Halcyon worth it for open water?

[TX101]

Before everyone starts foaming at the mouth.. (oops, too late.)

Alot of people have suggested how modular the system is, how you can easily swap wings, etc. This is all true. However, keep in mind that the air cel/wing basically IS the BC. The webbing and BP can be had for nearly peanuts so you are in effect buying another BC for doubles. The only advantage of multiple air cells is that the harness is the same when you swap between a single and doubles.

You mentioned that you want to be a DM/Instructor. You also mentioned that your current instructor dives a wing. Does he dive it in class? When you become an instructor, will you go solo or will you join a shop? If so, will the shop allow you to teach in a wing?

As I've mentioned before.. people on here are lightning quick to tell you which bp/w to buy and all the advantages of such a decision.. but if your instructor requires you to wear a jacket and your new shop requires a jacket then a wing is going to be a waste of money.

 

[OneBrightGator]

A new Al plate and harness costs about $90 or an SS plate and harness at $170, hardly amounts I would consider peanuts. The advantage of multiple air cells to have the correct amount of lift for any given cylinder(s).

Every shop in Gainesville is either a Dive Rite or Halcyon dealer, most only require their instructors to teach in gear they sell, I teach in Gainesville and use a BP/wing exclusively.

He's taking his DM class through the University, which allows their DMs to wear whatever gear they choose.

Ben

 

[TX101]

A new Al plate and harness costs about $90 or an SS plate and harness at $170, hardly amounts I would consider peanuts. The advantage of multiple air cells to have the correct amount of lift for any given cylinder(s).

I paid £30 for my backplate, £10 for webbing/d-rings and £220 for the diverite classic (rec wing is the same price)

To me, £40 is peanuts compared to £220.

 

[WaterDawg]

but if your instructor requires you to wear a jacket and your new shop requires a jacket then a wing is going to be a waste of money.

This might sound like good advise, however it is TOTAL BS!

You see, first off if your gonna get into cave diving, you gonna end up w/ a PB anyways, period. If lets say half your yearly dives are done while teaching that leaves the other half for your dives where you can wear waht you want.

And There is no need to dive the same gear students dive in the O/W part of the class as thats where THEY show YOU what they know...not the other way around. But it dosent matter as OBG says they let you wear what you want.

Enjoy your new gear.

p.s. I would stick w/ Halcyon or DR as in FL youll get great product support if you need it.

 

[Scubaroo]

p.s. I would stick w/ Halcyon or DR as in FL youll get great product support if you need it.

Guess which "other" manufacturer is shifting operations to Florida in the near future...

 

[Diver Lori]

You mentioned that you want to be a DM/Instructor. You also mentioned that your current instructor dives a wing. Does he dive it in class? When you become an instructor, will you go solo or will you join a shop? If so, will the shop allow you to teach in a wing?

As I've mentioned before.. people on here are lightning quick to tell you which bp/w to buy and all the advantages of such a decision.. but if your instructor requires you to wear a jacket and your new shop requires a jacket then a wing is going to be a waste of money.

I live in Ohio and I am an instructor. My co-instructor buddy and I both have backplates/wings.

In the pool we teach in a jacket simply because of the chlorine. We either use our old jackets from our beginner days, or we pull one from the shop rental stock. BUT, when we go to open water, it's backplate/wing all the way. We will not use our bp/wing in chlorine, period.

Does the shop we teach for care? Nope, he believes in the student being familiar with different rigs....it's a learning experience.

Just last week in Roatan, a diver on the boat we were on was asking us many questions about our setup. You know what the first thing out of her mouth was? "It's so clean and streamlined." Enough said.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

I met an instructor that did the same thing. In the ocean, it was BP/W and 7' hose all the way. In the pool, out comes the crap rental. I agree with your shop owner, it's good for people to see more than what's in 99% of shops.

 

[OneBrightGator]

I use my BP/wings exclusively, even in the pool, the damage done isn't worth the hassle of "regular" equipment.

I was always fielding questions about my gear at work this summer, although I heard "don't those bolts hurt your back" most often though.

Ben

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Guess which "other" manufacturer is shifting operations to Florida in the near future...

Yeah ... well I hope he sends me my O2 analyzer before he packs up ... I ordered it two months ago!

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I live in Ohio and I am an instructor. My co-instructor buddy and I both have backplates/wings.

In the pool we teach in a jacket simply because of the chlorine. We either use our old jackets from our beginner days, or we pull one from the shop rental stock. BUT, when we go to open water, it's backplate/wing all the way. We will not use our bp/wing in chlorine, period.

Does the shop we teach for care? Nope, he believes in the student being familiar with different rigs....it's a learning experience.

Just last week in Roatan, a diver on the boat we were on was asking us many questions about our setup. You know what the first thing out of her mouth was? "It's so clean and streamlined." Enough said.

As part of my instructor "apprenticeship" I worked as DM for several different instructors at three different shops plus the local YMCA. In all cases I used a regular BCD and reg setup in the pool and my BP/W and hog rig in the OW. All of them thought it was a neat idea, and felt there was some value in showing their students the different configuration.

Incidentally, all of the shops also sell BP/W setups ... although not all of them carried the products I was wearing. Didn't seem to be the overriding concern though ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)