The thing to keep in mind is that all LDS ... even the GUE ones ... are businesses. As such you can expect them to promote their business by trying to sell you their product ... be it equipment or services. All ... just like many who post in here ... are genuinely convinced that what they sell is the best. And for them it may be. For you it may or may not.
Diver education extends well beyond what you learn in the classroom. Take every sales pitch you hear from anyone with a grain of skepticism ... or perhaps it would be better to say that you should realize that these people are trying to earn a living by convincing you that the products they sell are what you want to buy.
There's nothing wrong with that. It's how businesses operate.
One thing I'll urge all of you to do ... especially the new divers in this forum ... is to comparison shop before you purchase. Some specific suggestions with respect to purchasing a BCD or BP/wing would be ...
- Don't buy anything without trying it on first. If possible, try it on wearing the exposure suit you'll be diving in. I would also recommend that you mount a cylinder on the BCD and put it on ... this is, after all, how you're going to be using it.
- If you have the opportunity to bring a more experienced diver with you when you go shopping, do it. Besides having a better idea than you about what types of gear are out there, chances are your more experienced friend has already encountered some of the sales "pitfalls" you are about to encounter with salesmen trying to earn a living.
- Check for both fit and comfort. Shoulder and waist straps should fit snugly, with the possibilility for adjustment both tighter and looser to accommodate any differences in exposure suits should you take the BCD to a warmer or colder climate. The rig should feel comfortable when the straps are snugged against your body. Keep in mind that this is going to work different for a harness system than for a traditional BCD ... and you should understand before purchasing how to make a harness system fit you properly.
- Pay particular attention to how the rig holds the cylinder in place. Does it come with one strap or two? What kind of buckle does it use ... and are the buckles plastic or metal? What you want to ascertain here is that you will be able to put the tank on easily and adjust the straps to hold it tightly. Typically a two-strap system works better than a one-strap system. Also make sure you understand how easily (or not) the straps adjust to accommodate different size cylinders ... some buckle systems are easier in this regard than others. Mount a cylinder on the rig yourself, then lift the rig and give it a good shake to see how well it holds the cylinder in place.
- While you are wearing the rig, have your buddy grasp the cylinder at the valve and boot and "waggle" it back and forth. The cylinder should be held firmly, with little or no movement between BCD and cylinder (ideally, none). If there's wiggle room, consider that the cylinder will move about on your back as you change positions in the water column ... this is bad. Some BCD systems have adjustments to counter any potential tank movement. If that's the case, make sure the salesman shows you how to use these adjustments properly.
- Consider the tradeoffs ... and every rig has them regardless of whether it's a backplate system or a traditional BCD. Tradeoffs include padding ... it's comfortable, but it also adds bulk and flotation. The more padding, the more weight you're going to need ... and the less streamlined you'll be when moving through the water. Does the rig use a waist strap or cummerbund? Cummerbunds provide a nice, snug fit around your waist ... but the tradeoff is that they also restrict your ability to bend over. Depending on your build, this may impact your ability to put your fins on comfortably, or reach that dive knife you've got strapped to your calf. Also keep in mind that cummerbunds are held in place using velcro ... and velcro wears out over time.
- If the BCD is weight integrated, consider whether or not the weight pockets are moveable or stationary. Most are stationary ... which means that you'll have to add weights elsewhere on your body to achieve proper trim. Some are moveable, in which case you can align them to trim you properly depending on your body type, the cylinder you'll be using, and other factors that influence your trim. A number of BCD systems also come with "trim" pockets located around where the cylinder mounts. These can also be quite useful on weight-integrated systems. Also consider how the weight pockets are designed to release. I'd recommend avoiding systems that use a simple velcro flap between weight pocket and BCD, as the velcro wears out these tend to turn into fallaway pockets rather than breakaway pockets ... and losing weights at depth is moderately dangerous (I've personally seen someone cork from 70 feet due to losing a weight pocket).
- Wearing the rig (BCD with cylinder attached), move around a bit and try using the rig in ways you'll be using it underwater. See how easy it is to do a figure-four and reach down as though you're putting on your fins. Better yet, actually put your fins on and see how easy (or not) it is wearing the rig. Try out the "features and accessories". Does the BCD have side pockets? Can you open them without your buddy's assistance? If not then they're of no use to you. Can you reach the D-rings to clip off things like dive lights and other accessories you may want to carry underwater? If you're going to be diving cold water, put some gloves on and see how easy it is to use the inflator hose ... some just aren't built to accommodate gloved hands very well. Is there a logical place to clip off your octopus? And how? Grab a regulator and try it out for yourself before you buy ... you may discover that the hardware on the BCD isn't laid out to accommodate how you want to configure your regulator.
- If the opportunity exists to try it in a pool, take the opportunity. As Genisis just stated ... everything changes when you go from walking/standing on land to getting horizontal in the water. You need to understand what those changes are, and decide whether or how they'll impact your ability to dive this rig properly.
See ... there's concrete things you can do yourself to make sure you're going to be happy with this purchase. Don't just take anybody's word for it that "this is what you want" ... only you really can answer that question.
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
