Input on first Tech Vest setup

[Mahoney86]

My goal this year is to do a lot more wreck diving and get away from the coastal inlets etc... and hopefully some light recovery. I have been diving a Scubapro Lighthawk since I began diving, Ive added D rings and modified it quite a bit, however I want to get an actual tech vest now. Scupapro has always been my dive brand of choice, though I must admit I am not thrilled with loosing the lifetime service on my gear with them. The scubapro Xtek was my initial thought but it does not seem like too many people are a fan of them. The large majority of my diving will be deeper cold NJ waters with only a few trips down to Carolinas, Keys/Bahamas so I may or may not keep my Lighthawk. For back flotation I am a fan of the AirII so I would need something that can be compatible with an Air II instead of an Octo. I have not done any diving with sidemount, although im not saying its not a possibility. My job is close to Leisurepro in NYC and I plan on shooting up there this afternoon and checking out your suggestions in person.

 

[victorzamora]

I'm sure I'll be the first of many: Call Tobin at Deep Sea Supply. Buy whatever he recommends. Thank us later.

As for the Air2, its should fit on almost any backplate/wing. However, I can't recommend against them enough.

As for sidemount: I'm a HUGE advocate of sidemount and can't oversell how much I love it. However, I think you should stick to backmount. NJ, NC, and FL wrecks are all sites with better backmount-support. Unless you're willing to go to FL for sidemount training and REALLY putting the time in to it, I'd stick with BM. If you want to dive caves, that's another story....but if boats are your primary mission then stick with backmount.

 

[mbs]

Not doing tech, but I love my new DSS bpw! Other than that I thought I would give u a heads up that leisurepro closes real early Friday afternoons...

 

[tbone1004]

well the xtek is good gear it's just stupidly expensive. it's priced like scubapro gear. The Air2's are compatible with any inflator hose, so that's no worry. If you're getting into technical wreck diving you will have to accept the fact that you have to go to an octopus. You don't necessarily need to ditch the AirII but you will have to add an octopus. This is mandatory for all technical training.

Leisurepro doesn't really have any packages that I'd recommend unfortunately. The X-tek only comes in 30lb wing for singles which is a little small for cold water ocean diving up there, and everything else is too expensive. Call Deep Sea Supply, best bang for your buck there, made in USA, and it will be quite affordable compared to anything LP has.

 

[Mahoney86]

Thanks for the input so far. Ive read on the boards that a lot of people are fans of DSS, Ill look more into that.

The comment about urging me against AirII, just wondering why that is? All the divemasters and instructors I have dove with over the years have used them.

 

[tbone1004]

you have not dove with technical divers yet my friend....

The issue with it is safety/convenience. I have nothing against them, but don't think they should replace a standard suicide strap/octo setup. With some practice you can also safely breathe off of a regular inflator, but it requires a bit of skill to figure it out, best reserved for a bored afternoon in a pool.

 

[victorzamora]

The comment about urging me against AirII, just wondering why that is? All the divemasters and instructors I have dove with over the years have used them.

You can find reasons all over the forums, but: they breathe poorly, deploy poorly, route goofy, require proprietary parts that aren't easily replaceable, are challenging to service and tune properly, add more bulk, and (most importantly) do both jobs poorly in general. They'll never breathe as well as a good regulator nor will they ever be as good as a good inflator.....that's both in performance and use. The long corrugated hose is too long for a good inflator and too short for a good octo.

I've seen a dozen dive masters use expensive floaty-ball snorkels and super-pocket-plus jackets and purge-masks and clicking plastic reels. Doesn't mean any of the gear is any good. Dive shops frequently push what they get big profit margins on with no thought of the diver. I've boycotted more than a free shops for that crap.

 

[Bob DBF]

The Air2's are compatible with any inflator hose, so that's no worry.g.

There are at least two types of inflator hose connectors. The standard inflater type and those made for the Air2 type of second stage regulators.

The first is the standard, been around as long as I remember, connector which works with a Schrader valve to prevent air loss if the hose is disconnected. Notice the tip which opens the Schrader valve on the inflator, and the reduced area for airflow.


The second, and there may be manufacturer variations, is made for the increased airflow needed for a regulator as well as the BC inflation. Note the fully open airway on the connector.


I don't know at what point the standard connector would start starving your air, but eventually it would. The designers wanted to give the Air2 the same access to air that an normal 2nd stage recieved. On a side note, Sherwood produced an early hybrid, The Shadow, that used a regular second and split the airhose to connect with the inflator.





Bob
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The day I can't dive anymore, I will really need some other good reasons to stay alive. DarkAbyss

 

[halocline]

The comment about urging me against AirII, just wondering why that is? All the divemasters and instructors I have dove with over the years have used them.

Gee, I wonder if this topic has ever come up before.... Try searching and you will find many threads. I won't repeat my opinion but it would be easy to find in any number of the older threads. Bumper sticker version...get rid of it and go with a long hose primary, bungee necklace alternate.

BTW, don't believe everything DMs and instructors tell you, especially the ones that work for dive shops whose primary source of revenue is selling gear. Sometimes the line between "instructor" and "salesman" can get blurred.

---------- Post added July 10th, 2015 at 09:09 AM ----------

There are at least two types of inflator hose connectors. The standard inflater type and those made for the Air2 type of second stage regulators.

I think t-bone was saying the air2s are compatible with standard corrugated hoses. He should know that the standard power inflator hose will not work with an air2. Just one of many reasons to chuck the stupid thing.

 

[tbone1004]

Bob, what Halocline said. There is no BC specific hose that you have to use for the inflation part. The hose from the regulator is obviously specific but assumed he already has a reg setup for the Air2, so no reason to bring that up.