Any advice on a good yet simple BC?

[Matsya]

........................From what I understand so far, it seems that there are no bad BCD features to be avoided, only personal preferences. Might as well go for the cheapest one and see what I like or dislike about it?

I am in total agreement with you Mislav as regards personal preference. Ultimately the choice of a BCD is a matter of personal preference. You will find countless similar threads in ScubaBoard where the OP asks for advice in buying a BCD that turn into Jacket Style Vs BP/Wings arguments. IMHO you will find that as you improve your buoyancy and fine tune weighting and control you will very seldom use your BCD underwater (maybe to compensate for wet-suit compression)and it will mostly be used as a surface flotation device. At least this is my experience in the limited field of recreational diving without an overhead environment.

I have tried both BP/Wings set-up and jacket style and preferred to go jacket style with integrated weights (for my present level of diving).

 

[aznlmpulse]

I highly recommend halcyon's bp/w setup. Depending on how much weight you need, you might not even need a weight belt, due to the backplate. I use their weight pouches on my tank strap...no need to worry about a separate belt. Very minimalist, bullet proof, and you won't feel like you have to upgrade in a few months/years.

 

[evil_xander]

Depending on how much weight you need, you might not even need a weight belt, due to the backplate. I use their weight pouches on my tank strap...no need to worry about a separate belt. Very minimalist, bullet proof, and you won't feel like you have to upgrade in a few months/years.

For tech diving, this is perhaps ok because uncontrolled emergency ascent is a no-no, but for recreational dives, it is vital that in case of an emergency you're able to ditch the weight belt (not that I'd really want to do it, but it should be present as an option for worst case scenario) in order to ascend.

Usually, in Croatia you dive wetsuit + steel tank, so you really should have a ditchable weight belt (if you need any weights), as in case of BCD failure you have no alterate way of controling your bouyancy besides your lungs (try to fin your way up).

Integrated weights in BCD's are ok if anybody wants them, but on the tank strap it seems a bit akward, causing more problems in perspective then solving them.

I might be wrong, but I would not use such system for rec diving. I prefer the traditional weight belt, nothing fancy.

 

[mislav]

Why didn't you say so in the beginning? I thought you wanted a specific recommendation.

You thought right. But I also wanted to understand the makings of a good design. Thank you for your list of must have features.

Excellent comments, guys. Thanks to everyone for your help. I like how this thread suddenly became a very high quality guide to all things BCD.

 

[*Floater*]

An example - I was given a tip to buy a rubber weightbelt instead of the standard one. Since, the rubber belts do not let loose on you in higher depths. Seems like a nice tip.

Is this a common problem you have, I mean weightbelt coming loose at greater depths? Now that I use a BP/W I haven't used weightbelts for a while - if I need extra weights I add weight pockets to my harness waist belt. I don't remember my waist belt made of nylon webbing coming loose much, and if it did I'd just tighten it.

 

[O2BBubbleFree]

Is this a common problem you have, I mean weightbelt coming loose at greater depths? Now that I use a BP/W I haven't used weightbelts for a while - if I need extra weights I add weight pockets to my harness waist belt. I don't remember my waist belt made of nylon webbing coming loose much, and if it did I'd just tighten it.

He's probably talking about the common problem of weight belts becoming loose due to suit compression (and possibly wet nylon stretch). And, yes, it's easy enough to re-tighten.

My weight belt has a gigundeous o-ring in the back that makes it self-tightening. Works pretty well. It's just a big o-ring held in place by a couple of weight keepers.

 

[mislav]

He's probably talking about the common problem of weight belts becoming loose due to suit compression (and possibly wet nylon stretch). And, yes, it's easy enough to re-tighten.

Yes, that's what I meant. I worded it poorly.

Anyway, it's not a common problem for me, and I only notice my weightbelt coming loose at greater depths. I can retighten it, and also readjust it on the way up, but having a rubber belt lets you forget about all this fine tuning.

It's a tip I got from a very experienced diver but it doesn't apply to me yet - I still dive on mostly rented gear. Slowly working on getting my own right as we speak.

 

[pterantula]

There are old timers out there with backpacks who can dive better than most on this or any forum. The key to getting better in diving is to practice as often as you can to get as comfortable with the gear you have.

It's cool to be a great diver with crappy gear but uncool with great gear but can't dive worth a crap.

Funny how this same argument applies to music, photography, film, car racing, etc... and somehow, as simple as it seems, it always bears repeating: it's not the gear, it's the user.

 

[divnamite]

Have you tried the Weight and Trim system? Here are a few on Ebay. DUI Weight and Trim pouch I don't use it personally, but a lot of people I know use it and love it. It can use for both Dry Suit or Wet, it does seem like a fantasic piece of gear.

 

[aznlmpulse]

For tech diving, this is perhaps ok because uncontrolled emergency ascent is a no-no, but for recreational dives, it is vital that in case of an emergency you're able to ditch the weight belt (not that I'd really want to do it, but it should be present as an option for worst case scenario) in order to ascend.

... Integrated weights in BCD's are ok if anybody wants them, but on the tank strap it seems a bit akward, causing more problems in perspective then solving them.

I might be wrong, but I would not use such system for rec diving. I prefer the traditional weight belt, nothing fancy.

I understand that it might be advantageous to have ditchable weights when diving with so much weight on the side, but does being a recreational diver (and not a tech diver) make it more acceptable to resort to such asents? Correct me if I'm wrong, but recreactional divers still go down to depths well past 100ft, in which case, an emergency asent with no weights would cause you more harm than good. I use 2-3 lbs on my upper tank strap with halcyons ballasting weight pouches and it doesn't get in the way of tightening or loosening the tank at all. I'm not trying to sell halcyons gear for them, it's just hard for me to understand why so many people are against it, without even having tried it. I fell in love with mine after the first dive.