My first BCD!

[rotorboy]

Ok…..been diving for a little over two months now and already tired of renting gear. I want my own!! I've allocated some cash to the side for my first piece. After some thought, I decided on purchasing my BC first. So far I've used a Cressi Aquapro 5 R and a Sherwood Tortugas. The Cressi was "ok". I didn't like how loose it felt. Especially with the tank. Felt like it was just dangling back there. The Tortugas was nice. Felt good and secured. Other than those two…..I'm not sure what others to try. Does anyone have the Zeagle Brigade BCD from ScubaToys? If so, how do you like it? Fit? Or if you have a BC that you would recommend it would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking to purchase before December. I really don't want to exceed $400. Thanks!!

 

[Mandy3206]

I would sugest you to save a few more bucks and buy a quality BP/W setup, I wish I knew about those before I first bought my used jacket style bc, now I wouldn't dive without my BP/W setup.

Since most bladders cost over $250.00 new, that leaves less money for plate and harness. You can save a few bucks in a hog config, but if going deluxe $150.00 wont do.

Save around $550.00 and get a decent rig that can be updated as you grow in the sport, believe me you'll be buying scuba gear the rest of your scuba life.

Also, you may want to buy barely used gear from friends and then update later in your dive career, soon to be married and after-season dropouts are common sources for this barely used gear.

Welcome to diving, and enjoy the sport safely.

 

[ekremer]

I really like my Zeagle Ranger, wich should fit very similar to a brigand since the brigand is a ranger with a different bladder.
try some of the other back inflate BC's as well.

 

[m3830431]

Have you looked at the Cressi S111R? Plenty of room for weights with two trim pockets on each side and back inflate. Never had a problem with the single tank strap but I added a second one anyway.

 

[Jamdiver]

Ok…..been diving for a little over two months now and already tired of renting gear. I want my own!! I've allocated some cash to the side for my first piece. After some thought, I decided on purchasing my BC first. So far I've used a Cressi Aquapro 5 R and a Sherwood Tortugas. The Cressi was "ok". I didn't like how loose it felt. Especially with the tank. Felt like it was just dangling back there. The Tortugas was nice. Felt good and secured. Other than those two…..I'm not sure what others to try. Does anyone have the Zeagle Brigade BCD from ScubaToys? If so, how do you like it? Fit? Or if you have a BC that you would recommend it would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking to purchase before December. I really don't want to exceed $400. Thanks!!

That's an interesting first impression of the Cressi rotorboy.

I have an aquapro 5 and have never felt like the tank was just 'dangling' there.
What probably happened was that you didn't strap the tank in tight enough or the strap wasn't threaded properly through the tank band.

Something to note though especially with new BC's is that the strap will stretch after it has been immersed in water, so I usually soak the strap in water for a bit before tightening it.
I've had about 30 dives with the Cressi, it's a good basic jacket BC (weight integrated), won't say that it's the best out there but the cheapo price of $200 at LP is hard to beat.

After seeing a buddy's new Mares Vector pro BC, I wish I had spent the extra $30 for it. With a price point of $400 you can easily find a quality BC..

Here are some reviews on BC's to help you get an idea of what's out there.
http://www.scubadiving.com/diving/buoyancy_compensators/
http://www.divernet.com/gear/testindx.shtml

Best of luck, be sure to post again with any questions that you might have.

 

[Hop Devil]

A lot of us made the mistake of starting out with entry level gear and buying better as our skills improved, or our financail situation changed. While that may make a lot sense it ends up costing you a lot of money. I went from a Sherwood Accord BC to a Seaquest Pro QD BC to a Hammerhead Backplate with a Dive Rite Wing. Had I gone right to the backplate and wing like others suggest I would have saved about $500. and not had the hassle of dumping the used equipment. Let me also suggest that I find diving in a backplate and wing far more enjoyable and comfortable.
You can put a backplate, wing, and hog harness together for about the same price as a good quality BC and have the ability to change or modify the rig to any type of diving you do. Most BC's don't have the flexibility. Do your research and enjoy the process, its what makes diving fun when you aren't diving.

 

[wunat]

I would sugest you to save a few more bucks and buy a quality BP/W setup, I wish I knew about those before I first bought my used jacket style bc, now I wouldn't dive without my BP/W setup.

Couldn't agree more. I do still use my jacket style bc for confine water assistance. But definite.........absolutely...........prefer BP/W whenever I can!!!!!

 

[scubadobadoo]

You can get a quality BC or BP/W for your price if you shop around. Buy what you want and need the FIRST time or you WILL buy it again in the near future and it WILL cost you even MORE in the long and probably short run too. Advice I'm sure we all wish we would have listened to the first time around.

With that said, an entry level BC shouldn't cost $400. That's a bit high. I bought a DR Transpac BP/W with weight pockets and a crotch strap for around $400. My wife bought a SeaQuest Diva for under $400 new as well. Both from LDS's (not local to us) and with warranties from the man. Do some shopping and congrats on your recent cert.!

 

[Quaff King]

I couldn't agree more with Hop Devil and Mandy. Till you nuts around with some BC's and keep upgrading it makes much more sense to go right to the BP&W. There is a lot of peer group pressure from people reading to much mass media to tell you what is right for you.
Don't buy into it. Do your homework. If you have a buddy or dive shop that can rent you a BP try one out. To many people especially people that don't sell backplates will tell you thats not the way to go. Experiment, research and test. You won't be sorry.
You will also read hundreds of testimonials and buy this BS because I did. Don't let that sway you. The pursuit of truth is the best part of the journey.