Jacket BCD and trim

[cpace]

I am a newly certified diver and am thinking about purchasing an Aqua Lung Pro HD BCD. I be will traveling to warm water locations once or twice per year for a total of 15-30 dives per year. After reading many threads on SB I am now concerned that the jacket BCD will make me a poor diver (a "forty-fiver"). Question: Is it possible to achieve proper horizontal trim with a jacket BCD?

I would like to try different BCD types (back inflate, hybrid) but do not have a location close to home for that to happen. In addition, the dive resort in Roatan where I am going in May only uses Jacket BCD's in their rental fleet.

 

[Hawkwood]

... After reading many threads on SB I am now concerned that the jacket BCD will make me a poor diver (a "forty-fiver"). Question: Is it possible to achieve proper horizontal trim with a jacket BCD?

I would like to try different BCD types (back inflate, hybrid) but do not have a location close to home for that to happen. In addition, the dive resort in Roatan where I am going in May only uses Jacket BCD's in their rental fleet.

Goodness no, a jacket BCD will not make you a "poor" diver.

Yes it is very possible to achieve "proper" horizontal trim with a jacket BCD. It is a combination of proper weighting, placement of the weights, and body position.

 

[tbone1004]

you are as good of a diver as your skills dictate. The better diver you are, the less the equipment will determine how you look. I.e. really good divers will be able to trim just about anything out.

That said, i would still highly recommend going with a BP/W because they generally travel better and are much more versatile. The price of the Aqualung Pro HD will get you a DSS Kydex rig with a wing which is more versatile and a higher quality rig. Will also get you a slew of other BP/W's but the Kydex plates are really nice for travel since they weigh next to nothing.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I am a newly certified diver and am thinking about purchasing an Aqua Lung Pro HD BCD. I be will traveling to warm water locations once or twice per year for a total of 15-30 dives per year. After reading many threads on SB I am now concerned that the jacket BCD will make me a poor diver (a "forty-fiver"). Question: Is it possible to achieve proper horizontal trim with a jacket BCD?

I would like to try different BCD types (back inflate, hybrid) but do not have a location close to home for that to happen. In addition, the dive resort in Roatan where I am going in May only uses Jacket BCD's in their rental fleet.

LOL... yes purchase of that BC WILL make you a poor(er) diver! No question about it.



If this is a concern, you may be able to steal one, - this will not make you poor(er) and some might consider you to be rich(er).

 

[redacted]

A used jacket BCD at a good price (under $50) is not a bad way to start out. If you stay with diving, you will probably upgrade.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

You just opened a whole can of worms with another BP/W vs jacket debate... LOL!
Don't worry, it's not your fault, you're new here.
Here's what I'd do:
Shop on Ebay or craigslist and buy a used jacket for pennies on the dollar. There are some smokin deals on very lightly used gear by people who dove a couple times and gave it up. There are also a lot of jackets available from people here who've joined Scubaboard only to find out about BP/W's and then they dump their jackets cheap.
So instead of paying the big bucks at an LDS or even a internet discounter for a BC, buy used, you will save a ton of money that you can use for your trip instead.

And the skill is in the diver not the gear, but some gear makes it easier to gain better skills faster.

 

[cpace]

LOL... yes purchase of that BC WILL make you a poor(er) diver! No question about it.



If this is a concern, you may be able to steal one, - this will not make you poor(er) and some might consider you to be rich(er).

I glad my post was so amusing. With 8K posts, I think somebody needs a new hobby.

 

[Hawkwood]

You just opened a whole can of worms with another BP/W vs jacket debate... LOL!
Don't worry, it's not your fault, you're new here.
Here's what I'd do:
Shop on Ebay or craigslist and buy a used jacket for pennies on the dollar. There are some smokin deals on very lightly used gear by people who dove a couple times and gave it up. There are also a lot of jackets available from people here who've joined Scubaboard only to find out about BP/W's and then they dump their jackets cheap.
So instead of paying the big bucks at an LDS or even a internet discounter for a BC, buy used, you will save a ton of money that you can use for your trip instead.

And the skill is in the diver not the gear, but some gear makes it easier to gain better skills faster.

Actually, he did not open a can of worms, you did.

His question had nothing to do with any debate.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I glad my post was so amusing. With 8K posts, I think somebody needs a new hobby.

Maybe so. I'm sure you will get some excellent advice on this thread. As for the poor diver joke... Don't take this stuff toooo seriously....

In all honesty, it is actually a little sad that the BP/W proponents are so overbearing on this forum that a new diver might be inclined to think that buying a normal BC will make them a poor diver and conversely, buying a BP/W will make them a "good" diver and able to control their buoyancy/trim.

The BC you are considering should not be a hindrance to you executing perfect buoyancy control.

 

[dmaziuk]

After reading many threads on SB I am now concerned that the jacket BCD will make me a poor diver

No. The rationale behind it is

1. It may be easier to maintain horizontal face-down position if your air bubble is located around your tank. Many jackets have air pocket at the front & sides, where the gear pockets are, if you have air bubble there you'd trim out differently.

In reality in warm water you shouldn't have any air in your BCD most of the time so it's moot.

2. Jacket BCD has more bulk while not weighting much more. I.e. it's more buoyant than a metal plate, a length of webbing, and and air cell. That means you'll need to add a few extra pounds of lead to compensate for it. You'd typically put them on a belt or in weight pockets, below your center of lift. That would tend to turn you head-up.

According to the description Pro HD has trim pockets on the tank strap. All it takes is a couple of lbs in there to trim out just fine. If renting a jacket, bring this: XS Scuba Single Weight Pocket in case it doesn't have a built-in trim pocket.