Halcyon Evolve or Explore

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roseng

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Location
Beersheba, Israel, Israel
# of dives
50 - 99
Is it possible to dive with Halcyon Evolve BC or Explorer with one tank? According to the Halcyon web site it is not recommended. What is your opinion?
 
I am not. Just wondering if it is possible and may be one of the group tried it and he/she can tell us about it.
 
It's possible with an STA (Halcyon doubles wings don't generally have camband slots), but not ideal, because:

1) doubles wings are designed to be very wide so they can accomodate the extra width of two tanks. Placed on a single-tank rig, a doubles wing would "taco" up around the tank, making for an unstable air bubble and difficult to reach rear dump valve, and increased drag.

2) doubles wings typically have much more lift than you need for a single tank rig.

A few people have tried it (usually for yuks) but I don't recall ever hearing anyone say it turned out to be a good idea.
 
Can you do it? Yes. Would you be better off with a dedicated singles wing? Yes; see #1 from Gombessa's post
 
The two wings I have for doubles and singles are the same lift but there is a major difference in size. You need both!
 
This is from the official site of Halcyon

Evolve or Explorer as Single Tank Wing
I want to use my double-tank wing on a single tank. Can I use my double- and single-tank BCs interchangeably?
Halcyon BCs are carefully designed to minimize drag and maximize in-water stability. This superior function depends partly upon diving the appropriate-sized BC. For example, diving an Evolve double-tank BC on a single tank will be inefficient, reducing stability and increasing drag. This is because the BC is not sized for this application and will not fit the scuba unit properly. Unfortunately, the one-size-fits-all idea is common in the industry, leading divers to devalue a proper fit. BC systems that are oversized are significantly inferior in function to those that are sized properly.

BC sizing relates to using the appropriate BC (single or double tank) and also to using the proper amount of lift required. Single-tank divers requiring very little lift (such as those diving warm water) do not require large BCs with high lift capacity. A large air cell causes gas in the wing to shift dramatically, leaving the diver struggling to regain stability instead of relaxing to enjoy the dive. Using the right tool for the job allows divers to enjoy their time below the surface. As one’s comfort level increases and the stress of struggling with awkward equipment is reduced, you will find properly fitted dive gear should “disappear,” leaving you to enjoy your time in the water.
 
...it appears Halcyon needs to do a better job of proof-reading their own web site, as the Halcyon link I posted DOES say that wing can be used with large, heavy steel tanks (singles)...or small 'doubles'.
...I agree with the others who suggest while it can be done, it isn't optimum for all the obvious reasons.
 

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