just ordered my zena

[lsudive]

I'm nervous - I've never actually SEEN one since no one around here carries Zeagle. Think I'll be happy? It looks VERY different from my previous BC.

I had a Zeagle for 15 years that bit the dust on my last trip. I just couldn't see going with another brand after that one lasted so long. My Dad's 15 y/o Zeagle is still going.

 

[Fredi]

You'll like it like most women divers who own one.My wife and two daughters are very happy with their Zenas as its snug to the contours of their body.Like most Zeagle products,they are very well made.

 

[cfelliot]

My wife in her Zena:
http://www.chuckelliot.com/images/Jamaica2006/jamaica_12.JPG

 

[JodiBB]

I just tried on a Zena and found it to be very comfortable...I felt strong support in my lower back and across my abs. I plan to buy one as soon as I can gather enough $$$$.

I'm so jealous!!!

 

[DiveMaven]

Since nobody fitted it for you, I'd like to share that I've found what I think is the best way to fit and adjust my Zena. When you get it at home and dry fit it, make sure you have enough clothing or your thickest exposure protection on. Loosen all the straps and zip the front. Pull the front down and tighten the lower straps first. They should fall low, at your waist level really. Then tighten the middle straps and shoulder straps last. If any of the straps max out, you have a size too big and will need to exchange either the entire BC or just one component. For instance, if the body fits but the shoulders don't, you can exchange the shoulder section for a smaller one (they velcro in and out). Same applies for the body piece. (Starting at the bottom to tighten/adjust is actually what ScottZeagle has recommended as well)

Now, when you decide to get your Zena wet. The routine I do is to loosen the straps, zip it up, and leave it pretty loose on my body (not floppy, but not adjusted either). When I hit the water I descend horizontally and position the tank dead center on my back. It's at that time when I adjust the bottom straps first (low), middle, then shoulder. It takes no more than 5 seconds, but it's the best way I've found to get the perfect fit underwater. My tank never shifts and I literally never think about my BC again during the dive. It also never rides up at the surface if I have to inflate my wing and wait for a boat. I've never found a way to get the fit right while on the surface since the tank pulls it down too much.

ENJOY your new Zena...it's frankly the best scuba purchase I've ever made.

 

[ScubaMike14]

I had a Zeagle for 15 years that bit the dust on my last trip. I just couldn't see going with another brand after that one lasted so long. My Dad's 15 y/o Zeagle is still going.

Zeagle offers a LIFETIME warranty to the orriginal owner. We have one in my shop that came in last weekend that was at least 15 years old. The bladder had de-laminated from the hose/dump meachanism. When I called Zealge to get a return authorization (to fix it) they told me they no longer made the bladder or wing for that BC. So here's what they did:

Sent me a BRAND NEW inner bladder, bladder cover (the cordura nylon cover), a new inflator hose AND inflator.

Needless to say, my customer was VERY happy about this. This just goes to emphasize how awesome Zeagle products are, as well as the support that they offer thier customers.

So my question is this: Why don't you contact Zeagle concerning this old BC that "bit the dust"? If you are the ORIGINAL owner and can prove it, and as long as a shark didn't take a bite out of it, or you got it caught in the propeller of the boat, they will fix it for you.

Mike Rushton

 

[Gwyndion]

My first and current BC is the Zena...
My original decission was based on the colour, it came in purple... , but the comfort and fit was better than anything I had ever tried...

I have never had a problem with the BC, and find it comfortable both in and out of the water..

The only downside I have found with the BC is the weights system... There is limited space for weights... IF anyone has a solution for this, I am all ears...

For the basic diving, I use 15lbs, which fit fine in the pockets, but when I'm getting up to the 18lbs (Heavily salted areas) and the 21lbs (heavily salted and aluminium tanks), it gets very difficult to pack the weights in...

Other than that, and the lack of pockets, so everything dangles off me, I love my Zena....

 

[cxg31s]

I just got back from my first dive trip with my Zena and overall, I'm happy I bought it. I got some advice from DiveMaven and a few others about how to set it up for best fit and weighting,
but I think you'll find like I did that you have to do what works for you. Here is my take:

The good: I bought my Zena at ScubaToys and had it fitted, so once it's on, it feels like I'm not even wearing anything. I love the streamlined feel, the back buoyancy and the
easy-zip weight pockets. I also love the weight system--it's just a one-handed parachute cord-type system. Larry at ST completely unlaced and re-laced it to show me how it
worked, then let me try it out--very cool!

The bad: Very little pocket space--if you use integrated weights, you don't have any room left to put your light, SMB, etc. I ended up rigging everything to dangle off me,
which I hate--kind of ruined the "streamlined effect". Also hated the traveling air pocket--I found myself constantly having to twist and turn practically upside down to get
the air bubble centered. It wasn't a problem if you just stay completely horizontal and look down at everything, but if you twist to either side or try to look up, the bubble
moved and you had to shift everything around to get horizontal again. If anyone has a tip on how to combat the air pocket problem, I'd love to hear it!

Tip: I was advised to put my weights all around me--some in the 2 front pockets, some in the back pockets. However, this didn't work for me--I was back heavy and kept
tipping to the side. For me, it worked much better to put weights in the 2 front pockets, then wear 2 small weights on a belt over my abdomen. I also wear a 2 lb ankle
weight around my tank valve. Weighting yourself requires a little experimentation, just try something and if that doesn't work, re-distribute and try again.

Another tip: Listen to DiveMaven's advice about adjusting the straps once you're in the water. For me, I didn't mess with the shoulder straps, I left them as is, but I did
loosen the 4 waist straps when I was gearing up, then would tighten them from the bottom up once I was descending in the water. Of course, the main reason I did this
was because once I tightened the straps, I couldn't get it zipped over my thick wetsuit. LOL

What I'm going to do for next time: Buy a little pocket or modify the mesh bag pocket it came with so I have a place to put a light and/or other necessities. I am also going
to buy the yellow Zeagle weight bags that go in the pockets--it makes things much easier for the DM's to load/unload your weights, plus I kept worrying that one of the
hard lead weights would slip through. I know the likelihood of that happening is very small, but for my peace of mind, it's worth it.

I hope this helps--enjoy your Zena, it's a great BC!

 

[DiveMaven]

I have to agree with everything that Angie said. The air bubble thing bugged me the first few times I dove my Zena, but the problem seemed to have disappeared when I got my weighting perfect....either that or I got used to it and it didn't bother me anymore. Proper weighting for me requires that I put about 1/3 of my weight in my tank pockets (unless I'm diving a steel tank), but I totally agree that you have to experiment to see what works best for you.

I solved the dilemma of where to put my dive light though. Since I carry a Pelican LED light that is shaped like a tube, I simply clip off the strap to a D ring, then tuck the light under my left shoulder strap horizontally. The clip on the light holds it to the shoulder strap area, and since it's tucked under, it doesn't move around at all. It's super easy for me to get to (since I'm right handed), and it doesn't get in the way of anything.

When I dove in a Diva, I'd load the pockets with stuff. Then I found that the pockets got in my way, and everytime I needed something, I'd open a pocket and everything would fall out! I've come to the place where I prefer to just clip off my computer, octo, and rattle, stash a few things in my front weight pockets after loading weights (like my safety sausage and folding snorkel), stick my dive light in it's spot and off I go.

Now I want to go dive....!!!!!

 

[ZzzKing]

I dive a Brigade. Same concept, different sex. If you are having problems with the air shifting to the right or left side, you may be over-weighted and having to use too much air to compensate. When I am at depth and weighted properly, one short burst of the power inflator is all I need. Not much bubble to rearrange.

I put 2/3 of my weight in the back, 1/3 in front. I'm sure everyone is different here since everyone has a different fat/muscle distribution. Now I'm not saying any of you ladies are fat...