it sounds that if you think you will ever need a 5 ml suit that it might be a problem. We needed a 5 mil in Florida this past August and often need it in Bonaire toward the end of a week diving. I am all for lightweight and minimalist, hence the Islander, but not to the point that function and versatility is compromised for little added benefit. As I said, I can get virtually all I need to dive, including the BCD, into my carry on. To me, a pound or 2 less weight and room for a few extra socks would not be worth the loss of versatility. I even sling a pony with my Islander.

The Zuma was not meant for heavy, negative steel tanks as used in cold wearer diving. Again, it is a tropical, warm water BC. There is no typical use for such tanks in tropical diving and even when there was, you cannot bring them with you. The Zuma was intended for the typical aluminum 63/80 tanks. A negative/heavy steel tank would roll around on the Zuma, this is a soft pack, it lacks any structure to control such tanks.

Doc Mike, sorry, of course drysuits and BP/wings are not inclusive, sorry, I get carried away, I agree with your points. A lot of versatility is sacrificed with these light weight travel BCs like the Zuma, especially compared to a BP/wing rig even in tropical form.

My warm water/tropical rig. Though I also use the Oxy soft travel plate, this is the vdh plate. And one of the pre-production test Argonaut Krakens:

BTW, I was told by Oxy, though, I should not say what they say, they can say for themselves, lol, but, the Oxy 18 and soft travel plate were intended also for aluminum 63/80 tanks and it too lacks the structure to control negative tanks and they will roll/shift around, side to side, much like with the Zuma with a similar tank for the same reason. I suspect this would be the case with any soft pack BC or an essentially plateless (soft plate) wing rig.


The Zuma (or Oxy 18 with travel plate for that matter) is not a general purpose BC. It is a tropical travel BC.

N

 

[uncfnp]

The Zuma was not meant for heavy, negative steel tanks as used in cold wearer diving. Again, it is a tropical, warm water BC. There is no typical use for such tanks in tropical diving and even when there was, you cannot bring them with you. The Zuma was intended for the typical aluminum 63/80 tanks. A negative/heavy steel tank would roll around on the Zuma, this is a soft pack, it lacks any structure to control such tanks.

Good point and the reason I brought this up is that I noticed the OP lists central Florida as his location and steel tanks are commonly used there. 100's are often available as rentals as well. Don't know if he intends to use the BC solely for travel or locally too.