OP
Paco II
Contributor
Very cool. That is great to know. I am feeling my wallet getting lighter and lighter. 
njd3rph:
Looking for opinions on the Seaquest Balance
- Thread starter Paco II
- Start date
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njd3rph
Contributor
Paco II:Very cool. That is great to know. I am feeling my wallet getting lighter and lighter.
jefffalcone
Contributor
I have a ballance with about 40 dives on it. I'm not too fond of it for a couple of reasons. If you're thin, you will not be able to get the waist strap tight enough. This will cause it to shift quite a bit and throw off your trim. I added a crotch strap to mine and it helps quite a bit, but it still shifts some side to side. For some reason the smallest the waist strap gets is 34" on a medium, and a small is about big enough for a large child.
There are several things I like about it. It is very streamlined. It packs pretty small. It feels less bulky than any onther BC I've tried. I like the lack of pocket space that others have complained about. I don't have any need for more pocket space and I don't want bulky pockets making it feel like a jacket. If you've got a bulkier frame than me I'm sure it's a great BC. The problem wit fit just makes it not the BC for me.
There are several things I like about it. It is very streamlined. It packs pretty small. It feels less bulky than any onther BC I've tried. I like the lack of pocket space that others have complained about. I don't have any need for more pocket space and I don't want bulky pockets making it feel like a jacket. If you've got a bulkier frame than me I'm sure it's a great BC. The problem wit fit just makes it not the BC for me.
Great BC. Dove it for about 20 dives until switching to BP/W. Don't miss it at all.
What is there to "be ready for"?
What is there to "be ready for"?
I never noticed the tank shift until I started using the Black Diamond...then it was really obvious. The Black Diamond is a tank, though, and I'd hate to have to try and pack it to take anywhere.
I bought my Balance this year and I find that sometimes the bladder traps air so I need to be vertical or upright and lean to the right a bit to make sure all the air gets out. And yeah the waist strap is a bit loose on me because I am a bit thin. My wife has the Libra and it does trap air sometimes.
Overall, no big issues with the Balance. I like the freedom of movement it provides and it is easy to pack. The pocket is alright for me, not sure why everyone complains about it. The Balance is a greate BCD!
Overall, no big issues with the Balance. I like the freedom of movement it provides and it is easy to pack. The pocket is alright for me, not sure why everyone complains about it. The Balance is a greate BCD!
matt_unique
Guest
I logged about 150 dives on a Balance and it worked great. It was my first BC and I had used jacket styles prior. Nothing much to say about it...works like most any BC.
--Matt
--Matt
Offroad
Contributor
I've practiced using it while acending as well, it helps if you take the inflator hose out of the velcro'd hold down so you have a bit more slack in the hose.njd3rph:
While breathing from it I can dump using the shoulder dump on the inflator hose or use the dump on the right shoulder as well. The inflation button is on the bottom and is pretty easy to use while breathing from the Airsource. Bubble interference is better than on many slimline octo's. I'll agree that its different since your breathing from your inflator but its not a problem just different. I like that its very easy to find since I'm using the inflator on every dive as well.
YMMV however.
OP
Paco II
Contributor
As I get closer to purchasing the Balance, any tips on making a successful transition from jacket to back inflated?
skynscuba
Contributor
Paco II:
You'll probably want a little less air in it when surface swimming on your back -- easier to balance. You'll probably find it easier to get out of the BC by releasing the connectors on the main lift webbing, rather than just pulling your arms out. I re-tighten my Balance after standing up, and again in the water.
For Monterey, I put some weight in the BC and some on a belt. The Balance is a bit longer on me than optimal with a belt, but it works okay. In the tropics, I just put 4 pounds total in the rear (non-dumpable) pockets and the rest in the integrated dumpable pockets, assuming AL80 tanks.
Other than that, just hook it up and go.
Gary
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