BC advice: intermediate diver looking for versatility

[JMG]

I've been diving for many years, but only in the past few have I moved from being a "tourist" diver (1 or 2 dives a year while on vacation) to a slightly more serious diver (a dozen or so a year, also while on vacation, plus advanced and rescue certifications). I certainly wouldn't consider myself a beginner compared to resort divers, but I'll also admit that I lack experience. I'm hoping that will change soon, as this weekend I'm doing my dry suit course open water dives, and later this winter I'm going on an ice diving trip. In general, I hope to start diving much more frequently by diving locally.

As such, I'm considering picking up my own gear, and I'm completely stumped at what I should get. I want something that I can use locally in New Jersey, and also take with me on my annual Hawaiian vacation. I want something that will be good in tropical water and under ice, and that I will continue to be happy with as my skills improve. I plan on one day learning tec diving, and, while I don't need a tec setup now, I want one that will last me up until I switch.

So, the question is: jacket style, back inflate, or backplate and wings? What brand? How much lift? Integrated weights or not?

Some of the ones that have caught my eye are the Seaquest Balance and Black Diamond, and a bunch of the Zeagles (Concept II Pro, Escape, Ranger, etc), but I'm certainly not set on those and am eager to hear other suggestions (even if it makes the decision harder by giving me more choices ;-) ). I'm worried about getting one too "light duty" for cold water dry suit diving, as well as getting one too "heavy duty" for tropical and for my skill level. I don't want to be that jerk beginner diving with a ridiculous tec rig.

I know these are big questions and very broad, but I any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[DutchDown]

Hi JMG,

First, welcome to the board! I own a Balance and use it for both cold water drysuit diving as well as a travel bc for warm water destinations. I love it, but it would a good idea for you to try others, as well, as I did. Perhaps the Balance lacks features you would like, or another bc fits better, etc. I will say that the Balance fits the requirements you've set.

Phil

 

[chrisch]

Big wings are needed for doubles, travelpac for singles or a stab...

Warm, cold, drysuit, wetsuit - one stab is much like another...

What is the nature of your concern? People who worry about these sorts of things are gear obsessives not divers...

Chris.

 

[fan(t)a(s)tic]

Hi Jmg

Don't I know that problem! I just started to buy my own stuff and, man, can you get lost there...

Here's what I did:

- bought a diving magazine with all the tests that that particular publication had run in the past year. Looked at it real hard ;-)

- went to my LDS, asking them to show me what they had and for comments on my favourites. Was really lucky, they had two of my candidates in-shop. Took with me a bunch of catalogues to leaf through

- searched the 'net for boards like this one and entered the names of my candidates in the search function

That will give you a pretty good overview of what's out there.

But I guess that doesn't answer your Q on what type of device. I myself, am really interested in going the DIR way somewhere down the line, but I'll settle for a 'normal' jacket at this time. Btw it's going to be the S111.

As DutchDown said, try on as many different BCs as you can, maybe you could rent or borrow them and go for a test in the water. I know of at least one shop that even has its own pool for just that purpose (it's in EU, though).

That's about my two tons of rambling...

fan(t)a(s)tic

 

[diverlady]

As previously mentioned, try out the ones you are most interested in. I use a Zeagle Concept II (sport) and it's great for down south as well as with my drysuit. I don't think you could go wrong with any of the Zeagles you mentioned and I much prefer the back-inflate to the jacket style.

Diverlady

 

[5615mike]

Dive Rite Transpac II will fit the bill quite nicely. Change wings for different applicatons and can even dive doubles if you want to. Weight integration is quite easy. Can add 14 lbs. non-ditchable to your back and even get the weight pockets. Can add backplate if you want as well. Check it out. Nicer rig than the Zeagles IMO but as we all know.......we all have opinions! LOL

 

[JMG]

Thanks for all the advice, guys! I'd love to be able to try out all the ones I'm interested in, but I have two problems: one is, I'm interested in too many to try them all - by the time I pay all the rental fees, I'd probably be able to have already bought the BC. That's why specific recommendations help narrow down the ones I should try. The second problem is, I don't know which ones, if any, my LDS has available to try out. I'm going to look into it, and hopefully they'll have a few I can give a try.

As I said, advice on specific BCs to try is helpful. Specific BCs that I shouldn't bother with because they're no good for what I want would be even more helpful, especially if they're ones I mentioned. (i.e., are the Black Diamond and Ranger too "heavy duty" for my purposes/skill level?)

Thanks again! What a nice welcome to the board!

 

[Arnaud]

You may want to pick one brand in each style (jacket, back-inflate, soft harness and B/P) and see which one you like best. That's what I did. I ended up buying a Halcyon b/p with a 36# Pioneer wing (the 27# was slightly negative with a full Faber 95 at the time). All things considered, I would now pick a FredT b/p with a 30# Eclipse.

Any LDS that's serious about you business should let you try their stuff before you buy.

 

[simbrooks]

Arnaud, not meaning to hijack this thread, i have similar questions, although i have found a range that i would like to try out. I was told by almost every dive store i have tried that i cant take any shop equipment out before i buy, but i can borrow from someone they know or their gear if they have what i am looking for. Do you mean the former or the latter? If the former, that is not the case in central Fl, if you mean the latter, then i understand you! Some however around here do have return policies, which i think you can push a little. - most say freshwater only, not many say salt.

As for FredT's stuff, surely that too is a no try before you buy if you are doing it by email?

 

[Arnaud]

Arnaud, not meaning to hijack this thread, i have similar questions, although i have found a range that i would like to try out. I was told by almost every dive store i have tried that i cant take any shop equipment out before i buy, but i can borrow from someone they know or their gear if they have what i am looking for. Do you mean the former or the latter? If the former, that is not the case in central Fl, if you mean the latter, then i understand you! Some however around here do have return policies, which i think you can push a little. - most say freshwater only, not many say salt.

As for FredT's stuff, surely that too is a no try before you buy if you are doing it by email?

A couple of example. At one LDS, the owner gave me his own TPII to try for free for a WE. It was not a store rental, but it more than did the trick. Another LDS had a rental Halcyon B/P. That's where I bought mine and they deducted the rental cost from the price. I think you'll have to combine connections, rentals & return policies to give everything you want a try. But if the LDS doesn't do anything to help you try whatever you want to try (as in "shoot first, ask questions later"), I'll go somewhere else.

As far as FredT goes, a b/p is a b/p. You can try any brand that you have access to. When buying, you can go to FredT because his plates have a very good finish and his prices are reasonable.