Buying my first BC - Please just shoot (help) me

[Infantry_169]

Hi,

I am a new diver. I have a total of 9 logged dives. I dive primarily around the Long Island NY area which means either the LI Sound or the Atlantic ocean, but on occasion I will be traveling to warmer waters as well. So far I've only used Jacket style BCDs. But I have been persuaded to go to the rear inflation type. My OW cert dives were using Scubapro. The scubapro has a different way of strapping the tank on which I never had a problem. My AOW dives have been using a Seaquest Balance. I had a bad experience with the latter due to a tank almost slipping out at 70 feet. Since the strap was different from what I had experience with I even had a Divemaster attach the Seaquest bc to the tank yet it still almost came loose. If it weren't for that one experience I would be leaning to the Aeris Ocean 5. Anyone have any thoughts, suggestions?

Michael

 

[dkktsunami]

Many bcs have double cam bands as do the wing and plate systems which I would, along with a large number of divers on this board, recommend to you. In the LI area you will likely be on your way to more advanced diving and you might as well start out with what you will likely be using later.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

The SeaQuest cam band will work fine when attached properly. If it has been dry for months, soaking the strap first is part of attaching it properly. Often there is a rubber piece on the strap that gets in the way of full closure; the strap on the tank should fit in the notch of the cam such that the cam makes contact with the tank when closed. On some gear I often have to move that rubber piece out of the way; on my gear I got rid of the rubber piece. If the cam is cocked a little to the side and the bottom strap is not in the cam notch, it is not attached/closed properly.

 

[deich]

I would go with the most comfortable BC... All the tank bands work just a matter of knowing how to use it properly...

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Halemano hit on the key to getting a tank to stay. Wet the strap first. I have never had a tank come loose in 300+OW dives and 250+hours in the pool. And getting the cam in the correct position when closed helps. It should give a nice snap when you close it. If it does not check to see if it is straight and no part of the strap is caught under it. I have a rubber piece on one of my bcs, the other 3 didn't come with it and don't need it anyway.

 

[pcheney]

get a backplate-wing.... the Halcyon I tested (and am now buying) has DUAL tank bands, and everything about it is military-grade compared to the BCD's I tried. Better in every way....... try one before you spend any money......

 

[TSandM]

The really important thing is that the BC you buy fit you well and be comfortable. That means that it has to tighten down around you well enough to keep the tank from shifting from side to side. I personally prefer two cambands (tank straps) because, as you have learned, one can loosen.

One of the challenges of selecting gear is that what feels good to wear walking around the shop, with no tank, is not at all what will feel good when diving in a horizontal position with a tank affixed. But I'll offer a few insights -- Simpler is almost always better. The shop may try to sell you a bunch of bells and whistles, but realize that pockets on BCs are often not easy to access in the water, and levers that send you up and down may well be a recipe for serious buoyancy problems. Most of us decide that the less we have on our chests and bellies, the more comfortable we are; therefore, experienced divers often migrate to back-inflate or backplate systems. Such systems may also offer increased stability in terms of side-to-side roll.

I wish you good luck in finding something which fits and feels good, because the better suited your gear is to you and your diving, the more likely you are to dive regularly, and diving regularly is the way to stay a diver and become a better one.

 

[parzdiver]

Definitely try a few BC's before buying and get something that makes you comfortable. Diving in cold water, a backplate and wing will get some of the lead off your waist. Check you local dive shops and see if anyone will let you give the different equipment a try. Whatever is most comfortable for the diving you do is going to be the best gear.

I personally dive a backplate and wing. One try in the pool and I was convinced.

 

[redacted]

Unless you have $$$ burning a hole in your BDUs, I'd suggest you shop around for a "good enough" BCD (and regulators) at this point and get some more experience before you go for high dollar gear. There are some great buys in used gear and you should be able to find a perfectly adequate BCD for less than $100. And you will probably get a good part of that back when you figure out what you really want and resell the old gear.

 

[Infantry_169]

Actually, I do have $$$ from the military burning a hole .. lol ... I am pleased and grateful at the responses and I will do my best to pour over these comments. I am sure that they will be very helpful in making my decision. Thanks everybody.