Do I "Need" a BC

[Nemrod]

I hated horse collar BC's! Bought a SP BCP my 2rd year of diving (77) and never regretted not using one ever again!

I think it was 77 that I bought Scubapro's first wing. Of course they did not call it that. Blow molded plate, single cam band and talk about taco! But it was a revelation compared to anything then available. Pro Diver in Fort Lauderdale refused to allow me to use it. Yeah, and they also refused trim weights, all weights had to be QR! My, my, how things have changed, imagine if I had shown up with a steel plate that weighed 12 pounds!

 

[The Chairman]

I hated horse collar BC's! Bought a SP BCP my 2rd year of diving (77)

We made fun of those who wore them. Mostly behind their backs.

 

[USdiver1]

It was the crotch straps that made horse collars infamous, a wee bit of air and you could sing soprano.

 

[Nemrod]

It was the crotch straps that made horse collars infamous, a wee bit of air and you could sing soprano.

Nah, most of the ones I used including the SeaTec I still have and occasionally use have a Y harness and it does not impinge upon the sensitive parts of the anatomy at all, even less so than the BP/wing crotch strap which can.

 

[USdiver1]

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[USdiver1]

I have a couple of SeaTec horse collars, neither have the Y harness, is it aftermarket, or did SeaTec sell them with their BCs? Looks like I'll have to make a pair.

 

[Nemrod]

I have a couple of SeaTec horse collars, neither have the Y harness, is it aftermarket, or did SeaTec sell them with their BCs? Looks like I'll have to make a pair.

I do not know, frankly I do not remember. I have been known to modify things . Mine is military and is heavier material than most SeaTecs I have seen. I got it from Kenlee SCUBA in Houston long ago.

Just like with a wing/BP, it is the waist strap I pull snug for stability, the crotch strap does not do a whole lot and neither do the shoulder straps once in the water.

The best horse collar I have used was a Dacor SeaChute dual bladder. The upper bladder was oral/CO2 inflate and the lower bladder was used for bouyancy compensation. Being under the tummy, as long as using a aluminum tanks ot a steel 72 it was great. But a negative steel would try to turtle me. Either way, the less air introduced into a horse collar BC the better and the same really applies to a wing/BP.