Buying first BC - Preferably Travel BC

[Yuri_RP]

xDEEP - The GHOST - Lightweight single tank BCD; Traveler scuba jacket; diving equipment
It virtually deflate flat to your back.. Almost nonexistent.. Don't know if it's good or bad though.. Still have lots to learn about diving..
Btw.. Now I train regularly every 2 days using (borrowed from the Pool) Aqualung Wave size L, Dacor Regulator (still unknown, will ask tomorrow), Aqualung Slingshot XL, weight belt with 4 kg of lead..
I weigh 105 kg (been losing weight lately, was 115 kg before) and I'm 178 cm tall..
How much Lift do I'm looking for here..? If I plan to travel overseas to a warm or cold climate, what will change..?
The 4 kg weight still keeps me up sometimes, maybe will try to fit more weight tomorrow..

 

[JohnN]

xDEEP - The GHOST - Lightweight single tank BCD; Traveler scuba jacket; diving equipment
It virtually deflate flat to your back.. Almost nonexistent.. Don't know if it's good or bad though.. Still have lots to learn about diving..
Btw.. Now I train regularly every 2 days using (borrowed from the Pool) Aqualung Wave size L, Dacor Regulator (still unknown, will ask tomorrow), Aqualung Slingshot XL, weight belt with 4 kg of lead..
I weigh 105 kg (been losing weight lately, was 115 kg before) and I'm 178 cm tall..
How much Lift do I'm looking for here..? If I plan to travel overseas to a warm or cold climate, what will change..?
The 4 kg weight still keeps me up sometimes, maybe will try to fit more weight tomorrow..

Since you're price sensitive, have you considered this: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cl...ems/498964-5-hog-bp-w-setups.html#post7350650

I think you could fit it into an Intl Flat Rate box ~US$76

 

[TecDiveGear]

xDEEP - The GHOST - Lightweight single tank BCD; Traveler scuba jacket; diving equipment
It virtually deflate flat to your back.. Almost nonexistent.. Don't know if it's good or bad though.. Still have lots to learn about diving..
Btw.. Now I train regularly every 2 days using (borrowed from the Pool) Aqualung Wave size L, Dacor Regulator (still unknown, will ask tomorrow), Aqualung Slingshot XL, weight belt with 4 kg of lead..
I weigh 105 kg (been losing weight lately, was 115 kg before) and I'm 178 cm tall..
How much Lift do I'm looking for here..? If I plan to travel overseas to a warm or cold climate, what will change..?
The 4 kg weight still keeps me up sometimes, maybe will try to fit more weight tomorrow..

of course its good Yuri, equation is simple: less drag = less effort = better (lower) gas consumption
how much weight ? here is what we teach at UTD / PSAI etc. you wanna take tank with only rock bottom gas amount in it (depends on a dive, depth etc) lets take purely tropical, up to 60 ft dive.
take tank that you plan to dive with with 500psi left in it put your whole gear on you (everything you will be diving with) , lie flat on the water surface, no gas in wing at all / drysuit (if used) and start exhaling if you start to descent then you need no more weights
if you won't start to descent near the empty lungs make someone start dropping the weights on your back one after one, when you achieve the point that you start to descent you done ! you have figured out the amount of weight needed.
this amount will make sure that wearing all (exposure protection, other fixed buoyancy gear) you can keep depth / stops with gas bottom rock left in your tank or if you wanna be
slightly conservative (slightly as 7 out of 10 divers are over-weighted by amount of weights they carry) do the same with empty (50psi) tanks.
if you are weighing yourself in the pool make sure to compensate (add 15% +/-) weight for salt water which is more dense and you will need more weight.

 

[ams511]

Yuri, if Seac is supported you can't beat these prices: Closeouts

---------- Post added February 25th, 2015 at 12:04 PM ----------

Nothing far away from the truth, here comes another striking feature of xDeep GHOST, its wing has the 39lbs lift capacity to be able serve divers mounting pony tanks and diving heavier steel tank
but GHOST wing is completely stripped off a center dead zone and that makes it very small in size even with that capacity when fully inflated it measures 16-18" in width which is way less than any other (half of that capacity) BCD, both recreational and technical. I will grab one from our warehouse and post picture later.

---------- Post added February 25th, 2015 at 12:32 PM ----------



You wanna be careful with scubastore[com] / diveinn[com] as they practice to buy through other authorized dealers being unauthorized to sell by manufacturers undermining the prices, with that reason xDeep Americas doesn't honor the warranty for products that was purchased in US from this merchant and if any problem under warranty occur it will have to be paid for repair or sent back to Europe on users cost might be hurtful but we have to apply some tools to fight black market

1) The physics of a wing is that it causes lift by displacing water with air. All 40 lb wings need to displace the same amount of water to get the same amount of lift. There is no way you can get around that. Also compensating for heavy steel tanks with a large wing is rather foolish. If the wing should fail then the diver is in serious trouble as he may not be able to swim up the rigs.

2) The diver is in Indonesia so he could care less about XDeep USA's warranty. Also Dive Inn seems to have a wide assortment of Xdeep products, are you sure they are a grey market seller?

 

[Tbar]

You wanna be careful with scubastore[com] / diveinn[com] ..., with that reason xDeep Americas doesn't honor the warranty for products that was purchased in US from this merchant and if any problem under warranty occur it will have to be paid for repair or sent back to Europe on users cost might be hurtful but we have to apply some tools to fight black market

I have purchased Mares, Scubapro and Seac from European stores, both over the while overseas and over the internet. No issue with local support. Scubapro even support gear purchased second hand from the US...

To call this a black market is absurd, it is not illegal its just against some supplier's business model. What if I go on holiday and buy some equipment, say as my computer fails/floods, it wont have warranty - that's a bit poor!

The level of mark-up in Australia across most imported products has resulted in Government enquiries. My view is suppliers that want to lock you in to there regional pricing strategies should be avoided.

 

[ams511]

To call this a black market is absurd, it is not illegal its just against some supplier's business model. What if I go on holiday and buy some equipment, say as my computer fails/floods, it wont have warranty - that's a bit poor!

The easiest way for them to fight the "black market" is to sell at a lower price. Here in the US people have orgasms over how great capitalism is. They seem to confuse it with perfect competition. No company wants to be in a perfectly competitive market because then the price is determined by the market and they become price takers (think farmers). Most businesses want to become monopolies because that is the most profitable form of market competition for them because they are price setters (think utilities). I think DiveInn is an authorized dealer because xDeep products do not show up because I am in the US. If they weren't an authorized dealer why would they care where I am?

 

[Yuri_RP]

Hello,
Right now I'm looking at Dive Gear Express..

DGX Custom - Singles Harness/Backplate/Wing Package

https://www.divegearexpress.com/bcs/pkg_metal.shtml#3330

• DGX {25 lb | 11 kg} Wing by Dive Rite®
• Two stainless steel buckle tank straps
• Basic hogarthian harness with all S/S hardware
• 2-inch padded crotch strap w/scooter ring
• DGX Aluminum OR Steel backplate
• Assembly screws

DGX Custom - Dive Rite Harness/Plate/Wing Package

https://www.divegearexpress.com/bcs/pkg_metal.shtml#1960

• Dive Rite Harness: choice of Basic, Deluxe, or Quick Release styles
• Dive Rite Crotch Strap: choice of { 1.5 in | 3.8 cm }, or { 2 in | 5.1 cm }
• Dive Rite Aircell: choice of single or double EXP Wings or XT Armored Wings
• Backplate: choice of Dive Rite XT Lite S/S or XT Standard S/S

They offer free shipping to Indonesia for order $250 up.. I'm currently looking at the DGX Custom one.. It it good enough compared to the dive rite one? Because I read that the DGX Custom is made by DiveRite too..

Edit : Also, are their Regulator good? https://www.divegearexpress.com/regulators/rg3000.shtml they have a good price for me..

 

[Christian.Juanda]

Hi Yuri

I want to share my experience while on the market of Scuba gear, not long ago.

BCs
I like back inflation bcds, I do OW with AL Wave, and do about 15 first dive in Wave and scubapro Equator. Then I go to back inflation until now.
Jacket vs Back inflation is personal choice, both of them has its pros and cons. This forum has many discussion about jacket and back inflate bcd.

Bp/wing is a variation of back inflate bc, one advantage of bp/wing is custom fit, as the harness will be adjusted to your body. As long as you do your weight check and getting familiar with your gear. Then I dont see why bp/w not suitable for novice diver.

Bp/wing is a bit pricey than jacket, however if you see yourself doing technical diving in future, economic wise-bp/wing might be better in the long run.

I also weigh 105 kg, and i found 30lb is more than enough for warm water.

Regulators

I use MK2+G250V and then upgraded to MK17. IMO, regulators from good company will do the job in the recreational depth. So you will have a ton choices for regulators here.

Buy gear from overseas might be good. You might need to ask your relatives there, so You can reduce the cost. Also dont forget the tax (bea cukai).

I think most of your bc list is available in jakarta. I can show you the shops, let me know if you come to Jakarta

 

[Yuri_RP]

Hello Christian.. I sent you a PM.. Will be asking a lot from you..

 

[ams511]

I'm currently looking at the DGX Custom one.. It it good enough compared to the dive rite one? Because I read that the DGX Custom is made by DiveRite too..

Edit : Also, are their Regulator good? https://www.divegearexpress.com/regulators/rg3000.shtml they have a good price for me..

The difference between the DGX package for $299 and the other for $399 is the less expensive packages uses an aluminum plate rather than a steel one. Also with the more expensive package you are allowed more options. For the $299 package I would recommend buying an STA for $25 - $30 dollars. For the $399 package you need an STA AND cam straps.

The Dive Rite regulators are fine but remember they have a DIN fitting not sure what you use in Indonesia.