HELP!! scubapro knighthawk or Aeris Reef rider?!

[jerseydivr1026]

i am thinking of buying my first BC and i need a little help.

I've picked two in my price range of $600-$700, the scuba pro knighthawk or the Aeris Reef rider which one??, if you have any other bc's to suggest in that price range, feel free.

HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED!!

 

[Web Monkey]

i am thinking of buying my first BC and i need a little help.

I've picked two in my price range of $600-$700, the scuba pro knighthawk or the Aeris Reef rider which one??, if you have any other bc's to suggest in that price range, feel free.

Go with the one where the weights absolutely, positively can't accidentally fall out.

The SP has big Fastex buckles that won't open until you squeeze both sides.

I've never seen the Aeris, so you would have to check it. Anything that relies on Velcro, friction, snaps or anything else that can get old and funky, then fail should be right off your list.

Terry

 

[divedeepnj]

Are you using these to dive in NJ? If so, I wouldn't recommend either. Why have you chosen those 2?

 

[jerseydivr1026]

Can you recommend another well-rounded bc? im using them to dive all around, i like to travel= )

 

[divedeepnj]

I hate to sound like everyone else on here, but a BP/W is probably your best bet. You can change the backplate and wing to suit where you are diving. Most serious divers in NJ use them. There's a huge difference diving here than doing a 30ft reef dive in Florida. Do you have any friends who dive? They may let you test out some of their gear, or your local shop may do the same. Keep in mind, if you don't really know what you want the local shop may push what they have in stock.

 

[jerseydivr1026]

i dont know what to do im only 16. im looking for a bc that can do warm and cold but there are too many to choose from and everybody says a different one is better. What do you dive with?(divedeepnj)

 

[divedeepnj]

I dive with an OMS BP/W. The last boat I was on here in NJ had 6 divers and all had BP/W. If you get serious about diving here in NJ you'll notice it's the most popular style. If you do a search of Scubaboard you can find this debated hundreds of times. It's not your only option, but in my opinion, it would suit what you want to do better than others. The problem is most shops don't stock to many BC's and you can't try them on, or get completely honest advice. Check out:
Scuba diving lessons, scuba diving gear equipment, technical diving gear equipment, oms
No, I don't work there, but they have EVERYTHING you need, and it's in stock. Touch it, try it on, compare everything, and get great advice. Their prices are good too.

 

[D_B]

I have a Knighthawk and it's a good BC, back inflate with plenty of lift .. but ...
If I had to do it all again, I would opt for a backplate/wing .. it is probably the most flexible piece of dive gear you could purchase .. it will grow with you no matter what direction your diving takes you in the future, it can be broken down to pack small, can be configured for cold water thick exposure protection, or for warm water minimal protection .

 

[Web Monkey]

i am thinking of buying my first BC and i need a little help.

Just to toss in another point of view, I've tried all the SP BC's and like the Classic Plus. It has pockets for my stuff (lift bag, spool, strobe, etc.), secure integrated weights and a bunch of lift. I like it quite a bit.

I didn't like the Knighthawk because it's not meat and it's not cake. It lacks the pockets of the Classic +, and I seem to remember it has a limited number of d-rings, and not where i wanted them, and while it's a back inflate, it has way too much floppy fabric and folds. It would seem to be a huge drag in the water.

A BP would probably also be nice, I'd just need to find new places to keep my stuff.

Whatever you get, try it out in the water before deciding.

Terry

 

[merxlin]

Zeagle Ranger. And I own Knighthawk. But I miss the pockets and the adjustability that you get with the Ranger. I see you also asked about the Stiletto on another thread. I have one of those too and love it. I bought it for tropical travel though, and not my everyday diving in So Cal. The Zeagles will give you an advantage in that as you get older, and grow, can be adjusted by buying bigger components like the shoulder straps, or adjusting out the cumberbun.

And a BP/W may be great for some, but everyone that has one seems to be hell-bent on converting everyone else to them. Not sure why, but they are "very enthusiastic" about them. There are thousands of divers using std BC's that have lived to tel the tale......