Beginner - how to buy BCD

[Sbiriguda]

if you give me a minute of your time I’ll save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars or Lira / Euro

Thanks to you and also your dad for this advice. I would say in 2 years I will be more or less still open water advanced etc. not really a professional. So my idea would be to buy good equipment but not really very expensive one. Preferably light BCD in case of travels. Considering also used if in good condition, but for BCD and regulators ready to spend a bit more and perhaps new, for safety and reliability

 

[toby43]

Thanks to you and also your dad for this advice. I would say in 2 years I will be more or less still open water advanced etc. not really a professional. So my idea would be to buy good equipment but not really very expensive one. Preferably light BCD in case of travels. Considering also used if in good condition, but for BCD and regulators ready to spend a bit more and perhaps new, for safety and reliability

Cressi travelight is good lightweight travel bcd. I have had two. And is Italian!

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I use a backplate and wing for local dives as well as travel. I use it on tech dives as well as recreational dives. It fits me perfectly because I have adjusted it to just where I like it. In ten years if I want a different wing I don't have to change backplates. If I could have bought a BP/W when I was a new diver I would have saved a ton of money.

 

[dmaziuk]

Now, I would like to buy equipment and as a beginner I really don't know where to start from... There are several different kinds of BCD, if you could link a good resource or thread about the different kinds of BCD that would help

I think you should try to find a place you can rent (or someone to borrow from) a back-inflate and/or a backplate & wing from, and try them out. You may not feel comfortable in one, you may like it better then a jacket. ScubaBoard is heavily biased toward BP&W generally speaking, but nobody knows if you'll like diving in one.

 

[ams511]

The most important quality of anything you buy, except a wetsuit, is fit and comfort.

I am a bit perplexed by your comment. If fit and comfort is not the most important qualities of a wetsuit then what is?

 

[The Chairman]

If fit and comfort is not the most important qualities of a wetsuit then what is?

TIght and hot. If you're comfortable on land you'll be cold in the water.

 

[Sbiriguda]

As a beginner, I immediately understood what The Chairman means. When choosing the wetsuit during training I used to choose ‘comfortable’ ones like I would do with a dress. Only to understand immediately they were too large especially the neck

 

[ams511]

As a beginner, I immediately understood what The Chairman means. When choosing the wetsuit during training I used to choose ‘comfortable’ ones like I would do with a dress. Only to understand immediately they were too large especially the neck

I am glad you understood what he meant. To me fit and comfort is important in a wetsuit. It does need to be tight and seal well at the wrists, ankles, and neck, but it should not be so tight that it restricts breathing or hampers motion too much. I think the chairman and I hold the same opinion, but just state it differently.

 

[The Chairman]

As a beginner, I immediately understood what The Chairman means.

Thanks! I often resort to glib humor to get a point across. Sometimes it's more glib than humorous, but it's good to see that the point gets across.

but it should not be so tight that it restricts breathing or hampers motion too much.

I should note: I rarely, rarely dive with exposure protection because I hate how they hamper me. Of course, I'm built like a manatee, so I get to dive like one!

I think the chairman and I hold the same opinion, but just state it differently.

It happens all the time. Perspectives differ and consequently, so do our words. However, our goal is to have fun diving and that's what unites us. Dive and Let Dive!

 

[Sbiriguda]

I am also considering now backplate and wing
I never tried one in the water until now, I asked the instructor to lend me one of his personal BPW and I would like to try one
I am considering this one:
Bags Sport Diving Products - GAV DIR30
And then I would get an aluminum backplate
Still, I don't have any experience with this kind of BCD's and trying it once in a pool is not enough to understand if I really like it or not

By now as a first choice I am considering travel BCD's like the Aqualung Zuma and the Mares Pure SLS
As a second choice a BPW like the one above