Halycon vs OMS vs. DiveRite?

[mikecotrone]

I have read many threads in regards to BP/W vs. BCD's etc. I currently have a Zeagle Ranger and I do like it very much. However I am diving at a beginner level and it works well for me with a single Tank setup with my 19ft pony. I am very happy that I bought this BCD.

I am venturing into doubles soon so I am now looking at a BP/W harness setup. My instructor really likes the DiveRite Transplate and I actually liked it to when I borrowed it for three dives. However when I look around at the diver's club I am in I see alot of OMS and I do see a lot of stellar postings about Halcyon on Scubaboard. I have heard that Halcyon has unbelievable customer service, but I was wondering for those that have Halcyon backplate harnesses could you tell me why you like them outside of Customer service?

Thanks!!

 

[DevonDiver]

Halcyon

Customer Service - I had some issues with the stitching on my wing outer. It was replaced immediately. No quibble, no question. 10/10

Design - I think that Halcyon have been industry leaders in developing wings. The donut 'Evolve' is awesome. The short, flat LPI hose works great. I've not tried it yet, but the new adjustable harness gets sound reviews from users.

Materials and Construction - No expense spared. I've seen other brands that have been let down by, perhaps, one or two cheaply sourced components.

I would rate Halcyon very highly. OMS and Diverite are good, but I would opt for either halcyon or oxqcheq.

 

[JahJahwarrior]

Backplates are backplates....it's pretty difficult to screw this up. I feel DiveRite, OMS and Halcyon all produce great backplates.

Wings, they are also all good gear. I tend to agree that the Halcyon wings are a touch above the rest, but I believe the price is also a bit higher as well. I have taken DR products into all sorts of caves, from the touristy ones to caves where I was the first person into them, and they have yet to let me down. If DR products were shabby, I'd be in the position to know it, having beat up their products for years without a single problem or failure. OMS products look nice, but I don't see them around too often, so I can't comment.

I prefer simpler harnesses known as Hogarthian, over the transplate systems. Cheaper, and simpler.

I feel customer service between Halcyon and DiveRite is similar. Know people who've dealt with both, both were happy.

 

[TSandM]

I think it's great that you are moving toward a backplate system, because I think they are in general very good gear. Halcyon makes nice stuff, with nice touches like the cinch system, but their gear is expensive. In my opinion, don't buy any kind of hybrid or compromised system -- go for the basic plate and wing and simple harness. You will pay less, or what you pay will all go to what you need and will use.

But I am concerned when I see a diver who reports 0 to 24 dives saying he is "soon moving to doubles". Take the time to master your basic skills in a single tank, and do the dives you can do that way, before you complicate life with bigger, heavier, more expensive and more complicated equipment. There's lots of great diving to be done on a single tank -- and anything you CAN'T do on a single tank, needs more experience and insight than you have now. If your shop or instructor is encouraging you into doubles at this point in your career, I would wonder if they have your checkbook more in their sights than your wellbeing.

 

[cmburch]

BP and webbing. I dive a TransPlate, but would be equally happy with just about any. I use Oxycheq wing. Also check Hollis and DSS.

 

[axyto]

I dont own any OMS or DIVERITE but im pretty much satisfied with my Halcyon Infinity, and i love the cinch.. some of my folks use Oxycheq and they too are very happy with it, i've heard that oxycheq uses a thicker material for their wing does making it more durable.

 

[ajduplessis]

I love halcyon and will not use anything else! I use both single and double wings setups.

 

[mikecotrone]

I think it's great that you are moving toward a backplate system, because I think they are in general very good gear. Halcyon makes nice stuff, with nice touches like the cinch system, but their gear is expensive. In my opinion, don't buy any kind of hybrid or compromised system -- go for the basic plate and wing and simple harness. You will pay less, or what you pay will all go to what you need and will use.

But I am concerned when I see a diver who reports 0 to 24 dives saying he is "soon moving to doubles". Take the time to master your basic skills in a single tank, and do the dives you can do that way, before you complicate life with bigger, heavier, more expensive and more complicated equipment. There's lots of great diving to be done on a single tank -- and anything you CAN'T do on a single tank, needs more experience and insight than you have now. If your shop or instructor is encouraging you into doubles at this point in your career, I would wonder if they have your checkbook more in their sights than your wellbeing.

Thanks and i agree with you about rushing into anything. I have 23 dives in two months and i am the type to plan ahead. Think of it as a roadmap in my training in SCUBA, but this doesnt mean i am doing this tomorrow or anything

I am only considering doubles for surveying wrecks which i would like to begin to do after some more experience. I have my weighting under control now and my buoyancy is doing well. I am continuing to use my breathing as my control at depth and feel comfortable.

Today I have two independent Faber HP 130's and love them. I get around 35xx to 36xx PSI out of the 3442's which is surely great since my working SAC is around .7-.8 and my non working is around .55-.65.

The redundancy aspect of dive equipment is intriguing

Also my LDS is not telling me about doubles.. This is all me since I read alot of Books, research the web, Scuba board, and take certification classes I love the education side of diving, but I do realize that does not EQUAL Experience which for me is coming with time. I want to be as educated as possible for each and every dive no matter how easy my dive plan is. Plus I enjoy learning about all of the technical components of diving. I am a network engineer by trait and certifications in our field are similar to diving, but do not equal experience. However I always view any certification as a Education/training road map for experience. I have seen many people on Scubaboard write about buying once not twice and I feel the same way about learning.

Thank you again everyone for the responses!!

 

[LiteHedded]

I've owned both diverite and halcyon plates and I would say plates are not all created equally.

the dive rite plate is super uncomfortable and digs into my lower back exactly the way the halcyon didn't. those bends on the corners are functional on the H plate. it's the attention to detail you get from halcyon that you dont see from other brands.

 

[fnfalman]

As the owner of Halcyon (Infinity) and Dive Rite (Transpac & Transplate) BCs, I must say that Dive Rite's customer service was superb. The DR staff members are all hard core divers and they use their equipment to the fullest. I called and asked about re-rigging my gears a certain way and they are a fountain of information. When I was stupid enough to damage my gears, they fixed it at a 2-for-1 cost.

I have yet to have a case of the dumbass with Halcyon so I haven't the need to call & talk with anybody yet. However, Halcyon's reputation speaks for itself.

I didn't say anything about quality because quality is a given with these two entities.

I didn't have any issue with either hard plates being uncomfortable for me. Probably it's because I use a 7mm wetsuit that gives a lot of padding. Haha. I've used the Dive Rite for about two years and the Halcyon for less than a year. When I got the Infinity, other than figuring out how to tighten and loosen the Cinch System harness, I had no other learning curves. It felt good underwater and didn't mess up my trim. The venting is easy and I can find the ass dump valve pretty much where I found it on the Dive Rite's as well. So, very little transition pain for me. Loosening the wet harness was a bit tricky at first but I got that mutha down now.