Looking for a new BC, any suggestions?

[DiveGear4Less]

Thanks for the suggestions. We will start adding some more information.

 

[Scott-D]

Wow, surprised that it took this long.

Read:

Very interesting read. I have a similar dilemma, so it was very helpful, thanks!

 

[Scott-D]

OK, I don't want to hijack the OP's thread, but since it's related I'll post my question here too. if this is inappropriate, my apologies & just tell me & I'll start a new thread.

I'm new to diving, just certified this past weekend (Yea!!!) & looking forward to some more training / supervised dives in the next couple months before going on vacation this summer where I plan to do lots of dives.

Upon the recommendations of several friends recommending either the Zeagle Ranger or Stilletto and after trying both on, I bought a Zeagle Stilletto. Mainly because (or so I thought at the time) most of my diving will probably be travel dives, usually by airline where I wanted a little smaller package. Both fit me very well & comfortable, so there wasn't any distinction there.

I'm in Atlanta, and have come to realize there are some dive sites within a weekend trip around here, so I may not exclusively dive in the Caribbean, but the Caribbean or south Florida will probably be the majority of it.

My question stems around lift & weight limits. On my checkout dives we were in one of the Florida spring, and I was wearing a 5mm full wet-suit & carrying 16 lbs. of lead. I'm wondering when I move to the salt water, will I need more lead? I won't be wearing the 5mm wet-suit. It's unlikely I'll wear anything more than shorts & a rash-guard. But, maybe a 3mm shorty is possible. Will the lack of the 5mm full wet-suit offset the added buoyancy of the salt water? And will the 35lb lift be sufficient if more lead is needed? I guess the question is, is the Stilletto enough?

Secondly, what's the chances I'll want to dive with dual-tanks? If it's 50-50 or more, I'm assuming spending a bit more to exchange the Stilletto for a Ranger would be better than having to buy another BC later? I'm the type that likes to up-buy, and not buy just what works today. I put a lot of research & though into buys (or at least I try to), so I don't like to buy again if I can address it now. Would you recommend being "dual-tank ready" by going with the Ranger.


Lastly, I've been looking at the backplate & wing systems, and wonder if that may not be a better way to go than the backpack. I don't know much about them, but trying to learn some more.


Any thoughts to help the newbie out? Thanks everyone!!

 

[ScottZeagle]

My question stems around lift & weight limits. On my checkout dives we were in one of the Florida spring, and I was wearing a 5mm full wet-suit & carrying 16 lbs. of lead. I'm wondering when I move to the salt water, will I need more lead? I won't be wearing the 5mm wet-suit. It's unlikely I'll wear anything more than shorts & a rash-guard. But, maybe a 3mm shorty is possible. Will the lack of the 5mm full wet-suit offset the added buoyancy of the salt water? And will the 35lb lift be sufficient if more lead is needed? I guess the question is, is the Stilletto enough?

Secondly, what's the chances I'll want to dive with dual-tanks? If it's 50-50 or more, I'm assuming spending a bit more to exchange the Stilletto for a Ranger would be better than having to buy another BC later? I'm the type that likes to up-buy, and not buy just what works today. I put a lot of research & though into buys (or at least I try to), so I don't like to buy again if I can address it now. Would you recommend being "dual-tank ready" by going with the Ranger.


Lastly, I've been looking at the backplate & wing systems, and wonder if that may not be a better way to go than the backpack. I don't know much about them, but trying to learn some more.


Any thoughts to help the newbie out? Thanks everyone!!

1. You should have PLENTY of lift in salt or fresh water. Once you get more dives under your belt, you are likely to drop a few pounds, and once you get out of the 5mm suit you will drop a few more! No worries!!!

2. I believe that MOST new divers think that they are going to move on and into double tanks at some point in their diving lives, but the vast moajority of them do not. If you get to the point where you are really going forward with it, that would be the time to buy a BP/W and have a "doubles rig" as well as your Stiletto as a single tank set up.

That's my opinion, anyway.

Dive safe,

Scott

 

[Scott-D]

1. You should have PLENTY of lift in salt or fresh water. Once you get more dives under your belt, you are likely to drop a few pounds, and once you get out of the 5mm suit you will drop a few more! No worries!!!

2. I believe that MOST new divers think that they are going to move on and into double tanks at some point in their diving lives, but the vast moajority of them do not. If you get to the point where you are really going forward with it, that would be the time to buy a BP/W and have a "doubles rig" as well as your Stiletto as a single tank set up.

That's my opinion, anyway.

Dive safe,

Scott

Thanks for the input Scott, I appreciate it. It certainly helps put my mind at a bit of ease. I certainly don't mind upgrading as I outgrow my equipment, as long as it's not within too short a time..

Oh and I gotta say, I love the comfort of the Stilletto! :cool3:

 

[Deep South Divers]

Thanks for the suggestions. We will start adding some more information.

Nicely put - and more graceful than I'd have been.

 

[Deep South Divers]

Very interesting read. I have a similar dilemma, so it was very helpful, thanks!

Thanks, Scott! Hope it saves you all the time and effort I endured.

Not be a real greedy person, but how 'bout pressing the "Thanks" button on that post if you liked it?

 

[Deep South Divers]

Hello to Scott Zeagle... SeaJay here, from seven or eight years ago here on ScubaBoard. Good to "see" you again.

I'm new to diving, just certified this past weekend (Yea!!!)

Congratulations...

I'm in Atlanta...

Very cool! I am in Atlanta working on the GA Aquarium regularly. Maybe at some point you'll let me take you out for a beer (or whatever) or something.

For what it's worth, I'm in Beaufort, SC... Due east of you, and your ticket to the Atlantic Ocean.

...and have come to realize there are some dive sites within a weekend trip around here, so I may not exclusively dive in the Caribbean, but the Caribbean or south Florida will probably be the majority of it.

If you do only that, you're missing out on a lot.

My question stems around lift & weight limits. On my checkout dives we were in one of the Florida spring, and I was wearing a 5mm full wet-suit & carrying 16 lbs. of lead. I'm wondering when I move to the salt water, will I need more lead?

Yes, all things being equal. Same suit, same tanks, same BC, but now in salt water... Yes. Figure somewhere around 3 lbs. for every 100 pounds of diver.

I won't be wearing the 5mm wet-suit. It's unlikely I'll wear anything more than shorts & a rash-guard.

Why?

A wetsuit is there for a lot more than just warmth... It also protects you against the ocean's stingies and pokeys and all the things that make skin not so happy.

But, maybe a 3mm shorty is possible.

Even when the ocean's 90*, you'll still get cold when you stay in long enough. Wear a wetsuit.

Will the lack of the 5mm full wet-suit offset the added buoyancy of the salt water?

Well, if you cut down to a 3 mil, that'll lighten your need a little... If you're diving 16 lbs now in a 5 mil in fresh water (sounds like you could lighten a bit, but overall that's not bad for the beginner) then you'd probably be in the 18 lb range in a 3 mil in salt water.

And will the 35lb lift be sufficient if more lead is needed? I guess the question is, is the Stilletto enough?

Absolutely!

Assuming that you're weighted correctly (and it sounds like you might be able to improve on that a little), the only reason that you should really need a "buoyancy compensator" is to "compensate" for the fact that, as a tank empties, it loses 6 lbs overall (aluminum 80). Any additional lift is only to compensate for overweighting (an easy solution is to not be overweighted in the first place), and for the diver's comfort at the surface (so he can inflate and float high).

...So in your case, 10-20 lbs' of lift would work fine. Anything more is simply for your comfort. A BC with 35 lbs is great for you - perfect.

Keep in mind that the LESS lift you have, the less of a "parachute" you have to deal with - that is, the smaller the air cell, the more streamlined you are... And the less that a bubble will shift around when it's partially inflated.

Secondly, what's the chances I'll want to dive with dual-tanks?

I agree with Scott on this matter... If you'd asked me, I'd have told you to consider a BP/wing from the outset, but given that you're already the owner of a Stiletto, I'd say to stick with it and save the backplate and wing for doubles, when/if you get into them.

Lastly, I've been looking at the backplate & wing systems, and wonder if that may not be a better way to go than the backpack. I don't know much about them, but trying to learn some more.

There's about a gazillion posts about them here on ScubaBoard. Use the "Search" button at the top.

 

[Scott-D]

Not be a real greedy person, but how 'bout pressing the "Thanks" button on that post if you liked it?

Done.. Sorry I missed it, still getting used to this version of v-bulletin...

 

[Scott-D]

Very cool! I am in Atlanta working on the GA Aquarium regularly. Maybe at some point you'll let me take you out for a beer (or whatever) or something.

Sounds like a pretty cool job. And a beer always sounds good to me..

For what it's worth, I'm in Beaufort, SC... Due east of you, and your ticket to the Atlantic Ocean.

If you do only that, you're missing out on a lot.

I'm starting to realize that, and that there is much more to see than I knew on the Atlantic coast here. Which is a very good thing!

Yes, all things being equal. Same suit, same tanks, same BC, but now in salt water... Yes. Figure somewhere around 3 lbs. for every 100 pounds of diver.

A wetsuit is there for a lot more than just warmth... It also protects you against the ocean's stingies and pokeys and all the things that make skin not so happy.

Even when the ocean's 90*, you'll still get cold when you stay in long enough. Wear a wetsuit.

Well, I'm typically very warm anyways, but I have always worn a LS rash guard when I snorkel, so I'll certainly continue to do at least that. But I definitely hear you on the full protection and staying warm for repeat dives. I'll have to give that some thought. Maybe a full 3mm would be a better solution, even for the warm water. I am leaning towards (eventually) adding a drysuit for the Atlantic / quarry / lakes in Ga's area, so I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want anything larger than a 3 mm. Maybe even a 3/2 or even just a 1, as that suit would be used almost exclusively in the Caribbean, and reduced bulk for packing for the flights are also a concern. Humm... Something to think about....

Well, if you cut down to a 3 mil, that'll lighten your need a little... If you're diving 16 lbs now in a 5 mil in fresh water (sounds like you could lighten a bit, but overall that's not bad for the beginner) then you'd probably be in the 18 lb range in a 3 mil in salt water.

Assuming that you're weighted correctly (and it sounds like you might be able to improve on that a little), the only reason that you should really need a "buoyancy compensator" is to "compensate" for the fact that, as a tank empties, it loses 6 lbs overall (aluminum 80). Any additional lift is only to compensate for overweighting (an easy solution is to not be overweighted in the first place), and for the diver's comfort at the surface (so he can inflate and float high).

...So in your case, 10-20 lbs' of lift would work fine. Anything more is simply for your comfort. A BC with 35 lbs is great for you - perfect.

Keep in mind that the LESS lift you have, the less of a "parachute" you have to deal with - that is, the smaller the air cell, the more streamlined you are... And the less that a bubble will shift around when it's partially inflated.

Thanks for all the info. Actually I did feel a bit overweighted, but I also didn't want to undercut it and have trouble staying on the platform either. Looking back, I think 14 would have been a better number for me as I did need to maintain a fair amount of air to stay neutral. But like you said, hopefully after a few dives I'll get better at that.

I agree with Scott on this matter... If you'd asked me, I'd have told you to consider a BP/wing from the outset, but given that you're already the owner of a Stiletto, I'd say to stick with it and save the backplate and wing for doubles, when/if you get into them.

There's about a gazillion posts about them here on ScubaBoard. Use the "Search" button at the top.

Thanks. Yea, I've found a couple of them, so I've got some reading to do... :cool3:


Thanks again for all the input! I'm looking forward to getting out there more, and soon!