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To the OP: I can vouch for the build quality of the Apeks WTX and do travel with it, but it's admittedly heavy and if I were to buy again I would look into xDeep's line of BP/W's, probably the Ghost.

Sorry, honest question, but apart from remembering to thread the crotch strap (yes, I looked silly on that first dive), what is difficult about a PB/W? I found my Apeks WTX to be an immediate improvement over the jacket BCD I certified on.

+1 for primary on a chest D-ring, spare in a pocket. If I'm not using my camera, my primary is on my hand (Goodman style grip.) Great for signaling buddies :)

Based on all of your thoughts, I am opting to return to Protec in Spring 2021 for AN/DP. As many of you have pointed out, expecting an equivalent level of training from an instructor who doesn't dive sidemount is unreasonable on my part, and I really ought to get in a good number of practice...

xDeep Stealth 2.0. Given their affinity for it, it's one of the reasons I chose Protec.

Yes, Sidemount and Cavern are the starting point of true technical diving for me. Up until now it's been cold water diving with a drysuit and pony bottle, so not easy tropical stuff, but definitely also not tec diving. As sidemount will be my primary style from this point onward, that 10%...

Hi Folks, As I prepare to step into the realm if tec diving I am budgeting both time and money for the journey. I will complete TDI/PSAI sidemount and cavern in a few months, so the next logical step in my mind (apart from getting dives in the new configuration) is AN/DP. The question is...

Actually have an AL40 as a pony already! Since I'm presently diving a single tank, I like knowing I can take my time in the event of a serious gas failure.

Given what I've learned so far, it sounds like I should contain my enthusiasm and hold off from buying anything right now, get through training, pick up some AL80's, and rent a bunch of different steels from the shop before committing to anything...i.e. I just reaffirmed I lack the necessary...

Thanks, I was thinking of the extra lead that AL require the diver to wear, as opposed to Steel, but didn't properly say so. Nonetheless, given how pro-steel most cold water divers are, it's interesting to hear a sound argument for AL.

Thanks, the picture really helps with perspective. Also, AL80's are cheap and I'll need a few for stage bottles anyway, so no money lost even if I find I want to dive something bigger sometime down the road. Also, nice trim!

Yep, I'm in WA state and dive the Puget Sound and Hood Canal :) I'm on the south end near Portland, so you being in Port Orchard makes me all kinds of jealous... Barring some type of surprise during training, I'll be diving with the add-on rails in cold water. Just curious, wouldn't a drysuit...

That's simple enough, I get 31" for me, so now I have a reference point, which is really helpful. I'm also pretty sure my shop won't do cave fills unless it's the owner, which I can't count on being available. Also, I should have mentioned in the original post that I will be doing some deco...

Hi folks, I've posed this question to my instructor as well, but I have the chance to pick up some used tanks (pairs of LP95's and 108's) and as I have not gone through training on the xdeep stealth yet, I don't want get excited and buy tanks that won't trim well for me. Is there a way I could...

Thanks for all the suggestions. If I can't make one of those work, I'm clearly doing something very, very wrong :P I think I'll give the OMS buckle a shot first.

Hi Folks, I'm switching things up on my Apeks BP/W for warm water and changing to OMS vertical pockets since I don't need 20lbs. of lead in the tropics. However, I dive cave-style with a 7ft hose tucked under my canister light, and with the smaller pockets it will be able to travel on the...

And FWIW, as someone generally interested in all things scuba, I found this thread rather interesting :) Sometimes information gleaned via aggregation is more valuable than a singular statement of fact (at least for me.)

Like someone said earlier, it really depends on where you plan to take your diving career, but that said, the Perdix AI is a buy once, cry once computer. If I had to re-buy all of my gear, it's literally the only piece I wouldn't even think twice about getting again :)

Thanks for all the insight; I wouldn't have ever considered asking for cards from both agencies. And yes, I will be training with Kim from Protec Tulum :) Cheers, -Michael

Hi all, I'm going to be doing my sidemount and cavern training fairly soon, and the shop in Tulum offers both PSAI and TDI classes. At the end of the day, does it really matter which one I go with? The instructor will be the same either way. Thanks!