kalvyn
Guest
I picked up my Halcyon Pioneer on Valentine's Day and got my first two dives in on Saturday. I have to say that so far, I am quite happy with my decision to purchase it. 
I had an orientation dive last weekend with a loaner BP/wing, since mine was not yet in. I was having problems with floaty feet in my dry suit, which really cut down on my enjoyment of that particular dive. This weekend, I ditched my TUSA splits in favour of my wife's Cressi blade fins as well as purchasing some fin keepers, and what a difference it was! I had the same amount of weight as last weekend, 22 Lbs plus the 6 Lbs of the BP (and an LP steel 95), and just had two excellent dives. I did my first night dive Saturday night (the first of my six "Advanced Scuba Diver" dives), and I was just really enjoying floating right above the bottom, looking under stuff with the light. The night dive was the first dive I've had where I've felt like I was doing OK with my bouyancy... I wasn't fighting to stay off the bottom, or from shooting to the surface. My instructor even commented after the dive that I really seemed to have figured out my bouyancy, and how I wasn't fussing with it the entire dive.
I have a feeling that after I've got a few more dives under my belt, I'll be able to drop a couple more pounds. I have a 12 Lb weight belt, and am currently putting 5 Lbs a side in my BP integrated pockets. I will try dropping that to 4 Lbs a side in a few weeks and see how that feels.
One other cool thing was doing our buddy check with my instructor before our night dive. This was his first in-person exposure to a regulator setup in the Hogarthian configuration, and his first comment upon seeing my regs was something along the lines of "they gave you a caver setup". He asked what the benefits of the long hose were, and I explained the best I could (from what I've read on this board!). I also told him that I really liked the bungied backup, as there is just no forgetting where it is when you need it.
One last comment about the Halcyon... on my night dive we walked from the car to the entry point at Les Davis, which is the same site I did a couple of my original OW cert dives at here in Tacoma. With an LP steel 95, and 10 Lbs in the integrated pockets on the BP, I had no comfort issues at all. To be honest, I thought it was the same as a BC, as far as weight on the shoulders goes. I might not want to do it in a t-shirt, but in my drysuit with heavy undergarment it was a non-issue. I do know it beat the living heck out of walking from the car to the entry point at Les Davis with 40 Lbs on a belt , something I've done before!
Jimmie
I had an orientation dive last weekend with a loaner BP/wing, since mine was not yet in. I was having problems with floaty feet in my dry suit, which really cut down on my enjoyment of that particular dive. This weekend, I ditched my TUSA splits in favour of my wife's Cressi blade fins as well as purchasing some fin keepers, and what a difference it was! I had the same amount of weight as last weekend, 22 Lbs plus the 6 Lbs of the BP (and an LP steel 95), and just had two excellent dives. I did my first night dive Saturday night (the first of my six "Advanced Scuba Diver" dives), and I was just really enjoying floating right above the bottom, looking under stuff with the light. The night dive was the first dive I've had where I've felt like I was doing OK with my bouyancy... I wasn't fighting to stay off the bottom, or from shooting to the surface. My instructor even commented after the dive that I really seemed to have figured out my bouyancy, and how I wasn't fussing with it the entire dive.
I have a feeling that after I've got a few more dives under my belt, I'll be able to drop a couple more pounds. I have a 12 Lb weight belt, and am currently putting 5 Lbs a side in my BP integrated pockets. I will try dropping that to 4 Lbs a side in a few weeks and see how that feels.
One other cool thing was doing our buddy check with my instructor before our night dive. This was his first in-person exposure to a regulator setup in the Hogarthian configuration, and his first comment upon seeing my regs was something along the lines of "they gave you a caver setup". He asked what the benefits of the long hose were, and I explained the best I could (from what I've read on this board!). I also told him that I really liked the bungied backup, as there is just no forgetting where it is when you need it.
One last comment about the Halcyon... on my night dive we walked from the car to the entry point at Les Davis, which is the same site I did a couple of my original OW cert dives at here in Tacoma. With an LP steel 95, and 10 Lbs in the integrated pockets on the BP, I had no comfort issues at all. To be honest, I thought it was the same as a BC, as far as weight on the shoulders goes. I might not want to do it in a t-shirt, but in my drysuit with heavy undergarment it was a non-issue. I do know it beat the living heck out of walking from the car to the entry point at Les Davis with 40 Lbs on a belt , something I've done before!
Jimmie
