Congrats to Deep Sea Supply!

[darylm74]

I didn't see Oxycheq wings tested either which dissappointed me very much. I am looking to set up a double's wing soon and will definitely be checking out deep sea supply's set ups before I make my decision.

 

[Henryville]

I also read the test review. It is a really pleasure we can talk with the manufacture people at this board. Have you known any real reason why Halcyon was out of their test list? I know that ScubaPro refused to send the regulators for the test though. It is a very disappointing... Is there something they are afraid of for the public test?

This is speculation, but in prior reviews I have seen Halcyon has been criticized for the performance of its wings when diving in a more or less vertical orientation and for the lack of quick releases, pull dumps, etc. They intentionally and thoughtfully design these elements out of their systems to better suit them for a particular philosophy of diving. They are also designed for diving in a horizontal posture.

I have read some of these reviews in the past and thought, "no kidding" but at the same time felt that the critique was off the mark because of the mis-matched assumptions. This may explain why H would choose not to submit gear for this particular test.

If you really wanted to know, I bet that if you contacted Anthony Rue at Halcyon he would tell you why.

 

[Corigan]

Congrats Tobin! Great Write-Up. I like how in the review they actually give some insight as to why BP/W setups are so great. Maybe some of these LDS' will get their butt in gears and now promote BP/W setup's since Rodales has now stated they are ok in the recreational enviornment. :icorolley

I too was suprised not to see H or Oxycheq products in the review, but it could very well be that they decided not to participate.

Matt

 

[StSomewhere]

I was surprised they didn't complain about "being pushed face forward on the surface", like they normally do with back inflate BCD reviews. Maybe they finally got their weighting right?

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I was surprised they didn't complain about "being pushed face forward on the surface", like they normally do with back inflate BCD reviews. Maybe they finally got their weighting right?

Keep in mind that with a backplate you have a few lbs of steel on your back offsetting the flotation of your wing, as opposed to a back-inflate BCD ... which usually has a small mattress back there adding even more flotation behind you.

Back to the topic ... congrats Tobin. Nice to see you getting the recognition your ingenuity has earned ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Quaff King]

I get Rodales " Scuba Diving" sent to my house for free. That tells me something.
Anything you get for free ain't worth dookey. They love everyone that sends them free equipment. Now Sherwood is jumping on their bandwagon. If you want honest opinions read "undercurrent" . I'm not familiar with your product but youi might have dicked yourself sending it to Rodales. Unless thats really your target market.

 

[cool_hardware52]

I get Rodales " Scuba Diving" sent to my house for free. That tells me something.
Anything you get for free ain't worth dookey. They love everyone that sends them free equipment. Now Sherwood is jumping on their bandwagon. If you want honest opinions read "undercurrent" . I'm not familiar with your product but youi might have dicked yourself sending it to Rodales. Unless thats really your target market.

Quaff King,

I have had pretty extensive experience with magazines and equipment tests. Lets just say that Scuba Gear isn't the only thing I've designed and built.

In most cases you are correct. The typical "editor" at a sporting goods magazine calls on a wednesday to annouce their "whatever shootout" test article, and they need the goods by friday......

Then after your Red label $$$$ worth of goods across the country, the golden god like editors can never be reached again. (They are after all far too important and on a dead line)

The article is written and printed, and the first time we see it is on the news stand...

Frequently the article is full of technical mistakes. Let me make clear I don't mean matters of opinion, I mean matters of fact, clearly displaying the total lack of knowledge on the part of the testers, you remember, the golden god like editors.

Now it's time to try an recover the goods. Good luck, often the goods are never returned.

Now let me tell what my experience with Scuba Lab was:

The request for goods was sent out ~ 1 month ahead of when they needed them.

A written testing protocol was provided, before the goods were sent.

Scuba Lab staff called to "fact check" after receipt of the goods.

A draft copy of the article was provided, to check for technical correctness, not opinion.

I tried to give the goods to the Scuba Lab staff, they refused.

Never have I been soliciated by Rodale to purchase any advertisements!

As far as my "target market" can you tell me why new divers, or recreational divers as well as "Tech Divers" should not use a high quality Back Plate and Wing?

Regards,


Tobin

 

[drbill]

Thanks for posting that, Tobin. One of my dive buddies, Vicki, is a regular tester for Scuba Lab and her former SO (and a friend of mine), Jon Hardy, came up with the concept of Scuba Lab. While we can all question the methods, motives and procedures of any testing procedure, it is good to hear what the facts are in your experience!

Keep up the good work. Videos will be on the way Monday.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I'm not Scuba Lab ... and I don't even read the magazine in question ... but I have rather some experience with Deep Sea Supply products. The first backplate I got from Tobin was promptly appropriated by my dive buddy and S.O. ... I believe her exact language was ... "mine". So I had to order another. Now, I don't in any way represent Tobin (never met the guy, in fact) ... but I will tell you that just through exposure of my diving friends seeing my rig, he's sold several units. In fact, I was out on a 3-day boat trip a couple weeks back and five of the 12 divers on the boat had DSS backplates. That tells me something ... experienced divers recognize quality when they see it.

Tobin's a tinkerer, and he's designed and built some pretty nifty diving gear. Just the other day I took my SK7 compass out of it's original housing and put it in one that he built. My S.O. saw it today and ... well ... I now have to order another one for her.

Don't diss the product till you've tried it ... you may just surprise yourself with how much you like the stuff ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[cool_hardware52]

Hi Bob,

Now I get the "rest of the story" Now I know who has really been "driving" sales in the PNW.

Give my kind regards to your SO

Tobin