Kosh once bubbled...
SQ Balance (with the new quick release). Cost at the local dive store ~$490. Pretty much a lock on this one. I want a back inflate, and I like the looks of this BC. Read good things about it on Scubaboard and elsewhere. (No, I do not want to get into a BP/wings setup at this time.)
Fair enough. Frankly, with only a few dives planned per year, I think this particular situation might be one where I personally wouldn't have recommended a bp/wing anyway. Since it often takes three or four dives to get everything adjusted "just right," it would take you more than a year at that rate...
The Balance is a very nice BC... I'm a fan of the "minimalist" ideology behind it, and it seems to be a quality piece. I am particularly fond of the blue/black combination, too. The size of the wing is ideal for tropical diving as well, which apparently is what you are planning.
The Balance is missing some features, which you may find is actually a PLUS rather than a negative. For example, it's missing usable pockets. Sure, it's got one stuffed in there, but for the most part, it's hardly useful. The negative aspect of this is that you're very limited as to what you can carry. If you plan on carrying a disposable underwater camera, for example, you're going to have to clip it off (and they are annoyingly buoyant) rather than be able to put it away in a pocket of some sort. The advantage, obviously, is that there is no pocket to cause extra drag on the BC, and it makes for a rig that's cleaner and simpler and more streamlined than others.
An option to the Balance is a Dive Rite Transpac II, which is something that I would recommend checking out before buying the Balance. The Dive Rite to me doesn't appear to be as "finished" as the awesome-looking Balance, but the Dive Rite "TPII" is a modular unit, meaning that you can easily change the size of the wings to get the lift you want (without forcing yourself into diving with more lift than you need). The TPII also allows you to purchase separate pockets and such so that you can add and remove any feature you want. This in itself is an advantage, but may be more than is necessary or even desired for someone who's diving just a couple of times per year.
By the way, one disadvantage to the TPII is the fact that the pull dumps are pretty worthless. While the pull dumps on the Balance work nicely because of their smooth action and stable mounting point, the TPII's pull dumps are simultaneously stiff and mounted on the changable wing... A point which is not stable enough to effectively work right.
That said, as a believer in the tenants of DIR, I personally feel that pull dumps aren't worth the hassle. But I can understand how someone who dives just a few times a year might consider these points pretty seriously. Only recently did I come to the conclusion that I wasn't a fan of pull dumps... Prior to this, I very much liked them, and you might feel the same, depending on your experiences with them.
One more thing about both of these BC's... While the Balance is moreso than the TPII, neither of these BC's are advertised as "hard pack" BC's, meaning that the tank effectively is attached directly to the material of the BC... Not to a hard backplate, which helps add stability and structure to the system. I personally am not a fan of "soft pack" BC's, as I find that they simultaneously hold my tank too low out of the water and too high in the water. This, for me, results in the tank hitting the backs of my legs when I'm walking to the dive site while also hitting me in the back of the head if I try to swim horizontally. The system, for me, is improved if I
really cinch down on the shoulder straps, but then the system is entirely too tight around my shoulders, and the net result is that the entire BC is held too high up on my body when I'm in the water.
Thus, I personally prefer something with some internal stucture in it... And if you were to take a Balance and add a hard backing, you'd have the Balance's big brother (Black Diamond) or the Scubapro Knighthawk.
With the Black Diamond, though (which has a very good internal structure that is extremely comfortable and much more stable, keeping the tank pretty much where it's supposed to be all the time) you get a lot more "extras" which might not be of interest to you. For example, there is the addition of two more pockets (adding usability but also adding drag), pointless additional D-rings (probably just to look better on the shelf) and a lot more lift in the bladder (not only creating more drag, but turning an otherwise stable BC into a real face-planter if all of it is used). There is also the addition of a cummerbund, which to this day I can't understand the point of, especially because they are made of elastic and do not help with stability at all.
The Knighthawk is a very nice BC as well, keeping a little more in tune with the Balance's ideology of simplicity, yet adding a hard backplate in the midst of the BC. I'm also a fan of the Scubapro tank band, a stainless steel unit that many of us use on our "tech" backplates. I like the Knighthawk also because the bladder of this BC is a full circle, meaning that air can easily travel from one side to the other, reducing the problem of air trapping when inverted or horizontal (annoying as hell when you're swimming down and trying to dump). As with most BC's, however, there is a lot of extra "stuff" on it which seems pointless and does nothing but create drag. One such example is the "epaulet" that is on each shoulder, especially the right one. At least you can justify the left one by feeding your inflator hose though it. Another example is the second, right shoulder pull dump, which I thought a great idea until I realized that it meant that there were now FOUR dumps on this BC... A bit excessive and failure-prone, IMHO, when a single good one would probably do the job just as well, with 1/4th the liklihood of failure. There also seems to be a lot of adjustment straps and such left over as "danglies" when you've got it adjusted, but that can be fixed with a set of scissors and a match. Lastly, as with the Balance, the concepts of "pockets" are pretty worthless... When you dive with this rig (as with the Balance), you're going to end up having to clip everything off, adding to the "Christmas tree" syndrome.
AL Titan LX (with a LX octo) Had one shop owner tell me how he sells a lot of these. They are durable, small, and not a big bank buster.
The local shop I want buy from carries AL stuff, but not this reg (Im sure they can get if for me). The LDS tells me to get an Apeks. I originally thought about Apeks regs, but thought the ATX 200 was too expensive, and I know the ATX 50 is more than the AL. So now I ask. Do I really need a reg with an adjustment knob (like the one on the ATX 50)? Could I get the AT20 or 40 (without the knob) and still be getting a good reg? Should I stick with my plan to get the AL Titan LX and see if this shop can order one?
Aqualung regs have gotten great reviews at Rodales, and I know some people who swear by them. I don't think you can go wrong with most of their stuff, but I think you hit the nail on the head with the comment about the LDS... Since regs need to be serviced annually (and you're only going to put 3-4 dives per year on them in-between), it seems to me that the important thing is to purchase a reg that your favorite LDS can service easily and inexpensively. ...So it seems that you've made good initial choices by narrowing it down to AL and Apeks.
Personally, I find the "extra knob" on the regs annoying... I've sometimes dived an entire series of dives before realizing that somehow, that "extra knob" got turned (which is nothing but a "detuner" for reducing breathing efficiency. My question is, "Why would you ever want to DETUNE a reg?") So personally, I prefer the simplicity of the regs without the extra knob. They all have adjustments to prevent freeflow anyway.
...So I would look at a reg that is commonly sold at your favorite local dive shop... One without the adjustment. You will probably find that in a simple AL reg. The Apeks AT40 would be an excellent choice, too, but might not be as commonly seen by those who are going to service your regs. I personally would avoid the AT20, since the unit's lack of heat exchanger means that the reg would not work well under 60 degrees or so... Not that you ever plan on diving anything less than that... It's just that resale of the unit would be significantly reduced, and there's only like a $25 difference between the two regs.
Computer
Suunto Mosquito or Vyper. Nearly the same price with the same functions (am I correct on this one?). Big difference is the size. Any pros/cons of one versus the other?
Yes... Many.
The big question is, do you plan on wearing the computer out of the water? The Vyper (my personal choice) is too big to wear as a watch. The Mosquito can be worn as a watch, but I personally don't see that as an advantage... I don't want to "beat up" a couple-hundred-dollar piece of dive gear by wearing it on a daily basis. I'll save that for my $20 Armitron.
If you don't plan on wearing the watch on land, then I suggest the Vyper... You'll appreciate the ease of use underwater, and the larger display.
I didnt get the prices for the regs or the computers from the LDS, so I cant ask you all any questions about whether or not the prices are crazy. I know the LP prices for the gear, so I can judge by that, but obviously LP prices will be cheaper than the LDS.
Yes, by far. I, too, have had good experiences with Leisurepro, and recommend them for your gear. If you are buying any Suunto product, though, I recommend purchasing from Eric at
http://www.ass.com.sg (no, that's not a typo). His prices are even better, his shipping is much less, and his customer service is the best I've seen.
Good luck with your purchases.
