First of all, "Hi" to you, as I'm new to the forum.
My question is probably one that has been tossed around here many times, but here goes:
I've got 150 dives on me with an Oceanic Probe bcd. I now live in Indonesia, meaning the dives I've done so far have been in warm waters (25 degrees C or warmer).
For the last two months, I've been weighing the question of getting a back-inflation bcd, and have simply not been able to make up my mind. After going through web reviews (both from companies and users), I think I'm still missing the advantages offered by back inflation.
I've gone to a local seaquest dealership (the best of the small number of dive shops operating in Jakarta) and tried out the Black Diamond model, and I see how the back-inflation bc may restrict the chest area less than my current Probe. Yet, I still don't think I have a clear enough picture in my head about other differences.
So...Is this issue just a matter of style? Or is there an actual advantage in performance given by the back-inflation bcd? I may be moving back to the US soon, and will continue diving. Is a back-inflation bcd better suited to cold-water diving than jacket models like the Probe?
I've read phrases like "it sets you free" and so on in reviews of back-inflation bcds, but could someone offer a more concrete description of that experience?
Thanks much.
PS One of my problems here is that not many divers I meet in Indonesia dive with back-inflation bcds, and so far, I've not found a dive operator who can offer in-water tryouts.
My question is probably one that has been tossed around here many times, but here goes:
I've got 150 dives on me with an Oceanic Probe bcd. I now live in Indonesia, meaning the dives I've done so far have been in warm waters (25 degrees C or warmer).
For the last two months, I've been weighing the question of getting a back-inflation bcd, and have simply not been able to make up my mind. After going through web reviews (both from companies and users), I think I'm still missing the advantages offered by back inflation.
I've gone to a local seaquest dealership (the best of the small number of dive shops operating in Jakarta) and tried out the Black Diamond model, and I see how the back-inflation bc may restrict the chest area less than my current Probe. Yet, I still don't think I have a clear enough picture in my head about other differences.
So...Is this issue just a matter of style? Or is there an actual advantage in performance given by the back-inflation bcd? I may be moving back to the US soon, and will continue diving. Is a back-inflation bcd better suited to cold-water diving than jacket models like the Probe?
I've read phrases like "it sets you free" and so on in reviews of back-inflation bcds, but could someone offer a more concrete description of that experience?
Thanks much.
PS One of my problems here is that not many divers I meet in Indonesia dive with back-inflation bcds, and so far, I've not found a dive operator who can offer in-water tryouts.