Can you use a travel BCD as an everyday BCD if you do 2-3 dives a month ?

[Pavao]

Cold water diving requires more exposure protection, hence you need more lead to get down. That requires more lift in the BC itself...

I assume this is related to neoprene only, and it's about compression due to increased pressure/depth.
My question is, how much additional lift is needed from using a 3mm full to using an appropriate cold water suit (insert thikness here), everything else being equal, except of course the additional weight to get down?

 

[Splitlip]

Remember, we want the bc to float our rig without us in it as well.

 

[Nemrod]

There's two approaches to travel BCDs:

1) Same design as normal jacket BCDs, but with lightweight (non-robust) materials used.

2) Minimalist design, utterly functional only, with rugged materials.

Only one of those approaches makes sense for home-use also. That's the backplate/wing (BP&W) approach, which is modular and can be selected to suit the diver's specific needs. There are plenty of BP&W options available on eBay.

A 30-40lb wing (depending on lift requirement) coupled with an Al or fabric backplate is very effective for travel and will last decades with even the toughest use. A basic hogarthian harness is suitable for any diving; but for travelling (and not doing 'tech') just take off all the metal fittings (D-rings) you won't use.

Actually the ZUMA is:

3. Minimalist design, utterly functional but with lightweight materials used.

N

 

[DevonDiver]

Actually the ZUMA is:...utterly functional...

An M1 tank is 'utterly functional', but you wouldn't use it for shopping trips at the weekend.

Does a supposed 'minimalist' BCD require a chest strap? integrated weights? hip padding? shoulder padding?

Those are 'wants', not 'needs'. Minimalist addresses 'needs' (with the modular option for 'wants').

 

[socc]

Hello everyone,

Many thanks for your replies. I think I have to do some research before bying a BC and see whats suits my needs best !

Remember, we want the bc to float our rig without us in it as well.

Can you please expain that ? What is "rig" ?

Finally, is there a guide about how to choose the wing and the harness for creating a custom BCD ? And then how you put them together.

Many thanks,

Socc

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

 

[Splitlip]

Hello everyone,

Many thanks for your replies. I think I have to do some research before bying a BC and see whats suits my needs best !



Can you please expain that ? What is "rig" ?

Finally, is there a guide about how to choose the wing and the harness for creating a custom BCD ? And then how you put them together.

Many thanks,

Socc

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

Rig = kit.
I dive back plates and wings. My favorite wing is 18 lb. While it would likely work all year round, in the winter my rig is ~20 lb negative. Should I doff it, I wouldn't want to lose it.

 

[Nemrod]

An M1 tank is 'utterly functional', but you wouldn't use it for shopping trips at the weekend.

Does a supposed 'minimalist' BCD require a chest strap? integrated weights? hip padding? shoulder padding?

Those are 'wants', not 'needs'. Minimalist addresses 'needs' (with the modular option for 'wants').

You realize the ZUMA rolls up no bigger than a t shirt? It has very little of anything including a plate. The wing is modular and will come off of the harness and since it is intended for warm water travel, of course it has integration pockets. No warm water diver seeking a super packable, travel BC is then going to want to tote a weight belt that is larger than the BC. I think you guys are confusing a travel BC with a tech BC. The ZUMA is a wing with a harness and two weight integration pockets and nothing much more.

BTW, all of the "travel" soft plates that fit to the mini-wings (18-24 pound) will not support negative steel tanks. They were intended for aluminum 63/80 tanks. Negative steel tanks will tend to roll off the diver and twist the fabric soft plate or the tank will flop side to side. I have the Oxy and the SP, both roll and flop. I love both for their intended purpose which does not include general purpose diving with a 10 pound negative steel.

In terms of minimalism, as a life long practitioner, I am weight belt vs weight integration neutral, I do not see one as more or less than the other. If you are using a BC, a complication to begin with (since we are talking travel BC which by definition were intended for warm water use only), then the addition of a weight belt is more, not less. More to carry, more to pack, more to lose and a lot of little people, do not really have room for a weight belt. That is a thread I have seen before. Even with a small plate, my wife would have little room for a belt. And since she has been a diver, YMCA, 1979, well, weight integration is a good thing for her, no more weight belt struggles or it falling off.

N

 

[socc]

How about the Holis Ride ? Is it a good choice for everyday diving in cold water ? It seems durable and has 37lbs lift.

What a good lift weight for cold waters generally ? Assuming the use of dry suit etc.

Thanks,

Socc

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---------- Post added February 23rd, 2014 at 11:26 AM ----------

A Seahawk isn't really a lightweight compared to the Zuma so if you can get one reasonably that might be an option. It has the lift to work in cold water effectively.

View attachment 178205

It also has a heavier duty outer bladder cover:

A better comparison to the Zuma would be the Lighthawk or the Go - ScubaPro's travel options.

Thanks diversteve !

So does anyone else also think that the Scubapro Seahawk is a good option for what I need ?

Thanks,

Socc